georgia high school writing test
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GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL WRITING TEST
Writing Test Prep2012
The Test
When? October 3rd Make-up? October 4th Students in the 11th grade participate in
the Georgia High School Writing Test and must pass the GHSWT to earn a regular education diploma.
The writing test requires students to produce a composition of no more than two pages on an assigned topic.
The two-hour test administration includes 100 minutes of student writing time.
Persuasive Writing
In persuasion, the writer assumes a position on an issue and uses language to influence the reader.
The purpose is to express a writer’s opinion on a subject either explicitly or implicitly.
Through the support provided, the writer presents a convincing point of view.
Scoring
The scoring system is analytic. Analytic scoring means that more than one feature or domain of a paper is evaluated.
Each domain itself is scored holistically. The score assigned indicates the test raters’ overall impression of the writer’s command of the components, using predetermined scoring criteria contained in the Scoring Rubrics.
Rubric: Domains 1 & 2
Domain 1: IDEASThe degree to which the writer establishes a controlling idea and elaborates the main points with examples, illustrations, facts, or details that are appropriate to the persuasive genre.Domain 2: OrganizationThe degree to which the writer=s ideas are arranged in a clear order and the overall structure of the response is consistent with the persuasive genre.
Rubric: Domains 3 & 4
Domain 3: StyleThe degree to which the writer controls language to engage the reader.Domain 4: ConventionsThe degree to which the writer demonstrates control of sentence formation, usage, and mechanics.
Note: In general, sentence formation and usage are weighted more heavily than mechanics in determining the overall conventions score.
Ideas: The BIG Idea
THESIS StatementOne specific sentence stating your position on the topic/prompt.
Do NOT use 1st person.This statement should be supported with specific evidence in the body of your paper.
All points in the body of your paper should connect back to the thesis statement.
Last Year’s Writing Topic
Writing SituationTechnology has changed our country a great
deal in the last 10 years. Your social studies class is debating the importance of many new inventions in today’s world. Decide which invention you think is the most important.
Directions for WritingWrite a letter to convince your classmates
that your selection is the most important invention in today’s world. Use specific examples and details to explain why the invention you select is so important.
Score: 5
Everyday new technology is developed and old technology is improved. But, really we owe the greatest of our technology to the late 1980’s when the internet was created. The internet is, by far, the most astounding concept ever invented. The net has, in its very short life, promoted free thought, boosted the world’s economy, and brought people together.
Submit to the “Writing Test: Thesis” dropbox an introductory paragraph with a
clear and concise thesis statement. (Type directly into the textbox of the dropbox.)
Writing Situation
Technology has changed our country a great deal in the last 10 years. Your social studies class is debating the importance of many new inventions in today’s world. Decide which invention you think is the most important.
Directions for Writing
Write a letter to convince your classmates that your selection is the most important invention in today’s world. Use specific examples and details to explain why the invention you select is so important.
Writing Assignment