blow away
HOW TO OWN
THE FSA WRITING TEST
LAST YEAR’S PAPER-BASED FORMAT
• Grades 6th and 7th had a paper-based test
• students received a booklet with 3 lined pages and a
planning sheet.
LAST YEAR’S COMPUTER-BASED FORMAT
• Only 8th Grade
THIS YEAR…??????
TBA ……….
TYPES OF FSA WRITING TEST ESSAYS
• Argumentative
• Informative
GENERAL ESSAY FORMAT
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY FORMAT
Introduction
• hook
• connecting sentences
• THESIS STATEMENT
Body Paragraphs
• cite evidence in each
• elaborate in each
COUNTER-CLAIM/
REBUTTAL (NOT 6TH GRADE)
Conclusion
• reword thesis statement
• add insight
• clincher
INFORMATIVE ESSAY FORMAT
Introduction
• hook
• connecting sentences
• THESIS STATEMENT
Body Paragraphs
• cite evidence in each
• elaborate in each
Conclusion
• reword thesis statement
• add insight
• clincher
HOW TO BEGIN?
First
• Read the prompt carefully.
• Analyze it to make sure you
understand exactly what it is
telling you to do.
Next
Read the three selections. As you read,
note:
 Read titles of all passages
 Read headings
 Read subheadings
 Study pictures, photos, charts, graphics
 Read captions
 Read the text sources
Then
Pick a “side” that you will of the
argument that you will stick with for the
entire essay.
Next
Go back and read the three selections
AGAIN, this time
• highlighting,
• underlining and
• taking notes
that WILL SUPPORT YOUR SIDE of the
argument.
Then
DETERMINE WHAT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
IS BEST FOR THE PROMPT/TASK







cause/effect
problem/solution
compare/contrast
chronological order
order of importance
problem/solution
main idea and supporting details
PLANNING AND WRITING
 Use the planning page to plan your essay
 Write your essay
 If time permits, review for spelling and
punctuation
 There will not be time for revisions and final
copy
PACE YOURSELF
TO FINISH THE ESSAY ON TIME
CITING EVIDENCE IS CRITICAL
Citation of sources is expected. If a student does
not use a DIRECT QUOTE from a source, they cannot
make higher than a 2 on Evidence.
Hover your
cursor here
and click
on ARROW
DIRECT CITATIONS FROM TEXT
Hover your
cursor here
and click
on ARROW
NO DIRECT CITATIONS =
This student had a beautiful organization but no direct
citations. He merely summarized.
Hover your
cursor here
and click
on ARROW
NO PLAGIARISM =
• Plagiarism is when you LIFT or COPY
words from a source but do not use
“quotation” marks.
• Whenever y0u write the EXACT words
from a text on your essay, you MUST put
ALL the words within quotation marks.
• TIP: After you read a text, close it. Then
summarize, paraphrase, analyze and
synthesize using your own words.
TIPS TO AVOID PLAGIARIZING
 You don’t need to be so “wordy” and fill up
pages and pages with your essay
 Quality is better than quantity
 TIP: read the source, pick one or two quotes,
then close the source while you write the rest
of the paragraph.
VERY IMPORTANT DO’S
 Use an appositive
 Use a direct quote
 Use a semi-colon
GUARANTEED to raise your score. For real!
(See my website for links to videos on
appositives and semi-colons.)
OTHER DO’S
 Cite evidence from multiple sources.
 If possible, cite evidence from all the sources
 Include “titles” of the source (Pretend that
your reader has never read the source you are
using and give them all the information to
identify the source.)
MORE DO’S
 Use third person voice
 Use formal, academically appropriate
language
 Use technical language to sound like an
expert
 Use a variety of transitions
 Vary sentence structure
NOW THE DO NOT’S
 Do not use first person voice
 Do not use “because’” in your thesis
statement
 Do not use an ampersand (which looks like &)
 Do not use contractions
 Do not use repetitive vocabulary
 Do not use repetitive transitions
 Do not overuse transitions
MORE DO NOT’S
 Do not use emoticons :(
 Do not use text talk (lol, rotfl)
 Do not use lots of !!!!!!!!!!!
 Do not use slang
 Do not use vulgarities or curse words
 Do not use vague words (stuff, thing)
 Do not use facts outside the text sources
 DO NOT USE ALL CAPS FOR EMPHASIS
EVEN MORE DO NOT’S
 Do not assume your audience has read the
texts
 Do not assume your audience knows the
topic well
AND NOW YOU KNOW IT ALL
YOU WILL OWN THIS TEST!