1. DPS • English Copyright © 2017 mrshawke.com
SOL Writing Domains
DPS • English
Copyright © 2017 mrshawke.com

2. Each domain is defined by its features.
Synonyms for domain include:
Area

3. Each domain is defined by its features.
Synonyms for domain include:
Area
Realm

4. Each domain is defined by its features.
Synonyms for domain include:
Area
Realm
Category

5. Each domain is defined by its features.
Synonyms for domain include:
Area
Realm
Category
Type

6. The first domain is…

7. The first domain is…
I. Composing is the creation of a product, the writing of something intended to be read.

8. The first feature of Composing is…

9. The first feature of Composing is…
A. The central idea is the message focus of a paper. It can also be called the main idea, theme, or thesis.

10. A. Central idea
1. The central idea may be explicit (stated) or implicit (implied or understood).

11. A. Central idea
1. The central idea may be explicit (stated) or implicit (implied or understood).
2. The central idea must be clear and strong (so that a reader, after reading an essay, will be able to state its central idea).

12. The second feature of Composing is…

13. The second feature of Composing is…
B. Elaboration focuses the central idea in a purposeful way.

14. B. Elaboration
1. Elaboration is the details, examples, and illustrations that help a writer construct a clear picture (in words) of the central idea.

15. B. Elaboration
1. Elaboration is the details, examples, and illustrations that help a writer construct a clear picture (in words) of the central idea.
2. Ideas should be fully elaborated, and elaboration should be present throughout the writing.

16. C. Organization…
…is the logical structure that helps the writer present the central idea.

17. C. Organization…
…is the logical structure that helps the writer present the central idea.
Examples
Chronological (time order)

18. C. Organization…
…is the logical structure that helps the writer present the central idea.
Examples
Chronological (time order)
Spatial (physical order)

19. C. Organization…
…is the logical structure that helps the writer present the central idea.
Examples
Chronological (time order)
Spatial (physical order)
Order of importance (most to least, e.g.)

20. C. Organization…
…is the logical structure that helps the writer present the central idea.
Examples
Chronological (time order)
Spatial (physical order)
Order of importance (most to least, e.g.)
Cause and effect

21. D. Unity…
…is the elaboration of a central idea in an organized way.

22. D. Unity…
1. A piece of writing is unified when the elaboration is focused on the central idea and the organization of that elaboration is logical for the reader.
2. Coherence, the connection of ideas within a paper through the use of transitional words and phrases, contributes to unity.
3. Any part of a writing that distracts the reader’s attention from the central idea is a part that detracts from its unity.

23. D. Unity…
1. A piece of writing is unified when the elaboration is focused on the central idea and the organization of that elaboration is logical for the reader.
2. Coherence, the connection of ideas within a paper through the use of transitional words and phrases, contributes to unity.
3. Any part of a writing that distracts the reader’s attention from the central idea is a part that detracts from its unity.

24. D. Unity…
1. A piece of writing is unified when the elaboration is focused on the central idea and the organization of that elaboration is logical for the reader.
2. Coherence, the connection of ideas within a paper through the use of transitional words and phrases, contributes to unity.
3. Any part of a writing that distracts the reader’s attention from the central idea is a part that detracts from its unity.

25. The second domain is…

26. The second domain is…
II. Written Expression involves the writer’s purposeful shaping and controlling language to affect readers.

27. A. Vivid/precise vocabulary…
…makes a piece more stylistic. Vivid vocabulary means words that are visually descriptive. Precise vocabulary means words that are very specific.

28. A. Vivid/precise vocabulary…
…makes a piece more stylistic.
1. A skilled writer balances and controls the specificity of vocabulary.

29. A. Vivid/precise vocabulary…
…makes a piece more stylistic.
1. A skilled writer balances and controls the specificity of vocabulary.
2. Too much vivid/precise vocabulary can be as bad as too much functional, generic vocabulary.

30. B. Selected information…
…pushes readers more purposefully through a piece.

31. B. Selected information…
…pushes readers more purposefully through a piece.
1. A paper lacking information frustrates readers, while a paper with too much information presented in a general manner bores readers.

32. B. Selected information…
…pushes readers more purposefully through a piece.
1. A paper lacking information frustrates readers, while a paper with too much information presented in a general manner bores readers.
2. Pointless repetition of ideas is a symptom of the writer’s inability to select specific information purposefully to affect readers.

33. C. Voice…
…is the writer’s presence or speech representation.

34. C. Voice… … is the writer’s presence or speech representation.
1. Good writers still retain the quality and characteristics of their own speech patterns, even though writing is more exact.

35. C. Voice… … is the writer’s presence or speech representation.
1. Good writers still retain the quality and characteristics of their own speech patterns, even though writing is more exact.
2. Inappropriate speech patterns distract the reader from the paper’s message, detracting from the writing’s purpose.

36. D. Tone…
…is the way in which a speaker or writer conveys his or her attitude.

37. D. Tone…
…is the way in which a speaker or writer conveys his or her attitude.
1. Word choice affects tone because of the connotation of the words chosen.

38. D. Tone…
…is the way in which a speaker or writer conveys his or her attitude.
1. Word choice affects tone because of the connotation of the words chosen.
2. Lack of sentence variety can cause an inappropriate tone or monotone.

39. D. Tone…
…is the way in which a speaker or writer conveys his or her attitude.
1. Word choice affects tone because of the connotation of the words chosen.
2. Lack of sentence variety can cause an inappropriate tone monotone.
3. Not selecting vocabulary and information consistently can mix, diffuse, or dilute the tone.

40. E. Sentence variety…
…makes a paper flow in a naturally pleasing rhythm.

41. E. Sentence variety…
… makes a paper flow in a naturally pleasing rhythm.
1. A paper with good written expression will contain sentences of varying length and complexity.

42. E. Sentence variety…
… makes a paper flow in a naturally pleasing rhythm.
1. A paper with good written expression will contain sentences of varying length and complexity.
2. Reading pieces aloud can help students identify negative, repetitive rhythms.

43. The third domain is…

44. The third domain is…
III. Usage and Mechanics reflect the writer’s ability to compose competent, appropriately mature sentences (independent of purpose and style).

45. A. Sentence formation…
…is the formation of sentences.

46. A. Sentence formation…
…is simply the formation of sentences.
Standard word order means that words follow English syntax.
Completeness means a lack of sentence fragments.
Avoidance of enjambments means a lack of run-on sentences and comma splices.
Standard coordination involves parallel construction of combined ideas.
Equal ideas are combined with conjunctions.

47. A. Sentence formation…
…is simply the formation of sentences.
Standard word order means that words follow English syntax.
Completeness means a lack of sentence fragments.
Avoidance of enjambments means a lack of run-on sentences and comma splices.
Standard coordination involves parallel construction of combined ideas.
Equal ideas are combined with conjunctions.

48. A. Sentence formation…
…is simply the formation of sentences.
Standard word order means that words follow English syntax.
Completeness means a lack of sentence fragments.
Avoidance of enjambments means a lack of run-on sentences and comma splices.
Standard coordination involves parallel construction of combined ideas.
Equal ideas are combined with conjunctions.

49. A. Sentence formation…
…is simply the formation of sentences.
Standard word order means that words follow English syntax.
Completeness means a lack of sentence fragments.
Avoidance of enjambments means a lack of run-on sentences and comma splices.
Standard coordination involves parallel construction of combined ideas. Equal ideas are combined with conjunctions.
Equal ideas are combined with conjunctions.

50. Use this mnemonic to remember the coordinating conjunctions:
FANBOYS
Use this mnemonic to remember the coordinating conjunctions:
For, And, Nor,
But, Or, Yet, So

51. B. Usage…
…involves features that cause written language to be effective and acceptable as standard communication.

52. B. Usage
1. Inflection (or changes in a word to give a specific meaning) include use of number (appropriate singular versus plural construction) and tense consistency.

53. B. Usage
1. Inflection (or changes in a word to give a specific meaning) include use of number (appropriate singular versus plural construction) and tense consistency. 2. Agreement refers to both subject-verb agreement and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

54. B. Usage
3. Conventions include pronoun usage (“I” versus “me), article usage (“a” versus “an), consistency of voice (active versus passive), and verb usage (“lie” versus “lay”).

55. B. Usage
3. Conventions include pronoun usage (“I” versus “me), article usage (“a” versus “an), consistency of voice (active versus passive), and verb usage (“lie” versus “lay”). 4. Word Meaning refers to the writer’s use of words to fit both the syntax position and the meaning intent of the message.

56. B. Usage
3. Conventions include pronoun usage (“I” versus “me), article usage (“a” versus “an), consistency of voice (active versus passive), and verb usage (“lie” versus “lay”).
4. Word Meaning refers to the writer’s use of words to fit both the syntax position and the meaning intent of the message.
Correct usage of homophones (i.e. their/there/they’re) is a large part of this.

57. C. Mechanics…
…involves the surface part of the text – the systems of symbols and cutting devices a writer uses to help readers make meaning.

58. C. Mechanics
1. Formatting refers to the visual cues that let a reader know the writer is making a transition.

59. C. Mechanics
1. Formatting refers to the visual cues that let a reader know the writer is making a transition. Examples

60. C. Mechanics
1. Formatting refers to the visual cues that let a reader know the writer is making a transition.
Examples
paragraph indentation

61. C. Mechanics
1. Formatting refers to the visual cues that let a reader know the writer is making a transition.
Examples
paragraph indentation
dialogue indentation

62. C. Mechanics
1. Formatting refers to the visual cues that let a reader know the writer is making a transition.
Examples
paragraph indentation
dialogue indentation
word division

63. C. Mechanics
2. Writers should be able to control the spelling of typical and functional words.

64. C. Mechanics
2. Writers should be able to control the spelling of typical and functional words. 3. Standard capitalization includes capitalizing the first word in a sentence and proper nouns.

65. C. Mechanics
2. Writers should be able to control the spelling of typical and functional words. 3. Standard capitalization includes capitalizing the first word in a sentence and proper nouns. 4. End punctuation refers to the end mark at the close of a sentence (. ! ?)

66. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.

67. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

68. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

69. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

70. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

71. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

72. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

73. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

74. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

75. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

76. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

77. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

78. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

79. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

80. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

81. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

82. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

83. C. Mechanics
5. The most complex mechanical cue is internal punctuation.
Do you know these?
, comma ‘ apostrophe
; semicolon “ ” quotation marks
: colon hyphen
( ) parenthesis … ellipsis

84. Work Cited
The Virginia Department of Education. The Virginia SOL Writing Tests: A Teacher’s Resource Notebook for Enhancing Writing Instruction and Improving Scores on the State Assessments. The Department, 1999.

85. Copyright © 2017 mrshawke.com