The Test
How much time do you have on the test?
If you are told to write an essay, you should write AT LEAST how many paragraphs?
FIVE
An argumentative prompt will always give you how many options to choose from?
TWO only
Write a _ _ _ _ more. What goes in the blank to make sure your narrative has everything it needs? Two options.
TADD or SPEC
What does expository mean?
Explain
It won't tuck you in and it may not tell you a bed time story, but the ATLAS WRITING test will do this for you.
Read the text to you.
What single sentence at the end of the intro paragraph states what your main point is?
Thesis Statement
What MUST you have in an argumentative essay that you would NOT have in an expository essay (starts with a C). Also, what does this thing do?
Counter argument: it presents one of the opponent's arguments.
Anybody out there? If your character is alone, it will be difficult for you to include THIS critical element of narrative... because there's no one to talk to. Also, tell what you should do to solve this problem.
Dialogue
Make sure your scenes have at least TWO characters.
Where is the content for your expository essay going to come from? Where should it NOT come from?
YES: The Sources / texts
NO: Your own mind / experience
What happens if your test is TIMED OUT due to inactivity?
You have to start the test over completely on make-up test day.
First, second, finally are all well and good, HOWEVER, it is these transitions that ATLAS cares more about. FURTHERMORE, they are easy to add after you're done writing. NEVERTHELESS, if you forget, your score will suffer.
Conjunctive adverbs or transitions within the body of the paragraph.
Where does the rebuttal go in an argumentative essay and what does it do?
As a writer of a narrative, once you've decided this in your story, you can't change it (no matter how much you'd like a different camera or set of eyes).
Point of View / Perspective
Unlike the 8-Part-Paragraph, ATLAS expects a lot more ___ and a lot less ___. So, because of this, what should you do?
more EVIDENCE, less COMMENTARY
So, use as much evidence as possible.
Highlight colors won't solve this problem for you, but if the read aloud feature keeps starting from the beginning, how do you get it to read the part you want? TWO things.
Select the text with your mouse/cursor & click "Speak SELECTION"
There are TWO things you can do to keep your ideas/topics/evidence organized while reading & drafting. What are they?
1. Key Ideas Chart on Scratch Paper
2. Highlight on Computer Screen
COMMENTARY: If you are dealing with complexity in your argument, what are you doing? Hint 1: The opposite of complex is simple. Hint 2: grey area
You are dealing with the "grey area" of the topic. To avoid over-simplifying, you are explaining some limitation, exception, or something complex. For instance, yes, filet mignon is better than ground chuck, but the price makes people question if the quality is worth the upgrade.
What do both TADD and SPEC stand for?
Thoughts, Actions, Dialogue, Description
Setting, Point of View, Events, Conflict
Freedom, Privacy, Heroism, Love, Fear. These types of nouns can really help you organize and express your essay ideas with focus.
Abstract nouns
Why should you NOT be worried if you have trouble coming up with ideas to write about?
The content of the essay is given to you through the sources you will read. You don't have to be creative. You just have to give them back what they gave you, just reorganized.
Those of us with perfect handwriting and pristine binders may be appalled, but this is sure to be a messy process. If you aren't willing to make changes or scratch some things out, your organization will suffer.
Finalizing the key ideas chart. Deciding your topics. Planning. Prewriting.
If skilled enough writers can take the exact same piece of evidence and use it to support both sides, how does this explain why evidence isn't enough to make an argument?
Commentary is needed to interpret the evidence and explain how it proves YOUR argument.
I want to win the talent show, so I auditioned and WON! Yayyy!!! Pretty awesome story, huh? No? What is this story missing? Also, come up with a solution for this tale of the talent show.
Conflict.
Shy? or something else with an interesting conflict.
The text states, "X". The text states, "Y". The text states, "ZZZZZ". You are going to put the reader to sleep if you do THIS too much. What should you also do with evidence to change it up?
Direct quote text evidence
Paraphrase & Summarize