MCA Writing Test
The most challenging part of this test is to plan a paper in response to a given prompt. The best practice is to have students plan writing responses:
STEP 1 PLAN
Prewrite ideas for writing
Brainstorm
Web
List
Freewrite
Use this work to IDENTIFY your THESIS and MAIN POINTS (as many as necessary to develop thesis)
Determine the most logical order for each of your points—one should lead to the next and so on…
STEP 2 CREATE A WELL ORGANIZED OUTLINE
I. Thesis (that addresses the prompt)
A set of logical points that together develop the thesis—in order
A.
B.
C.
D.
.
.
.
II. Point (IA) in statement form.
Details / Examples / Evidence of IA
A.
B.
C.
.
.
.
III. Point (IB) in statement form.
Details / Examples / Evidence of IB
A.
B.
C.
…Complete a Roman numeral plan for each logical point in statement form III, IV, V, VI…
Things to check for well-planned writing:
*Thesis is specific and clear
*Logical reasoning is in a natural order—one idea leads to the next
fill in any gaps or leaps in logic
*Ideas are not repeated—each point is established separately
STEP 3 WRITE A DRAFT
Once students have planned several essays—have them select one writing plan to create a fully written essay.
Write a DRAFT without a care one paragraph at a time. Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation, or how your writing looks or sounds. Instead, very quickly and steadily translate your thinking and writing plan to paper (a 3 to 5 page paper should take maximally about 20-30 minutes to write).
INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH
States Thesis
Mentions main point / direction of paper without any explanation or development
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Clearly and specifically names the POINT
EXPLAINS the point
Provides EVIDENCE for each point
Details
Examples
Description
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
Tells the reader what to think about what you’ve written. Answers the questions:
So What?
STEP 4 REVISE THE DRAFT
1. Centralize Ideas
Every paragraph should make 1 point. If a point is brought up again somewhere
else in the paper, eliminate the idea if it is a repeat, or if the idea isn’t repeating
and important, move it to the paragraph where that point is being made.
Check the paragraph order and move paragraphs if necessary
Add transition sentences between body paragraphs.
2. Revise sentences for clarity
When we write out of our heads, sometimes the information is stated in round-
about ways. To rewrite sentences that can be made more clear, simple put a
single line through the sentence to be rewritten and write the new sentence
directly on the draft.
3. Recopy messy draft in a finalized form and edit as you go.
A. Check sentences
complete thought
capitalization
punctuation
B. Correct spelling and word forms
C. Correct grammar to sound like an “old white guy” or a “news anchor”
4. Thoughtfully read your work out loud and pay close attention to each word, phrase, sentence, and paragraph. If you can hear your work and not simply read it, you can catch and repair a lot of simple errors.