OGT Writing

Example Prompt:

Score: 1,0

Score: 2,2

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A Good Essay: Count the Paragraphs!

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Example Prompt

Score: 1,1

Annotation

Score: 2,1 (Why?)

Prompts from the ACTUAL OGT Your school has received a large donation for the purpose of inviting a famous person to speak or perform for the students and staff at an assembly. Select a famous person you would like to have visit your school for this assembly. Write to your student government, persuading them that this is the person who should be invited. Write your response in the Answer Document. (18 points)

Example What is something that you’ve learned that is important to you? This knowledge could be something you learned in school or in your everyday life. Explain why learning this was important to you. Use specific details to explain and support your reasons. Write your response in the Answer Document. (18 points)

Example State legislators believe that studentsﾕdriving privileges should be directly linked to their performance and attendance in school. For example, students should be required to maintain a certain grade point average and attendance record in order to drive. Or, if students fail a class, they would not be allowed to drive until their grade was improved. State and defend your position on this issue to an audience of state legislators. Be sure to include specific reasons to support your position. Write your response in the Answer Document. (18 points)

Example Think about a time you or someone you know was given advice and then had to decide whether to follow it. Write a story of such a time. Make sure your story includes details about the situation, the decision, and the consequences that followed. Write your response in the Answer Document. (18 points)

Example In his famous I Have a Dream speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. described his vision of equality in America: that his four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Suppose you were asked to share with a group of students your vision for a better society. Describe your vision for society. Explain what you would like to see occur. Be specific and support your explanation with details and examples. Write your response in the Answer Document. (18 points)

Example Write a story in which a character or characters experience an ordinary day that becomes unforgettable. Develop your story with details. Write your response in the Answer Document. (18 points)

Example People often make a positive difference in others' lives. Think of a person who affected your life or the life of someone you know. Provide specific details about the person, what the person did, and how this person made a positive difference in someone's life.

Example Imagine that you have been asked to give a talk at a local elementary school about the similarities and differences between high school and elementary school. Explain to a group of elementary school students what it is like to go to high school. Be sure to include specific details to support your explanation.

Example Think about a time when you were late for something. In a story, describe the situation that made you late, how you handled the situation, and the consequences of being late. Use examples and details to develop your story.