What specific aspects of the WRITING parts of the HSPA give you the MOST trouble? (i.e. writing the persuasive essay; the picture prompt) Why?
What strategies have you used successfully in order to make sure the finished product you submit is the best it can be? Share one or more of those strategies in order to help classmates improve their own WRITING scores on the test.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Picture prompts are usually easy because they can be able anything once you get a idea started. Persuasive essays are probably the hardest for me for a couple reasons. Sometimes there is not enough evidence to prove your point so you wind up repeating examples more than once. Normally i try and come up with examples that i have seen personally and relate them to the story. First hand experiences can really help with winning a point or convince the reader what you're trying to get across. Also make sure that your topic is always relevant to what you are trying to persuade, otherwise the reader might lose interest or not focus on your story.
I would have to also say the picture prompt is the hardest. Mostly because on the test the pictures that we are given are usually not the most exciting. The way that I get through it though is I try to take the picture that I am given and relate it to some memory in my life that I could easily write about. I change the names and some details of course but it gives me some solid ground to build on.
I will have more trouble writing the persuasive essay during the HSPA. This is because I have trouble organizing my thoughts. Even right now I do not know what I am typing. (Just Kidding). Sometimes I loose my train of thought and get off topic. It is hard to be persuasive when your thoughts are rambiling. Some stragtigies that help me are making and outline or a web; this helps me keep the main idea in my mind. Another must is proof reading. Sometimes I can be lazy about this, but I find when I proof read I find many errors that I have missed.
I think the most difficult part of the writting section is the persuasive essay. I find it difficult to think of something to write about. For example picture prompt is easy because you have an image of your story. Also when writting persuasive essays i find it difficult to stay on topic. I don't have any techniques that I could share with the rest of the class because I'm not succesuful at these essays myself. The only thing I try to do is not to waste any time, and not to spend too much time thinking.
They do not give trouble that much. The only parts that i have trouble with is the persuavive essay on what i have to talk about. That usually takes up time for me. I first have to think what side i should take that is easier and quick then i have to plan it all out. The best strategy that i have used was/is during the picture prompts. I look at the picture and what ever pops into my head i write down.
I dislike the persuasive essay. The picture prompt is one of my favorites. The persuasive essay does not realy let you be creative. I like the idea of making up stories. They persuasive essay for me is the hardest part to pass. It has a strict guideline that you have to follow otherwise you might get a 1 or even a 0. So i enjoy being creative and not haveing set standards. This is why i think that the persuasive essay is difficult.
The only problem with the writing portion is that I have to be able to know what i'm writing about and having enough information to write a good essay. A persuasive essay sometimes gives me trouble because I can not find out enough information to persuade the person on my opinion or point of view. I try to think of every possible idea or possibility for a persuasive essay so I have enough information to write about. If I have enough information on the topic I will write enough and succeed in writing a great essay which I am capable of.
If we are to be truthful, and I feel that is necessary in order to gain relation, I have trouble finding the point. I find myself sitting in a room of other young adults who find their only inspiration is the underlying thought "If I Do Not Pass This I Can Not Graduate(or I have to take a reasoning class, no thanks)." Now there is something to be said for being able to write in a not completely desirable condition but the inspiration is not there because the whole process of the test is very machine like. If you know state mandated test the word money comes to mind. While I am taking this test I suddenly realize this is all about money and nothing else, they are using me, what a machine that runs on such a fuel. Let us say we take the rebellious approach and choose not to take the test seriously at all well they have found a way to make money off that too. If such an approach is taken you will find yourself in a reasoning class and lets just say the state gets the tab if the classes are filled, and let me just say the school finds a way. So I stay in the middle, give them just enough not to keep me down but not enough to brag about, like I am invisible. What writer ever found their best work written on the thickly lined papers of a standardized test, what reader ever took it for any different from the rest? I do not do well because I choose to and do not expect any to follow. It is an insult to free writing to be subjected to such a test, the judgment, the motives, no educational system will benefit from this delusional process. I truly love writing, the communication, the possibilities, all some beautiful, but they are watered down by machine like minds who wish all writing to be the same. The writings of I will forever stand as free as their origin.
Personaly the part of the HSPA that gives me the most trouble is the persuasive essay because most of the topics they give us, i dont care about. The best stradegy ive used is trying to find a way that the topic effects me. if that dosnt work i try and put myself in the position of the people it directly effects. or if that dosnt work you can just make stuff up. i think they focus on how you write but stick to the topic otherwise ull use points.
I liked this post very much as it has helped me a lot in my research and is quite interesting as well. Thank you for sharing this information with us.
How To Write Persuasive Essays
Post a Comment