1. CAHSEE Essay Practice

2. Types of Writing Tested
Persuasive / Business Letter
Literary Response
Biographical (not autobiographical)
Analytical

3. Mind Maps as Pre-Writing
1. Create a “Do? What?” Chart
DO (directional verbs)
What?
WRITE (look for this verb first)
an essay

4. Mind Map #2 In top left corner write “Audience”
In top right corner, write “Purpose”
In center oval, write the topic
In big outer circle, write ideas about the topic
Finally, make connections among ideas

5. Mind Map #3: Categorizing
thesis
Topic 1 topic topic 3
Categorize ideas according to topic
From the connections, formulate three topic ideas
Under each, list the ideas that match each topic

6. Mind Map #4: Outline Thesis Topic Sentence Topic Sentence Topic
Conclusion

7. Mind Map #5 (cause and effect)
What Happened
(you failed a class)
Cause 3
Effect
Effect
Cause 4

8. Review: Step 1
When you first read the Writing Task, underline the verbs that tell you what to do.
Then list them in your “Do? What?” chart.

9. Example: Writing Task #1
Throughout your years in school, you have studied many different people. Think about one of these people you have studied during your time at school. What makes this person special enough to study?
Write an essay in which you discuss a person you have studied in school. Explain what it is about this person that is special. Use details and examples to support your ideas.

10. Step 2
After you have listed the verbs on the “Do? What?” chart, list what you have to do.
For example, if you listed “Write,” then you need to follow it with “an essay” because that is what the prompt is asking you to write. DO
What?
WRITE
DISCUSS
EXPLAIN
USE
SUPPORT
an essay
a person
Why he/she is special
Details & examples
Your ideas

11. Step 3
Create an organization chart by writing the name of the person in the center of the circle.
In the big inner circle, write all the ideas that come to mind when you think of this person.
Idea Idea
Idea
Name

12. Step 4
thesis
Topic 1 topic topic 3
Create a categorizing chart to organize the ideas that you brainstormed— make sure to list each idea under one main subheading (these will eventually become your topic sentences)

13. Step 5
Organize your thesis, topic sentences, and conclusion (call to action, how this idea affects us today, final assessment of the topic, etc….)
Thesis
Topic
Sentence
Topic
Sentence
Topic
Sentence
Conclusion