OGT Writing Test
Overview:
o Time Limit: 2.5 hours
o Sections:
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Two 18-point long responses:
Narrative and Expository
OR
Narrative and Persuasive
10 Multiple Choice Questions
One 2-point Short Response Question
The Difference: 18 or 2 points?
 To determine how much to write, you have to pay attention to
the point value:
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18-point writing prompts =
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Development in your writing
Original thoughts
Supporting details
Holistic rubric measuring your content (+6) and conventions (+3) x 2 graders
2-point short responses=
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Little development (sometimes just a plan)
Little/no original thought
Holistic rubric measuring your attention to the task
 Both require you to know the purpose of the prompt.
 Both require you to follow through with that purpose.
Scoring O.G.T. Long Responses:
 Each long response is worth 18 points.
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Two graders each give a 9-point score:
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0-6 Applications Score: audience and purpose, along with
sequencing, development, and strength of ideas/details
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0-3 Conventions Score: mechanics, usage, and grammar
Narrative Writing:
 Subject: Read and underline what the prompt asks for; it will
likely be to relate an actual story OR tell an imagined one.
 Purpose: To tell a story
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Key Words/Phrase in Prompt: “Tell” and/or “Develop your story with
details”
 Audience: the grader
 Format: dialogued plot diagram
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Develop a plot (intro, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution).

Include characters, sensory detail in settings, conflict, theme.
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Add a literary device (foreshadowing, flashback, suspense, etc.).
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Show action with dialogue.
Expository Writing:
 Subject: Read and underline what the prompt asks for. It
will be to define ideas, describe reasons, explore a problem
and its solutions, OR analyze cause and effect.
 Purpose: To explain or teach

Key Words/Phrases in Prompt: “Explain…” and/or “Be specific in
your explanation.”
 Audience: indicated in prompt OR the grader
 Format: 5-paragraph essay (intro., body, body, body, and
conclusion)

Present ideas with clarity, coherence, and a sense of completeness.
Include elements like how, what, and why.
Persuasive Writing:
 Subject: Read and underline what the prompt asks for. It
will likely be to develop an argument with facts, reasons,
anecdotes, and other supporting material.
 Purpose: To convince or persuade
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Key Words/Phrases in Prompt: “Persuade” will likely be used
somewhere in the prompt. You may also see the prompt end with, “Be
specific in developing your argument.”
 Audience: indicated in prompt OR the grader
 Format: 5-paragraph essay (intro., body, body, body,
and conclusion)

Present ideas with clarity, coherence, and a sense of completeness.
Write with a clearly persuasive tone.
Stages for Essay or Story Writing:
 PREWRITING
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S.P.A.F. it!
 Identify the Subject.
 Identify the Purpose of writing.
 Identify the Audience to address.
 Identify the Format to use.
Pick a method to brainstorm: Web;
Outline; Free Write; List
 DRAFTING
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Write your answer.
 REVISING
 Edit your work!
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Your school newspaper is holding a contest for the
best story about a disagreement between friends. The
winning story will be printed for the enjoyment of
high school readers. For the contest, write a
narrative depicting a disagreement between friends.
Tell what the disagreement was about and where the
conflict took place. Develop your story with details.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Your mayor is considering a teen curfew of 9:00 p.m.
on weeknights because of a problem with vandalism.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in
which you convince readers to accept your point of
view on the proposed curfew. Be specific in
developing your argument.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
State legislators believe that students’ driving
privileges should be directly linked to their
performance and attendance in school. For example,
students should be required to maintain a certain
grade point average and attendance record in order to
drive. Or, if students fail a class, they would not be
allowed to drive until their grade was improved. State
and defend your position on this issue to an audience
of state legislators. Be sure to include specific reasons
to support your position.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Many school districts have begun to incorporate job
shadowing into their curriculum, and on top of the
credits a student needs to graduate, a one-year
"internship" period is required so that students can get
a real feel for the profession they're interested in
pursuing. State and defend your position on students
being required to participate in such a program in
order to graduate. Be sure to include specific reasons
to support your position.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Sometimes things turn out in a way we do not
anticipate. Tell a story about a time or an event that
turned out differently than you expected.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
In all our possessions, there are usually one or two
very precious objects. Choose one that you really love.
Describe how it looks, why it is special, and how or why
you got it. Use as much detail as you can to explain
why this object is important to you.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Think about one change you would make in your
community. What would that change be? Why? Write
a letter to your mayor, city manager, or city council
representative convincing them to make the change.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Leaders are necessary to any group: families, friends,
teams, clubs, countries, and others. Explain what it
takes to be an effective leader.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Remember a time you faced a challenge, whether it
was a difficult problem, competition or task you had to
face. Recreate that situation. Tell what happened and
how you met or failed to meet the challenge.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Your school board has received volumes of complaints
about the school dress code and has decided to require
uniforms next year. State and defend your position
on this issue in a letter to the school board
president. Be sure to include specific reasons to
support your position.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
Everyone is an “expert” at something. Think of
something you do well—anything at all. Explain how
to do this so clearly and so completely that your reader
will understand just what it takes to be good at this
activity.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
We all have good times that stand out in our
memories. Write a narrative about one of your
pleasant memories.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
You can probably remember at least one time when
you did something good for someone else that made
you feel proud of yourself. Think about what you did
and how you felt. Tell what happened.
S.P.A.F. It!
Writing Prompt—18 points
You have heard the expression, “Experience is the best
teacher.” Think of an experience or situation in which
you either learned something or taught something to
someone else. Explain what was learned or taught by
this experience.
OGT Writing: Short Responses
o READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY.
o UNDERLINE WHAT IT ASKS YOU TO DO.
o FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT PURPOSE!
Interpret and Respond:
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Use the following and organize it into a sensible
paragraph. Include transition words as you write.
Applying for a summer job could help me get the money.
Owning a new laptop would put me in a position to be
successful.
I will have gifts from friends and family members for
graduation that I can put toward it.
I want to buy a new laptop for college.
My parents might chip in to help defray the cost.
In addition, moreover, basically, also, then, finally
Interpret and Respond:
Example Response:
I want to buy a new laptop for college. Applying
for a summer job could help me get the money. I will
also have gifts from friends and family members for
graduation that I can put toward it. In addition, my
parents might chip in to help defray the cost.
Basically, owning a new laptop would put me in a
position to be successful.
Interpret and Respond:
You have just heard from a classmate that your
teacher plans to adjust your grades to include a test
score she said she was not going to count. It is a test
that you failed. You need to convince your teacher
not to include that test score. Plan your response.
Interpret and Respond:
How would you organize the following material into an outline
for an essay response?
Topic: Robert Frost and his poetry
a. Recognized poet by age 40
b. Courage required by life
c. Teacher and farmer as well as poet
d. Essential loneliness of human life
e. Sound a reflection of common speech
f. Often a simple rhyme scheme
g. Attraction of beauty
h. Importance of learning through experience
i. Composer of special poem for inauguration of John F. Kennedy
j. Some narrative poems in blank verse
Interpret and Respond:
How would you organize the following material into an outline
for an essay response?
Topic: Robert Frost and his poetry
*Subtopics: biographical, poetic themes, sound devices
a. Recognized poet by age 40
b. Courage required by life
c. Teacher and farmer as well as poet
d. Essential loneliness of human life
e. Sound a reflection of common speech
f. Often a simple rhyme scheme
g. Attraction of beauty
h. Importance of learning through experience
i. Composer of special poem for inauguration of John F. Kennedy
j. Some narrative poems in blank verse
Interpret and Respond:
Use the following and organize it into a sensible, persuasive
paragraph. Include transition words.
 The elderly are a large pool of untapped resources, and the
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school desperately needs help.
Senior citizens are reliable.
The school wants to organize a senior citizen volunteer
program to help students perform academically.
They have the maturity and experience to work with students
needing help.
Senior citizens have time for volunteer work.
A program like this will help students and senior citizens to
understand each other better.
All in all, moreover, also, in addition, further
Interpret and Respond:
Example Response:
The school wants to organize a senior citizen
volunteer program to help students perform
academically. Senior citizens are reliable. They also
have the maturity and experience to work with
students needing help. In addition, senior citizens
have time for volunteer work. Moreover, a program
like this will help students and senior citizens to
understand each other better. All in all, the elderly
are a large pool of untapped resources, and the
school desperately needs help.
Interpret and Respond:
Your parents are thinking about taking a family
vacation this summer and want your opinion as to
where to go. Choose a destination, and plan a
response to them that includes two reasons why they
should go to the place you picked.
In Review:
 Pay attention to the point values; they matter!
 Read, evaluate, and plan every response.
 Practice S.P.A.F.ing with longer prompts and
identifying short response purposes.
 Believe in yourself and trust your
knowledge. 