8TH GRADE PSSA WRITING PREP
TWO TYPES OF WRITTEN RESPONSES

Informational

Persuasive
OPEN-ENDED INFORMATIONAL RESPONSE
There are five types of informational responses:

Illustration

Classification

Cause/Effect

Compare/Contrast

Process
ILLUSTRATION (TO CLARIFY BY THE
USE OF EXAMPLES)
Need THREE
examples.

This follows the basic
5 paragraph essay
format.





Introduction
1st example
2nd example
3rd example
Conclusion
CLASSIFICATION (SYSTEMATIC GROUPING INTO
CATEGORIES BASED ON SHARED
CHARACTERISICS)
Looking for THREE
categories
 Use 5 paragraph
essay format






Introduction
1st characteristic
2nd characteristic
3rd characteristic
Conclusion
CAUSE/EFFECT (AN EVENT OR ACTION THAT
CAUSES SOMETHING ELSE TO HAPPEN)

Looking for 3 causes
OR

Looking for 3 effects
NOT LOOKING FOR
3 OF EACH!!!
COMPARE AND CONTRAST (HOW THINGS
ARE THE SAME/DIFFERENT)

Each paragraph should be set up s/d
(same/different), s/d, s/d.

Example: “X is similar to Y in that . . . However, X
differs from Y in that . ..”

Do this 2 more times. THREE body paragraphs, in
which EACH paragraph addresses BOTH the
similarity and the difference.

Do NOT write one paragraph about similarities and
a second paragraph about differences.
PROCESS (A SERIES OF ACTIONS THAT
BRING ABOUT A RESULT)

Looking for THREE
steps:

Preparation (get all
your ingredients out)

Action (mix
ingredients together in
the proper order)

Follow-up (bake and
then enjoy)
OPEN-ENDED PERSUASIVE RESPONSE


MUST state right out—should/should not
happen. Example: “The school board should
keep the dress code.” OR “The school board
should not keep the dress code.”
The persuasive prompt requires a SIX paragraph
essay format.






Introduction
Reason #1
Reason #2
Reason #3
Body #4 (Strong arm your readers into believing you)
Conclusion
OPEN-ENDED PERSUASIVE RESPONSE


Body paragraph #4 is where you essentially say,
“If we don’t do this, life as we know it will be
forever changed.”
Body paragraphs should be arranged in the order
that you are working up to your strongest
argument. So, Body #1 is the weakest point,
Body #2 is a little stronger, Body #3 is the
strongest, and then Body #4 is almost fatalistic in
its approach.
8TH GRADE PSSA WRITING TEST

April 16, 17, and 18th.

Do your best!

Check your work!

Good luck!