1.  Gather 2 pencils, 2 blue or black ink pens and a book or a magazine  Testing will take place in Homeroom on Thursday  Do you have an expository or persuasive writing prompt?  Read the Writing Situation and the Directions for Writing very carefully.  Writing Process recommended timeline: (100 Minutes) Planning/Prewriting: 15 minutes (Web, Outline, Lists) Drafting: 35 minutes (Do not skip lines; use pencil) Revising/Editing: 20 minutes (Use pen to make revisions) Final Draft: 20 minutes (Use pen to publish) Proofreading: 10 minutes (Single line through mistakes; correct neatly above!)

2. Genres: Expository Writing 2 Expository Writing: Writing that enhances the reader’s understanding of a topic by instructing, explaining, clarifying, describing, or examining a subject or concept. Method  Provides facts, statistics, descriptive details, comparison, contrast, analysis, evaluation, definition, humor, and personal anecdotes.

3.  You must read the prompt to yourself; your teacher will not be allowed to help you break down the prompt. Use the strategies that you have been taught.  Blue or Black Ink ONLY (Absolutely NO other colors).  Do NOT skip lines!  No Correction Fluid, No Dictionary  ONLY Writing on the final draft sheet will be scored!  Use your time wisely so that you finish your final copy!

4.  Leave all technology devices at home or in your locker! If you bring them to class, your teacher will collect them.  Test could be invalidated if a device goes off during testing; students responsible will receive an office referral.  You will receive four different pages of testing material:  Answer Sheet: Final Copy MUST be written in PEN  Writing Topic: Expository or Persuasive  Plan/Pre-write Page  Drafting Page

5.  Understand the writing situation and directions for writing.  Brainstorm and plan an outline for your essay.  Revise and Edit before moving on to your final copy.  Write neatly and legibly.  Indent and start each paragraph with a transition.  Use strong, vivid vocabulary.  Provide examples, research, and statistics.  Write 5 Paragraphs for Expository (Explanatory)  Write 6 Paragraphs for Persuasive (Argumentative)  Proofread your essay before submitting final copy!

6.  Skip planning and prewriting.  Take too long on any step; you must FINISH.  Use I, You, Us, We, Etc., Stuff, Things, Bad, Good, Something, Anything.  Use Contractions: Can’t=Cannot, Don’t=Do Not.  Start sentences with And, But, Because.  Skip Lines.  Forget your lead, thesis, and conclusion.  Write sentence fragments and run-ons.  Write “I think” “I will tell you” “I believe”  Capitalize random letters!

7.  You ARE ready!  You WILL do great!  WE BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!!