It’s Showtime!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUapZhcsdx8

Focus on WritingJanuary 3, 2016

Learning Target

• I can construct a writing prompt that will allow students in my class an opportunity to practice the ACT Aspire format relative to my content area.

• I can apply the ACT Aspire rubric to the student responses.

• I can support high levels of student writing in my class.

Performance of Understanding

• I will demonstrate I can do this by…

• Constructing a writing prompt using the appropriate grade-level mode based on content from my discipline area.

• Scoring student responses holistically using the ACT Aspire writing rubric.

ACT Aspire Writing

• Grade 3 – Reflective Narrative Writing – story

• Grade 4 – Analytical Expository Writing – essay

• Grade 5 – Persuasive/Argumentative Writing – essay

• Grade 6 - Reflective Narrative Writing – story

• Grade 7 - Analytical Expository Writing – essay

• Grade 8 - Persuasive/Argumentative Writing – essay

• Early HS - Analytical Expository Writing – essay

Reflective Narrative Writing - Story

• Recount an experience and think critically about its meaning i.e., what was learned

• Targeted questions to encourage generation of story elements (who, what, when, where, why, and how)

• Narrative detail (plot, characters, setting, conflict)

http://rachelreedevans.weebly.com/coachs-blog/reflective-narrative-writing-6th-grade-act-aspire

http://www.sisd.net/cms/lib/TX01001452/Centricity/Domain/699/cb_sb_ela_miu_L4_WW4_TE.pdf

Analytical Expository Writing - Essay

• Explain a topic or subject

• Arrive at insight and deeper understanding by way of exploration and analysis

• Include reasons and details

• Target questions to stimulate analysis

of subject

Persuasive/Argumentative Writing – Essay

• Expand rhetorical mode by recognizing that rhetorical skill includes not just appeals to facts/logic (logos), but also to shared sentiment/emotion (pathos) and personal knowledge and experience i.e., credibility/authority (ethos)

• Give reasons for choice and explain why choice better than another option

• Generate argument from localized to generalized ideas

Persuasive Essay Structure

1. Take a stand!

• Bad: The DH rule in baseball has good and bad aspects.

• Good: Both the American and National leagues should adopt the DH rule.

2. Select a topic that lends itself to a reasonable difference of opinion.

• Bad: Murder is bad.

• Good: The death penalty is not the solution to end murder.

3. Know your audience & purpose. Are you trying to change the readers’ minds? Are you trying to just present another viewpoint? Are you offering a call to action?

4. Provide evidence, explanations, comments, logic, and supporting details to support your claims.

ACT Aspire Writing Prompt Template

• You are going to write a story/an essay about…

• Think about…

• Here are some questions to help you think about your story and plan it.

(series of questions meant to stimulate student thinking about the topic)• What did you…

• How did you feel…

• Did you…

• Will you…

• Who…

• Why…

• How did this change…

• Now, write…

Scored Areas – 25% each – holistic approach

• Ideas and Analysis – writer’s generation of idea; engagement with the writing task; consideration of writing purpose and audience; relevancy to situation

• Development & Support – ideas supported with reasons, examples, and/or detailed descriptions; help reader understand thinking about the topic

• Organization – ideas organized with clarity and purpose; relationship between ideas clear; reader guided through reflection, analysis, or argument about the topic

• Language use & conventions – grammar, syntax, & mechanics; word choice; tone; audience awareness

Writing Tips

• Paragraphs are not necessarily required to have a good score – especially in the lower grades

• Holistic scoring – not a checklist

• Spelling does NOT count against students

• A competent piece of writing (a score of 5 or above on the rubric) is skillfully organized. (A 4 is considered adequate.)

• Quote from ACT Aspire: “One of the most important things to keep in mind when looking at the rubric is that it is not a checklist! It would be very unrealistic for us to expect a student to hit every aspect at a given score point. Raters are trained to look for a “best fit” within each trait.”

Writing Traits – Common Vocabulary

• Ideas – around a topic

• Organization – internal structure

• Voice – tone & tenor; clear purpose

• Word choice – strong verbs, striking words/phrases, specific

• Sentence fluency – flow, varied sentence patterns

• Conventions – mechanical correctness

• Presentation – physical appearance

Writing – Test Item Types

1. Select a grade level

2. Identify the required writing mode

3. Review the ACT Aspire exemplars

As you are working through the above steps, keep in mind you will be writing a prompt for your students based on your

content area.

Student Writing

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CqgnZhb--Q

ACT Writing Competencies Model

• http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?present=true&id=1770184 (NOTE: CREATE SHORT URL PRIOR TO)• Aspire Test Design LiveBinder (Blue Tab)

• Writing (Red Tab)

• Test Item Type (Yellow Tab)

• P. 27 – Identify the writing mode you will be using

Writing Exemplars

• Select the Exemplars Yellow Tab

• On the right hand column, select the Writing tab

• Scroll down for the Exemplar Test Question Booklets (PDF)

• Select the appropriate grade level

• Read the Sample Prompt – note the template format

• Review the rubric

• Review the sample essays and score explanations

Task

• Construct a writing prompt for students in one of your classes.

• Develop exemplar pieces for each scoring level using the ACT Aspire rubric.

• Schedule in your lesson plans when you will provide students with the writing opportunity.

• Administer the prompt when scheduled, score the writing, and discuss the results in grade level/collaborative planning meetings.

Performance of Understanding

1.Completed writing prompt

2.Completed performance level exemplars

3.Peer review sign-off

The Power of Words

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfNO3rd1Pcg