FSA Writing

Overview2015-2016

• Analytical writing pulls out facts, discusses the facts, and analyzes the information from the text(s) read.

• When writers write analytically, they use details of what is explicitly stated in the text read to either support an explanation or an opinion.

*It introduces a clearly stated and strongly maintained claim. *It creates an organizational structure in which logical progression of ideas creates coherence and completeness to support the writer’s purpose. *It develops thorough and convincing evidence with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, and examples with references to sources. *It uses clear and effective expression of ideas using precise language and content specific words clearly appropriate for audience and purpose. *It uses a variety of transitional strategies to clarify the relationships between and among ideas; linking reasons and evidence to the claim. *It provides satisfying conclusion related to the claim.

Features of an Argumentative Essay

Let’s Review for FSA: Writing

Focus: Dissecting Various Writing Prompts

• Identify the purpose for writing

• Identify how many parts to write about

• Identify WHAT to write about

Argumentative?Informative/ Explanatory?

1 Or 2 part

prompt?

Topic ?

Juliette Gordon Low

The sources talked about Juliette Gordon Low. Write an informative essay in which you explain who Juliette Gordon Low was and why she formed the Girl Scouts organization. Use evidence from the sources to support your answer.

How many parts are you writing about?

1

2

Argumentative?Explanatory/ Informative?

Topic ?

Playing a Musical InstrumentThe passages are discussing whether or not students should be required to play an instrument in school. Write an essay in which you take a position on whether every student should be required to learn to play a musical instrument. Use information from the sources in your essay.

1

Argumentative?Informative?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

Interesting MaterialsThe sources that you read were about different materials. Write an informative essay in which you contrast two interesting materials that you read about and how the materials are used. Use information from the sources in your essay.

1

2

Argumentative?Informative/Explanatory?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

Bike SharingThe passages you read were about bike sharing. Write an argumentative essay stating a claim on whether or not a bike-sharing program would work in your community. Use information from the sources in your essay.

Argumentative?Informative?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

Ella Fitzgerald

Write an informative essay in which you explain why Ella Fitzgerald is important to the history of jazz. Use information from the sources in your essay.

Argumentative?Informative?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

Sports Programs in SchoolThe passages are about sports programs in school. Write an essay in which you state a claim about whether or not schools should require students to get good grades in order to play sports after school. Use information from the sources in your essay.

How any parts are yo writing about?

Argumentative?Informative?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

Technology for Deep Sea Exploration

The passages were about exploring the oceans through technology. Write an informative essay in which you explain how technology has helped explorers overcome challenges related to deep-sea exploration. Use information from the sources in your essay.

Argumentative?Informative?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

Railroads in AmericaThe sources talked about railroads spanning the country. Write an explanatory essay in which you explain the purpose of the Transcontinental Railroad, and the challenges the workers faced. Use information from the sources in your essay.

Argumentative?Informative?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

VolunteeringThe passages are about community service. Write an essay in which you take a position on whether or not community service should be required for high school graduation. Support your opinion with information from the sources.

Argumentative?Informative?

How many parts are you writing about?

Topic ?

Sample PromptAnimals use their bodies to sense their surroundings. Write an informational essay explaining how animals use their bodies to sense the world around them. Your explanation must be based on ideas and information that can be found in the “Animal Senses” passage set.

Manage you time carefully so that you can:• read the passages• plan your responses• write your response• revise and edit your response

Be sure to include:• an introduction• support for you controlling idea using information from the passages• a conclusion that is related to your controlling idea.

Your written response should be in the form of a multi paragraph essay. You have 90 minutes to read, plan, write, revise, and edit your response.

Sample PromptThe passages provide information on the beauties of national parks in Alaska and Florida. Write an essay in which you make a claim about whether a national park in Alaska or Florida would be better to visit. Use information from the passages in your essay to support a position.

Manage you time carefully so that you can:• read the passages• plan your responses• write your response• revise and edit your response

Be sure to include:• a claim• address counterclaim• use evidence from multiple sources• avoid overly relying on one source

Your written response should be in the form of a multi paragraph essay. You have 90 minutes to read, plan, write, revise, and edit your response.

Marginal Notes

• While students are reading, they can write a brief phrase along the margins of the text.

• Students can take notes about the prompt topic.

• Students can write thinking/brainstorming statements.

Selective Underlining

• Students will underline words or phrases that are supportive of the topic mentioned in their prompt.

• Circle key (signal) words or words that are not clearly defined .

Why are these strategies important?

• They allow students to conceptualize pieces of text as they read.

• They teach students how to summarize or paraphrase the text.

• To give students a better understanding.

Strategies for Gathering Evidence

What is Evidence?

• Evidence is any detail and/or quotes from the stimulus (text set) that supports your claim and/or controlling idea based on the prompt’s topic.

Selective Underlining

Marginal Notes

Can direct quotes be used as evidence?

• Yes, direct quotes are used in writing when the author wants to draw on the expertise or authenticity of an outside source to strengthen their claim or controlling on a topic.

Ex: According to The Whistle, the author states, “The little boy saw what a mistake he had made.”

Using Quotation Marks in Your Writing

PURPOSE I: In writing, writers use quotation marks to show text they directly lifted from another source.

Example: According to The Whistle the author states, “The little boy saw what a mistake he had made.” PURPOSE II: Writers use quotation marks to show what a

character(s) said. Example: In the text, The Whistle, Ben’s brother told him, “You’ve paid a dear price for this thing. It’s only a penny whistle.”

What is paraphrasing?

• Paraphrasing is when you write the ideas of published authors in your own words without changing the original meaning.

Text Author’s Words My Own Words

On the day that he was seven years old, his mother gave him a few pennies. He looked at the bright, yellow pieces and said, "What shall I do with these coppers, mother?" It was the first money that he had ever had. "You may buy something, if you wish," said his mother. "And then will you give me more?" he asked. His mother shook her head and said: "No, Benjamin. I cannot give you any more. So you must be careful not to spend these foolishly."

Ben’s mom told him to be careful how he spent the money because he wasn’t getting any more.

Ben was too young, to understand the value of money.

The Whistle

This is text that will support the focus of the prompt. • Underline words that keep the main idea of the selected text.• Think of which word/phrases you will keep and which you will reword. . Make the statement your own.• Re-read and check to see that you didn’t copy too much from the original text.

What is elaboration? • Elaboration is the connection made by the student based on the topic

and evidence gathered to support the topic.

Text to Self Connection: Connecting the topic, the reason , and the evidence to a personal experience, feeling, thought etc.

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Text to World Connection: Connecting the topic, the reason , and the evidence to a world event, rules, laws, national topics, etc. that is known to the writer’s world.

Text to Text Connection: Connecting the topic, the reason , and the evidence to a text that the writer has read before.

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Elaboration

Text-to-world

Text-to-text

Why is planning important ?

• Planning is important because it organizes the writer’s ideas, evidence gathered and elaboration(connections made) in a logical way before writing the essay.

What happens after planning?1. Drafting• A draft is your first attempt at writing your essay using your

planner as a guide.

2. Revising• Revising is the process of rereading a text and making

changes (in content, organization, sentence structures, and word choice) to improve it.

3. Editing• Editing is a stage of the writing process in which a writer

strives to improve a draft by correcting errors and by making words and sentences clearer, more precise, and more effective.