1. On-Demand Testing
Prep Guide

2. Four Forms
Letter
Article
Editorial
Speech

3. 3 Tasks
Narrate an event
Persuade
Inform

4. Test Days Two days of testing
Each day, you receive 2 prompts. Choose one.
One day will be a text-based prompt: read a piece of text, then use the text to write your response

5. 60-Minute Test You have 60 minutes to respond to the prompt Good plan:
10 minutes plan & prewrite
35 minutes write
15 minutes proofread & revise

6. Choose the Right Form Letter Editorial Speech Article
Addresses a specific individual for a specific purpose
Editorial
Statement of opinion to be read by a group
Speech
Address to a group of people, usually connected by a common interest
Article
Conveys info to large number of people
Informs & entertains

7. What We’re Looking For Text & language features of the form
Well-organized idea development
Purpose, purpose, purpose
Information that clarifies/justifies purpose
Ideas the communicate purpose
Explanation & support that help readers’ understand purpose
Support
Facts, examples, reasons, anecdotes, chart, etc.
Effective conclusions

8. The Article Lead Body Conclusion Goal: capture the reader’s attention
Introduce article’s “hook”—its specific focus on the topic (audience’s interests/needs)
Body
Logical organization
Group info under subheads
Conclusion
Satisfying end
Often reconnects to the beginning
Wraps up the discussion

9. The Article - 2 General points: Nonfiction & factual
Clarifies/Interprets complex issues by giving depth & meaning
Includes specific detail
Appropriate tone/voice
Doesn’t state writer’s opinion, but viewpoint is often evident in the hook

10. Editorial Beginning Body Conclusion Capture reader’s attention
Preview editorial’s intent (persuade)
Body
Address issue & offers rationale
Point-by-point organization
Suggest solutions
Answer questions; acknowledge opposition
Conclusion
Restate opinion & rationales

11. Editorial - 2 General points: Concise, coherent writing
Expresses opinion clearly
Specific details support writer’s opinioin, answer readers’ questions
Anticipates audience point-of-view
Avoids “I” statements (I believe, I think, in my opinion, it seems to me)
Maintains polite, courteous tone

12. Letter Structure Beginning Body Ending
Date, return address, recipient’s address, salutation to start
Closing & signature to end
Beginning
Summarize purpose of letter
Body
Describe issue & propose solutions in orderly manner
Use specific detail to support purpose
Ending
Restate purpose
Request action (as necessary)

13. Letter – 2 General points: Writing is concise, coherent
Express purpose (opinion, request) clearly
Use specific details to support purpose
Anticipate recipient’s POV & concerns
Be courteous, polite

14. Speech Beginning Body Conclusion Break ice Introduce topic
Introduce you & your expertise
Body
Organize carefully to meet purpose
Build on logic & reason
Appeal to emotions & psychology to gain support
Conclusion
Restate purpose/viewpoint to gain support

15. Speech - 2 General points: Build commonality with audience
Personal experiences
Anticipate audience reaction
Acknowledge & respond to opposing arguments
Rhetorical devices add interest, enhance message (alliteration, repetition, parallelism, etc.)

16. Testing Points
Answers must be written on the lines printed in the test booklet
Do Not write outside the black box that outlines the test book pages
Write legibly. Writing too lightly, too small or too large makes writing hard to decipher.
Dictionaries & thesauri will be available
Review writing process cards provided with test