On-Demand Testing

1. On-Demand Testing Prep Guide

2. On-Demand Your last CATS test!!! Test of your ability to write for a purpose. Each prompt will require you to write a specific type of piece (form) for a specific type of purpose (task)

3. Test Days Two days of testing Each day, you receive 2 prompts. Choose one. One day will be a text-based prompt:read a piece of text, then use the text to write your response

4. Passage-Based Prompt • Explain the question • Give background • Define who is interested in the question • Use information from the passage • Passage provides details & depth • Incorporate key facts into your response • Don’t assume the reader has read the same passage • Don’t say, “In the article it said…,” etc.

5. 60-Minute Test • You have 60 minutes to respond to the prompt • Good plan: • 10 minutes plan & prewrite • 35 minutes write • 15 minutes proofread & revise

6. 3 Tasks Narrate an event for a purpose Persuade Inform

7. Four Forms Letter Article Editorial Speech

8. The Tasks

9. Tasks Narrate Persuade Inform

10. Narrate • Essential concept: “narrate an event for a purpose” • Narration supports an idea, opinion, conclusion, interpretation, request, etc. • Narration is a way of convincing readers to accept your idea, opinion, etc. • Your story (narrative) should “prove” what you want readers to think. (EX: You believe everyone should take a financial literacy class. Your story about being in big-time credit card debt shows the need for such classes.)

11. Narrate • Appropriate forms: • Speech • Letter • Article • Prompt phrases that suggest a narrative: • “Tell about a time…” • “Refer to your own experience…” • “From your own experience, relate an incident that…”

12. Persuade • Your goal is to convince readers to take some action or accept the writer’s idea, request, conclusion, recommendation, etc. • You want to persuade readers • Be aware of the audience • Write in language that audience can relate to • Use examples audience will relate to

13. Persuade • Appropriate forms: • Editorial • Speech • Letter (such as Letter to the Editor) • Prompt phrases that indicate a persuasive piece: • “Convince readers to…” • “Write to help others accept your opinion about…” • “Urge readers to…”

14. Inform • Write to… • Present information and provide explanation that can help readers understand something relevant to students’ lives and experiences (e.g., issue, problem, need, event) • Accomplish a task/procedure, achieve a goal, solve a problem, etc. • Information is not enough; explanation (idea development) is needed • Reveal your thinking & your ability to communicate effectively with readers. • Provide explanation, information, and other support • Show your ability to communicate effectively with readers, not merely repeat information you’ve have learned

15. Inform • Appropriate forms: • Article • Speech • Prompt phrases that suggest informative piece: • “Help readers understand that…” • “Share your knowledge…” • “Provide information that will…” • •

16. The Forms

17. Types of Forms • Letter • Editorial • Speech • Article

18. Choose the Right Form • Letter • Addresses a specific individual for a specific purpose • Editorial • Statement of opinion to be read by a group • Speech • Address to a group of people, usually connected by a common interest • Article • Conveys info to large number of people • Informs & entertains

19. The Article • Lead • Goal: capture the reader’s attention • Introduce article’s “hook”—its specific focus on the topic (audience’s interests/needs) • Body • Logical organization • Group info under subheads • Conclusion • Satisfying end • Often reconnects to the beginning • Wraps up the discussion

20. The Article - 2 General points: Nonfiction & factual Clarifies/Interprets complex issues by giving depth & meaning Includes specific detail Appropriate tone/voice Doesn’t state writer’s opinion, but viewpoint is often evident in the hook

21. Editorial • Beginning • Capture reader’s attention • Preview editorial’s intent (persuade) • Body • Address issue & offers rationale • Point-by-point organization • Suggest solutions • Answer questions; acknowledge opposition • Conclusion • Restate opinion & rationales

22. Editorial - 2 General points: Concise, coherent writing Expresses opinion clearly Specific details support writer’s opinioin, answer readers’ questions Anticipates audience point-of-view Avoids “I” statements (I believe, I think, in my opinion, it seems to me) Maintains polite, courteous tone

23. Letter • Structure • Date, return address, recipient’s address, salutation to start • Closing & signature to end • Beginning • Summarize purpose of letter • Body • Describe issue & propose solutions in orderly manner • Use specific detail to support purpose • Ending • Restate purpose • Request action (as necessary)

24. Letter – 2 General points: Writing is concise, coherent Express purpose (opinion, request) clearly Use specific details to support purpose Anticipate recipient’s POV & concerns Be courteous, polite

25. Speech • Beginning • Break ice • Introduce topic • Introduce you & your expertise • Body • Organize carefully to meet purpose • Build on logic & reason • Appeal to emotions & psychology to gain support • Conclusion • Restate purpose/viewpoint to gain support

26. Speech - 2 General points: • Build commonality with audience • Personal experiences • Anticipate audience reaction • Acknowledge & respond to opposing arguments • Rhetorical devices add interest, enhance message (alliteration, repetition, parallelism, etc.)

27. What You’re Judged On • Text & language features of the form • Well-organized idea development • Purpose, purpose, purpose • Information that clarifies/justifies purpose • Ideas the communicate purpose • Explanation & support that help readers’ understand purpose • Support • Facts, examples, reasons, anecdotes, chart, etc. • Effective conclusions

28. Testing Points Answers must be written on the lines printed in the test booklet Do Not write outside the black box that outlines the test book pages Write legibly. Writing too lightly, too small or too large makes writing hard to decipher. Dictionaries & thesauri will be available Review writing process cards provided with test

29. Sample Prompts

30. Practice Time Read the prompt & plan how you would write your response. Do some form of prewrite to get ready to write.