How to Score More on Writing PSSA’s!

Genre / Personal Narratives / Informational Writing / Persuasive Essay
What
is
it? / Writing about yourself and the experiences you have had or heard about – a personal memory / Describe aperson, place, experience, emotion, or situation so that your audience feels as if they were there / Asks the writer to investigate a topic, collect/generate/evaluate evidence and take a position for or against
Impt.
Elements / Focus
  • Narrow the focus
Content
  • Narrative elements – intro, setting, characters, events, climax, ending
Organization
  • Order – beginning, events, ending
  • Transitions
  • Paragraphing
  • Engaging lead and conclusion
Style
  • Informal voice
  • Literary devices
  • Descriptive language
  • Sentence fluency – beginnings, lengths, types
/ Focus
  • Narrow the focus
Content
  • Significant reasons
  • Solid details that support each reason
Organization
  • Interesting intro-introduces topic
  • Transitions
  • Body contains at least 3 paragraphs with main idea in each
  • Conclusion restates main topic in interesting way
Style
  • More informative voice
  • Descriptive language
  • Literary devices
  • Sentence fluency – beginnings, lengths, types
/ Focus
  • Take a clear position
Content
  • Position is supported by convincing reasons
  • Reasons are supported by solid details
Organization
  • Interesting intro paragraph – clearly state position, gives preview of reasons, interesting
  • Paragraphs in body each focus on a main reason
  • Transition words
  • Concluding paragraph – restates position, reminder of main reasons, interesting
Style
  • Informative voice – “expert” voice
  • Persuasive language
  • Strong word choice, evoke emotion
  • Avoid “kid talk”
  • Avoid “you” and “your”
  • Sentence fluency – beginnings, lengths, types

Genre / Personal Narrative Prompts / Informational Prompts / Persuasive Prompts
Examples of
Prompts
* = PSSA released sample
** = samples from Northern Nevada Writing Project /
  • *Think about a time when you were given the opportunity tocare for something. Write a story that tells what you had to do and how it made you feel.
  • ** Think about a time when something special or unusual happened at school. It could be a time when something unexpected happened in your classroom. Or it could be any event at school that you remember well. Write about what happened and why it was special or unusual.
  • **It's always a pleasure to give and receive gifts. Sometimes the gift is a present. Sometimes the gift is something someone does for you or someone else. What is the best gift you have ever given or received? Tell about a time you gave or received a gift and why that gift wasimportant to you.
/
  • *Think of someone who has made a difference in your life. Write an essay that describes how this person has affected your life.
  • *Write an essay that describes a talent or skill you have or would like to have.
  • **Ever since the cave man invented fire and the wheel, people have been inventing things to move us forward. What invention do you think has been the most important? Explain your answer with relevant, showing details.
/
  • *Your principal wants to make the physical education class periods shorter. Write an essay to your principal that convinces him or her why you agree or disagree with this idea.
  • *Think about the four seasons. Choose which season is your favorite. Write an essay that persuades your classmates to agree with you.
  • *Think about a favorite book, movie, or television show. Then writea letter to convince a friend to read the book, watch the movie, orwatch the television show.

GO /
  • Emphasizes order of plot
/
  • Emphasizes reasons/details
/
  • Emphasizes reasons/details