Nevada State Writing Proficiency

1
Nevada State Writing Proficiency

• Review Reflection

2
Analyze The Task

• Read the task and identify the most important
  information. Highlight or underline critical
  information and instructions.

3
Practice

• Read the excerpt titled Video Games. Write a
• multi-paragraph argumentative essay
• (approximately 2,000 characters with spaces) in
• which you state and defend a position about the
• positive or negative impacts of video games on
• young people. Support your position using
• textual evidence and logical reasoning from the
• article as well as your own personal experiences
• or knowledge. Be sure to acknowledge and
• refute opposing claims.

4
Example

• Read the excerpt titled Video Games. Write a
• multi-paragraph argumentative essay
• (approximately 2,000 characters with spaces) in
• which you state and defend a position about the
• positive or negative impacts of video games on
• young people. Support your position using
• textual evidence and logical reasoning from the
• article as well as your own personal experiences
• or knowledge. Be sure to acknowledge and
• refute opposing claims.

5
Review Rubric Before After Writing

• FOUR EXCEEDS STANDARD
• This paper exceeds grade level standards and is
  above average. It exhibits All OR MOST of the
  following characteristics
• Crafts ideas in a detailed, sustained, and
  insightful manner
• Creates a compelling argument using convincing
  evidence acknowledges and distinguishes
  counterclaims (argument items only)
• Organizes ideas coherently and deliberately to
  strengthen or highlight purpose
• Demonstrates a purposeful control of language
  that invites and engages the audience maintains
  a formal style
• Manipulates Standard English grammar/usage,
  mechanics, and varied sentence patterns to
  enhance stylistic effect

6
Review Rubric Before After Writing

• THREE MEETS STANDARD
• This paper meets grade level standards and is
  adequate. It exhibits ALL OR MOST of the
  following characteristics
• Focuses and develops ideas with clear, relevant,
  and sufficient details, information,
  explanations, reasons, and/or examples
  appropriate to text type
• Argues to support claims using relevant evidence
  acknowledges opposing claims (argument items
  only)
• Organizes ideas clearly and logically with an
  introduction, varied transitions, and conclusion
  appropriate to text type
• Uses precise words, phrases, and clauses
  appropriate to audience and purpose maintains a
  formal style
• Demonstrates command of Standard English
  grammar/usage and mechanics uses varied sentence
  patterns for meaning, interest, and style

7
Responding To Text

• Say it, Support it, Explain it!!!
• SAY (State) your answer to the question in the
  thesis statement using key words from the
  question.
• SUPPORT your opening statement with details and
  examples from the text.
• EXPLAIN how your details and examples from the
  text reinforce your answer to the question.

8
Use Dictionaries

• Look up any words that you are unsure of from the
  passage.
• Remember Alphabetical Order

9
Plagiarism

• DO NOT Plagiarize the text
• If plagiarized, you will receive a 0!!!
• Use quotation marks to cite the text

10
Essay Structure

• Introduction
• Lead/Hook
• Thesis Statement
• Body
• Textual Support
• Logical Reasoning
• Explanation
• Conclusion
• Restate Thesis
• Wrap-up Essay

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Thesis Statement
Topic Position/Opinion Thesis

• states the main idea of the essay in a complete
  sentence, not in a question.

• is usually at the end of an introduction.

• states an opinion or attitude on a topic. It
  doesnt just state the topic, itself.

• often lists subtopics.

• does not directly announce your main topic

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Body Paragraphs

• The Sandwich Model

13
Use Transitions

• According to ,
• To begin,
• To continue,
• Furthermore,
• In addition,
• Additionally,
• Hence,

• Thus,
• Similarly,
• In contrast,
• As a result,
• To conclude,
• To wrap up,
• In conclusion,

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Use Varied Sentence Structure

• Simple
• Compound
• Complex
• Compound/Complex

15
Revise

• Review rubric and revise as necessary
• Shorten if needed to include a conclusion
• Be sure that you did not plagiarize

16
Edit

• Flex your P.E.C.S.
• Use dictionaries to edit spelling
• Edit for comma usage
• Re-read before submitting to edit for typos

17
Self-Reflection

• Now, review your mock task and score. On a
• separate piece of paper, write down your
• score. Then, write a paragraph explaining
• why you received the score you did. Be sure
• to include specific examples. Write a second
• paragraph explaining what you could do to
• make your essay better. Be sure to include
• specific details.

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Look at the introductory paragraph below. Seeif
you can identify the thesis statement
andsubpoints.

• When I was young, I always knew that I wanted to
  become a teacher someday. When I played, I would
  often gather my dolls together and pretend to
  teach them how to do math problems or how to read
  a book. As I grew older, my desire to become an
  ESL teacher became clearer as I did some
  volunteer teaching overseas and in the United
  States. As I look back on my reasons for
  becoming a teacher, there are three reasons that
  stand out. They are my love for the English
  language, my innate interest in how people learn,
  and my desire to help other people.

Subpoints in the thesis or nearby help the reader
know how the essay will be organized
The thesis statement contains the main idea that
controls the content of the essay.
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Thesis Statement
Complete Sentence
The sport of cross-country running has allowed me
to get in better shape and meet some interesting
people.
Thesis Statement
Being a teacher is a great profession, because it
allows me to work with students and be creative.
Thesis Statement
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Thesis Statement
States an Opinion or Attitude
Learning to play many musical instruments
when I was young helped me to become a more
intelligent and well-rounded person.
I learned to play many musical instruments when I
was young.
This thesis statement is much better because
it expresses how the writer feels about the
experience of learning to play musical
instruments. This thesis statement requires the
writer to explain how and why playing a musical
instrument made him/her a better person.
This would not be considered a good thesis
statement because it is only expressing a fact.
It doesnt give the writers opinion or attitude
on playing musical instruments. This thesis
statement doesnt give the writer very much to
explain or prove in his/her essay.
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Thesis Statement
Location
For most of my life I have lived with bad
health, smelly clothes, and a chronic cough. My
children and husband begged me to stop the habit
that caused these conditions, but I couldnt.
The habit of smoking had wrapped its addicting
arms around me and was slowly strangling me until
one day I realized I had to stop. This
realization came after three terrifying events
occurred in my family.
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Thesis Statement
Subtopics
The large influx of people to California has
had major effects on the state.
No subtopics are named in this thesis
statement.
The large influx of people to California has
had major effects on the ability of the state to
provide housing, electricity, and jobs for all
residents.
This statement names three subtopics. Can
you find all of the subtopics?
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Thesis Statement
Dont State the Obvious
In this essay, I am going to discuss the
effects of long-term drug abuse.
Long-term drug use can have disastrous
effects on ones marriage, career, and health.