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Prepare an Organized, Developed Composition
This section of the CASA Writing test consists of one constructed-response assignment in which you will be asked to respond to an educational issue described in two passages that contain opposing viewpoints on the issue. You should prepare a multiple-paragraph composition of approximately 400-600 words. Read the opposing viewpoints carefully and think about how you will organize your response before you begin to type your reponse. Your score will be based solely on the response that is typed in the response box provided for the assignment.
Your composition should effectively communicate a whole message to the specified audience for the stated purpose. You will be assessed on your ability to express, organize, and support opinions and ideas. You will not be assessed on the position you express.
Graders will evaluate essays based on the following criteria:
| Appropriateness: |
The extent to which the response is written in the candidate's own words, addresses the purpose of the assignment, and uses language and style appropriate for the specified audience |
Focus and Unity: |
The extent to which the response clearly states, and maintains clear connections to, the main idea or thesis statement, written in the candidate's own words |
Organization: |
The extent to which the response is effectively and coherently sequenced from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph |
Development: |
The extent to which the response provides relevant, varied, and specific support to elaborate on the main idea or thesis statement, including addressing counterclaims |
| Grammar and Conventions: |
The extent to which the response is written in the candidate's own words and shows control of grammar, sentence structure, usage, and mechanical conventions (i.e., spelling, punctuation, and capitalization) |
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