8th grade pssa writing prep
PSSA WRITING PREP
T HREE TYPES OF WRITTEN RESPONSES
Expository (also called explanatory or informational)
Argumentative
Narrative
E XPOSITORY WRITING RESPONSE
There are five types of expository responses:
Illustration
Classification
Cause/Effect
Compare/Contrast
Process
I
LLUSTRATION
(TO CLARIFY BY THE
USE OF EXAMPLES)
Need THREE examples.
This follows the basic
5 paragraph essay format.
Introduction
1 st example
2 nd example
3 rd example
Conclusion
C LASSIFICATION ( SYSTEMATIC GROUPING INTO
CATEGORIES BASED ON SHARED
CHARACTERISICS )
Looking for THREE categories
Use 5 paragraph essay format
Introduction
1 st characteristic
2 nd characteristic
3 rd characteristic
Conclusion
C AUSE /E FFECT ( 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!!!
Use a Venn Diagram
C
OMPARE 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.
P
ROCESS
(
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)
A RGUMENTATIVE WRITING 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 (Counterargument)
Conclusion
A RGUMENTATIVE WRITING RESPONSE
Body paragraph #4 is where you acknowledge the opposing belief.
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.
N ARRATIVE WRITING RESPONSE
Narrative writing tells a story. It may be fiction or nonfiction.
Whether fiction or nonfiction, narrative writing includes characters, setting, conflict, and theme.
This type of writing makes the reader feel as if the story was being told directly to him or her.
It does not have to be factual; it just has to be
believable.
N ARRATIVE WRITING RESPONSE
The plot of your narrative should be planned out using:
Who
What
Where
When
Why
N ARRATIVE WRITING RESPONSE
Instead of this:
“This bread is hard.”
“My heart was beating really fast.”
“He walked across the stage to accept his award.”
Say this:
“This bread is as hard as a rock.”
“My heart felt like it would leap out of my chest!”
“He felt as if he were walking on air as he climbed the stairs to accept his award.”
N ARRATIVE WRITING RESPONSE
What if I can’t think of anything to write?!?
No one is actually going to check to make sure your story is true.
Even if the prompt is unusual, make your response sound believable.
For example, if you are asked about your favorite trip, don’t answer, “my trip to the moon.” Instead, say, “my trip to Washington,
DC” even if you have never been there—it will sound more believable.
ELA PSSA
TEST
April 13, 14, 15, and
16
Do your best!
Check your work!
Good luck!
