PSSA Writing TestPSSA Writing TestPSSA Writing TestPSSA Writing Test

What will the test be like?

In grade 8 there are:

• 20 Multiple Choice questions for editing and revision

• 3 writing prompts

Multiple Choice Section

• 5 Short passages with errors • Each passage is followed by 4 multiple

choice questions (20 MC questions).• Questions will focus on revising and

editing the passages.• Answers are a part of your

conventions score.

Prompts• 8th graders will respond in writing to 2

prompts. • These are “on demand” writing tasks;

that means you do not read a passage before you write.

• The only thing you have to rely on for your answer is the knowledge you already have – prior knowledge.

What will I be asked to do?

• Write in 2 different modes• Show that you are proficient in all

5 domains of writing

What is a mode of writing?

• Mode means type, style, or genre.• There are many modes of writing such

as narrative, poetic, informational, and persuasive.

• Only persuasive and informational modes will be tested in grades 8 and 11. No narrative.

What types of writing assignments are in the

persuasive mode?

• Position Paper• Evaluation• Opinion Essay• Editorial • Problem-Solution• Persuasive Essay

What types of writing assignments are in the informational mode?

• Compare/Contrast Essay• Descriptive Essay• Narrative Procedure (Instructions or “How To”)• Expository Essays• Report of Information• Research Paper• News story

Facts

Info.Man

Let’s PlayGuess the Mode…Hints:• An informational prompt will ask for an

explanation, clarification, evaluation, comparison, instructions, description, or definition.

• A persuasive prompt will ask you to take a side, convince, persuade, support an opinion, defend, argue, or refute.

Informational or Persuasive?

A new principal is contacting all students about changing or adding to the school rules. Think of a rule you would like to change or add. Write to convince your principal to use your suggestion.

PERSUASIVEKEY WORD=CONVINCE

Informational or Persuasive?

You are the class president and have been asked to write an introduction for a person you admire greatly. Write an essay describing the most admirable qualities of the person.

INFORMATIONAL - DESCRIPTIVE KEY WORD= DESCRIBE

Informational or Persuasive?

Many areas have laws that require motorcycle and bicycle riders to wear helmets. Do these laws conflict with your right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?” Take a position for or against these laws and write an essay supporting your view.

PERSUASIVE- POSITION PAPERKEY WORD=POSITION

Informational or Persuasive?

“Great thoughts speak only to a thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all humankind.”

—Emily P. Bissell How do “great actions speak to all

humankind”? Write an essay that explains your understanding of this quotation.

INFORMATIONAL- EXPOSITORYKEY WORD=EXPLAIN

Informational or Persuasive?

A teacher needs directions from the school to your home. Write a set of instructions that describes the route you take.

INFORMATIONAL-NARR. PROCEDUREKEY WORDS=DIRECTIONS, INSTRUCTIONS

Informational or Persuasive?

Think about discoveries or inventions that have affected our lives. Select one. Write to inform someone about this discovery or invention. Tell whether it has been good or bad for society.

INFORMATIONALKEY WORD=INFORMNote: The bulk of what you are being askedto do is to inform someone. You are asked to include your opinion, but you are NOT asked to persuade thereader.

Helpful Hints

When taking the test, first decide what mode is being asked for.

• Do they want me to inform?• Do they want me to persuade?

InformationalIf they want you to inform, figure out what

type of information they want.• Narrative Procedure/Instructive/“How to”• Descriptive• Compare/Contrast• Expository

If It’s “How to”

• Think:– Tell what you’re teaching and why.– Materials needed (if any)– Steps with good transitions– Anticipate problems a reader may

have.

If It’s Descriptive• Think:

– Imagery or Word Picture– Characteristics/Qualities– Adjectives– Sensory details

If It’s Expository • Think:

– Make a point /Answer the question– Back it up with

• Details• Examples• Explanation• Anecdote – a short, real life example• Facts – if you’ve got them

If It’s Compare/Contrast

• Think:– Venn Diagram– Organization

• Point by point, • Topic by topic, • OR like then

different

If It’s Persuasive

Think:• Take a strong position -one position even if

you see both sides! No wishy-washies.• Back it up with logical reasons and any facts

that you may have.• Use persuasive techniques like rhetorical

questions, repetition, and ideas that will appeal to your audience.

• Recognize and refute (reasonably) one counter argument that your opposition might have.

You focus your writing when you:

• answer the prompt and make your point.

• stick to your point from start to finish.

• write to your audience in a style and tone that match the mode (persuasive, informational).

How Will My Test Be Scored?

• The PSSA uses a different rubric for each mode of writing.

• The rubrics identify the most important qualities of the mode.

• These qualities are broken down into 4 areas or domains: focus, content, organization, and style.

• The 5th domain, conventions, is scored with a separate rubric.

• These are similar to the FCA’s only each domain is reviewed, not just a few.

Your content is strong when you include:

• examples • explanations • elaboration• evidence • details• reasons • facts• anecdotes• connections

to support your point and help your reader understand what you’re saying.

You show strong organization when you arrange your ideas in

a helpful way, such as:

• most to least important reasons • least to most important reasons • similarities then differences • topic by topic • chronological order (first to last)

Use of paragraphing, with topic sentences and transitional words, is KEY!

You get style points for:

• using high level, appropriate vocabulary.• using a variety of sentence styles (simple,

compound, complex).• creating a strong tone that suits the mode

(persuasive, expert/informational).• writing in a way that would reach your

target audience.

For a high conventions score you must have:

• correct spelling.• complete sentences.• correct end punctuation.• correct internal punctuation

(commas, semicolons).• correct capitalization.• logical paragraphing with topic

sentences.

Your ScoreYour test will receive 2 scores:

• 1 for conventions – grammar, etc.

• 1 for composition – how well you write in the modes

Scoring Your TestConventions

• The multiple choice section is worth 12 points.

• Also, each of your compositions will get a conventions score of 1-4 for a possible 8 points total.

• The multiple choice score and 2 writing conventions scores are added together.

• 12+8= 20 possible

Composition

• Each of the 2 writing tasks is worth a possible 4 points. Your 2 scores are totaled and multiplied by 10. (One prompt isn’t counted, but you won’t know which one that is, so try your best on all three.)

• That’s 80 points possible for “composition” – the focus, content, organization and

style domains.

Scoring Your Test

Total Score

• Conventions = possible 20 points• Composition = possible 80 points

Total possible 100 points