Writing Night
What’s New?
What it WAS…
What it IS…
 FCAT – Florida Writes
 FSA Writing Component
 Assessed Florida Next Generation
Sunshine State Standards
 Assesses NEW Florida State
Standards
 4th, 8th, and 10th Graders
 4th – 11th Graders
 Prompt about a topic
 Prompt about text
 Given 2 pages to write on
 Given 3 pages to write on
 Expository (explain why or how) or
Narrative (story) Prompt
 Explanatory/Informational or
Opinion Prompt
 60 minutes
 90 minutes (can take up to 120)
 6 Point Rubric
 10 Point Rubric
 February
 March 2 – 13th
Overall Task Description
Students will read several texts about a single
topic. The texts could be informational or
literature and cover a wide array of topics.
After reading the texts, the students will
respond to a writing prompt in which they will
provide information on a topic or take a stance
to support an opinion or argument.
*The texts that the students are asked to pull
their evidence from could be a written text (in
a variety of formats) or a multi-media piece
(audio, illustration, video).
While this is primarily a
writing test, a gradeappropriate level of reading is
required as well.
Informative/Explanatory Texts
The texts will be connected by a common
topic, but they may contain different concepts
and ideas.
Opinion Texts
Texts will present opposing points of view on a
topic. Each point of view should be equally
represented so that a student can take either
side of a position.
 Student could be given two to four texts.
 All of the texts combined should have the
approximate word count below.
Minimum Word Count
800
Maximum Word Count
1300
 The student will be required to include and
infuse information from each text and
must cite specific evidence from the texts
to support their ideas.
How Can You Help Your Student At Home?
 Encourage your child to read as much as possible.
 Encourage your child to keep a journal at home so
they can write about what they have read.
 When your student is doing an assignment at
home (for any subject), use the Conventions
Checklist to help them edit their writing.
 Use the Handwriting Cheat Sheet to help your
student practice their handwriting.
 Practice typing – Even though the FSA is not
requiring that students type their response in
the Writing assessment this year, they will still
need to type their short responses in the Reading
portion of the assessment.
Typing Websites
BBC Dance Mat Typing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr
Typing Web Tutor
http://www.typingweb.com/tutor/