The NC Writing Test

Everything you did…and didn’t want to know

about it!

The NC Writing

Test

How is making brownies like learning how to write?

Everything you did…and didn’t want to know

about it!

The NC Writing

Test

Brownie Recipe¾ cup flour ¼ tsp. salt1 cup sugar ¼ cup cocoa½ cup butter 2 eggs1 tsp. vanilla

Sift flour, sugar, salt, and cocoa. Add butter, eggs, and vanilla. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook for thirty minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

Everything you did…and didn’t want to know

about it!

The NC Writing

Test

Basic Information• The Writing Test will take place

on March 8, 2011.• The Writing Test preparation

counts as 25% of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters, and the test is 25% of your final exam grade.

• It is graded on levels of 0 to 4, with 4 being the highest level.

• You can get up to 20 points total. The range of points are as follows:-Level I: 0-7-Level II: 8-11-Level III: 12-16-Level IV: 17-20

Basic Information• It is a timed test, with only 100

minutes being given to plan and write your essay.

• You cannot write over two pages for your essay.

• According to the state, a passing score on the Writing Test is a level 3 or above. A level 3 is a 12 on the scale.

• The Writing Test is read by two scorers.

• The formula for figuring your Writing Test score is as follows:

(Total Content Score X4) + (Total Conventions ScoreX 2)=Total Score

Basic Information• Writing a non-scorable will make you fail

the Writing Test, because a non-scorable is one of three things:1. blank2. in another language3. only the prompt copied on the paper

• The prompt for the Writing Test will be an informational prompt, which means that you could be asked to do one of two types of writing:1. definition2. cause and effect

Basic Information• The five main criteria the scorers are looking for

are:1. Main Idea2. Support3. Elaboration4. Organization5. Conventions

• Grammar does count in your Writing Test score.• These are the main grammar conventions that you

need to master:1. fragments2. run-ons3. word choice error4. pronoun misuse5. spelling6. punctuation7. capitalization8. subject-verb9. verb tense

The Basics of Writing

The Beginning1. Hook—opening sentence

that catches the reader’s attention

(quote, question, story, description, startling statement)

2.Link-bridge between hook & thesis statement

3. Thesis Statement—purpose of paper and preview of points

The Middle1.Topic Sentence—clearly

identifies main point 2.Examples/facts—

introduction of evidence3.Analysis/Interpretation of

evidence/examples4.Transition sentence to next

point (reviews current point and previews relationship with next point)

The End1. Restate Thesis or main

ideas NEVER BEGIN WITH “IN

CONCLUSION”2.Intensified Insight &

Additional thoughts3.Dynamic sentence to end

(perhaps use a quote or some similar method as hook to tie paper together)