Pre-AP English II: Writing Test Tips

Due to test security issues, I will be unable to update this post after 6:30am on April 3rd. New tips will be loaded directly below this paragraph and will be preceded by the time I added the tip. Enjoy!

[3:40pm] Grammar Girl has "quick and dirty" tips covering:

• Grammar (duh),
• Punctuation, and
• Word Choice

[3:20pm] The Oatmeal has several web-comic/poster guides to better spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Some include vocabulary of questionable appropriateness. Fair warning.

[3:00pm] Write your essay on the proper page. Remember that the prompts and the answer documents are symbol-coded. If the prompt has triangles at the top, be sure to write your response in the 26-line box with triangles at the top. Likewise circles, squares, diamonds, horseshoes, rainbows, four-leaf clovers, etc.

[2:55pm] Graphic organizers are powerful tool. Use them!

• Expository Graphic Organizer
• Persuasive Graphic Organizer

[2:50pm] Make sure you write the correct essay based on the prompt. Remember:

• Position = Persuasive
• Explain = Expository

Pre-AP English II: Persuasive Essay / Thoughts vs. Actions

If you missed class today, you missed an opportunity to write an End of Course-style Persuasive Essay. In approximately 45 minutes (and 26 lines) please respond to the following prompt:

Write an essay stating your position on which is more important: what a person thinks or what a person does. Be sure to —

• state your position clearly
• use appropriate organization
• provide specific support for your argument
• choose your words carefully
• edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling

At the end of the essay please answer the following question: What are 2 clues in the prompt/"be sure to..." that inform you that you should write a persuasive, rather than an expository, essay? (Bullet points are fine.)