Test prep: Extended Response

Day 2 Extended Response:

• read and analyze paired, literary passages
• show how the structure affects overall meaning
• structure relates to the genre and how the passage is organized
• Activity: What are the features and ways to organize each of the following genres? How would writing about a topic such as "forbidden love" differ in each genre?

1. Informational Nonfiction:

• features of the genre:
• how to write about "forbidden love":

2. Narrative Nonfiction (memoir, autobiography, biography, diary):

• features of the genre:
• how to write about "forbidden love":

3. Narrative Fiction (short story):

• features of the genre:
• how to write about "forbidden love":

4. Narrative Fiction: myth, legend, fairy tale, or fable

• features of the genre:
• how to write about "forbidden love":

5. Drama (play):

• features of the genre:
• how to write about "forbidden love":

6. Poetry:

• features of the genre:
• how to write about "forbidden love":

 Writing an Outline to Plan the Extended Response (overall plan a 4 or 5 paragraph essay):

1. Read the question carefully
2. Write a thesis/claim based on the question
3. Choose main idea of each body paragraph; make sure you cover each part of the question/promt and each bullet point
4. Choose evidence: 1 or 2 specific details from the text for each body paragraph
5. Briefly list/note how or why you chose the details and how they explain your thesis

Writing the Introduction (2-3 sentences):

• 1st sentence:
• begin with general statement about main topic; use the prompt
• begin with a quotation or interesting fact from one of the passages
• 2nd sentence: state thesis; be more specific
• Be sure to: correctly state title and author of each passage

Writing the Conclusion (2-3 sentences):

1. Bring both passages together to make final conclusions about how they relate; make sure you have addressed each part of the prompt
2. Do not just repeat or echo each body paragraph
3. Do not include personal experiences

Day 3 Extended Response:

• Read paired nonfiction texts and analyze writers' arguments; pay attention to and understand the main claim/argument and how each claim differs
• evaluate strengths: writer provides expert evidence, provides and refutes counterarguments, uses persuasive language
• evaluate weaknesses: bias, insufficient evidence, lack of different perspectives, unclear and unreasonable argument, unspecific explanation