Writing Test Prep

What should you use the scratch paper for during the writing assessment?

• To draw pictures

• Leave it blank

• Keep track of the types of questions so you can plan your time.

• Use it as a privacy screen

For a constructed response question, you should write multiple paragraphs and take a lot of time to answer the question.

• True

• False

Write a paragraph to your principal telling her/him why you believe that recess should be longer each day.

• Persuasive

• Informative

• Narrative

They are renaming a park in your community and you have a really good idea of what the name should be. Write a letter to encourage the mayor to use the name that you have chosen.

• Persuasive

• Informative

• Narrative

Most teachers and students agree that weekends aren’t long enough. Write an essay to the President to convince him about changing the school week from 5 days to 4 days.

• Persuasive

• Informative

• Narrative

Some people say that life in the past was better than life is today. For example, many things cost less in the past. However, other people are glad that they live in today’s world with computers and cell phones. Would you rather live in the past or the present? Write a speech to read to your class that tells why you would rather live in the past or in the present.

• Persuasive

• Informative

• Narrative

Some schools allow students to bring cell phones to school but must be turned off during the school day. Other schools do not allow students to bring them to school at all. Write an essay on where you stand with this issue and attempt to convince your school administration to accept your position.

• Persuasive

• Informative

• Narrative

A student is writing an opinion piece about fruit. Which sentence could the student use to state her opinion?

• Most fruits have seeds on the inside, but strawberries have seeds on the outside.

• Fruits are the best choice for kids to eat during meals and at snack time.

• Many fruits grow on trees, but some fruits grow on vines.

• Fruits are low in calories and come in varieties of colors and shapes.

Read the sentences. Perla played softball. Ivan played basketball. What is the correct way to combine these sentences?

• Perla played softball, but Ivan played basketball.

• Perla played softball, Ivan played basketball.

• Perla played softball because Ivan played basketball.

• Perla and Ivan played softball and basketball.

Which of the following is a compound sentence?

• The cat slept on the mat.

• The cat slept on the mat, and the dog watched.

• The cat, which was very tired, slept on the mat.

• Sleeping on the mat, the cat purred softly.