Success step english 10 pptx

Writing 1: Outlining the Essay

You will be required to write two essays during your

test time. One essay may be a persuasive essay, and the

other a narrative or story essay. The persuasive essay

question will ask your opinion, usually on a current or

well-known issue. You will need to convince the reader

of your side of the issue. The story essay question will

often concern a person or event in your life that has

influenced you in some way. You will need to commu￾nicate your experience to the reader in such a way that

the reader will be able to understand and appreciate

your experience. The evaluators are not concerned

about whether or not the facts are correct—they are

solely judging your writing ability.

Unlike math, writing is flexible. There are many

different ways to convey the same meaning. You can

pass the test with any logical arrangement of para￾graphs and ideas that are “clearly communicated.”

Most CBEST and English instructors recommend a

five-paragraph essay, which is an easy and acceptable

formula. The five-paragraph essay assures that your

ideas are logically and effectively arranged, and gives

you a chance to develop three complete ideas. The

longer and richer your essay, the better rating it will

receive.

The first step in achieving such an essay is to

come up with a plan or outline. You should spend the

first four or five of the 30 minutes allowed in organiz￾ing your essay. This first writing lesson will show you

how. The rest of the writing lessons will show you

where to go from there.

Outlining the Persuasive Essay

Below are some tips on how to use your first four or

five minutes in planning a persuasive essay, based on

an essay topic similar to the one found in the diagnos￾tic exam in Chapter 3.

Sample Persuasive Essay Question

1. In your opinion, should public schools require

student uniforms?

Minute 1

During the first minute, read the question carefully

and choose your side of the issue. If there is a side of

the issue you are passionate about, the choice will be

easy. If you know very little about a subject and do not

have an opinion, just quickly choose a side. The test

scorers don’t care which side you take.

Minutes 2 and 3

Quickly answer as many of the following questions as

apply to your topic. These questions can be adapted to

either side of the argument. Jot down your ideas in a

place on your test booklet that will be easily accessible

as you write. Examples of how you might do this for

the topic of school uniforms are provided here.

1. Do you know anyone who might feel strongly

about the subject?

Parents of school-age children, children, uni￾form companies, local children’s clothing

shops.

2. What reasons might they give for feeling the way

they do?

Pro: Parents will not have to worry about

what school clothing to buy for their children.

Children will not feel peer pressure to dress a

certain way. Poorer children will not feel that

their clothing is shabbier or less fashionable

than that of the more affluent children. Uni￾form companies and fabric shops will receive

business for the fine work they are doing.

Con: Parents will not be able to dress their

children creatively for school. Children will

not have the opportunity to learn to dress and

match their clothes very often. They will not

be able to show off or talk about their new

clothes. Clothing shops will lose money,

–CBEST MINI-COURSE–

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