PROMPT #1 What is Mold? CAASPP Writing Practice Test Response Key Role experts on mold and how to prevent it Audience people interested in learning about mold and how to prevent it Topic how people prevent mold/why this is harder to do in a moist rather than dry climate Argumentative (keyword: persuading) Write a paragraph persuading the reader that people who live in moist climates work harder to prevent mold than people who live in dry climates. Include details from the passage about how they prevent mold. People who live in moist climates work harder to prevent mold than people who live in dry climates do because it is harder for them to control moisture, which is the best way to prevent mold. Note: Make sure your claim is an argument and matches steps 3 and 4.
PROMPT #2 Role Students Audience CAASPP professors Topic describing and developing the setting of the house using sensory words Narrative (keywords: setting, mood; sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings (these are sensory words)) These sentences begin the description of a setting. Write a paragraph that develops this description and fits the mood and situation. Use vivid details about sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and/or feelings in your paragraph. Since you are writing your own narrative (narrating your own story), there is no right or wrong answer. However, your claim must use sensory details and stay on topic by describing the setting of the house. You must also match the mood, which is more somber, nostalgic, and melancholy. The overall mood of your writing must be sad, not happy. Example: The house appeared to sigh with each rustle of the wind, and its few flecks of yellow paint seemed representative of its final tears as it thought back to a happier time now gone forever.
PROMPT #3 excerpt from Jamaica Kincaid s novel Annie John Role Students Audience CAASPP professors Topic how Annie John feels during her first morning at school Explanatory (keyword: summarize) Summarize in your own words the way Annie John feels during her first morning at school. Summarize in your own words the way Annie John feels during her first morning at school. Support your answer with details from the passage. Annie John feels lost during her first morning at school. Note: You may use a word or words other than lost but must demonstrate this general idea. For example, you should not say that Annie John feels excited or happy. She is shown to be feeling confused, lost, unsure, sick, weak, etc. Make sure your claim is explaining how she feels (not arguing) and matches steps 3 and 4.
PROMPT #4 Adventure at Machu Picchu Role the student author who is writing Adventure at Machu Picchu OR yourself as a student Audience the classmates/teachers of the student author OR CAASPP professors Format conclusion paragraph (keyword: ending) Topic what happens next after Patrick discovers the noise/light/possible treasure Narrative (keyword: story) This story written by a student does not have an ending. Write a paragraph that finishes the story. Write a paragraph that finishes the story. In this case, the thesis/claim is actually the small picture, since you are writing a conclusion paragraph. Since you are writing your own conclusion to the narrative, there is no right or wrong answer. However, your conclusion must logically make sense with the rest of the story and must include sensory words and details (taste, hear, smell, see, feel). In a narrative, the conclusion is known as the resolution (see the plot chart). A resolution provides a solution to the problems in the story and answers any unanswered questions. In this case, the problem/unanswered question is whether Patrick discovered a treasure. Thus, your small picture must answer this question. Example: Upon closer examination, Patrick discovered that the treasure he found was a small necklace glistening in the sun, and the sound he heard was made by a lizard dragging the necklace across the rock.
PROMPT #5 Better Lunch Schedules Role the student who is writing the editorial Better Lunch Schedules for her/his student newspaper Audience primarily other students at the school since it is a student newspaper, but also the staff and parents at the school who read the student newspaper Format introduction paragraph Topic how lunch schedules can be made better/improved Argumentative (keywords: the title shows that the author is making an argument about what can be done to create better lunch schedules) A student is writing the editorial Better Lunch Schedules for the student newspaper. Write an introductory paragraph to the editorial that establishes and introduces a clear claim about better lunch schedules. Write an introductory paragraph to the editorial that establishes and introduces a clear claim about better lunch schedules. Since you are writing an introduction paragraph, you are writing a thesis. Make sure your thesis is an argument and matches steps 3 and 4. Since your introduction paragraph comes BEFORE the other 3 paragraphs, you must make sure your thesis points match the body paragraph claims in order. Body paragraph 1 claim: Most importantly, we should have lunch after recess. Body paragraph 2 claim: In addition, we should have a longer lunch period. Body paragraph 3 claim: Finally, we should eat lunch at a more reasonable time. YOUR THESIS MUST FOLLOW THIS ORDER: It is necessary to establish better lunch schedules by having lunch after recess, creating longer lunch periods, and eating lunch at a more reasonable time.