CAHSEE Essay Practice

Types of Writing Tested

1. Persuasive / Business Letter2. Literary Response3. Biographical (not autobiographical)4. Analytical

Mind Maps as Pre-Writing

1. Create a “Do? What?” Chart

DO (directional verbs)

What?

WRITE (look for this verb first)

an essay

Mind Map #2

• In top left corner write “Audience”

• In top right corner, write “Purpose”

• In center oval, write the topic

• In big outer circle, write ideas about the topic

• Finally, make connections among ideas

Mind Map #3: Categorizing

thesis

Topic 1 topic 2 topic 3

• Categorize ideas according to topic

• From the connections, formulate three topic ideas

• Under each, list the ideas that match each topic

Mind Map #4: Outline

Thesis

TopicSentence

TopicSentence

TopicSentence

Conclusion

Mind Map #5 (cause and effect)

What Happened(you failed a class)

Cause 1

Cause 2

Cause 3

Cause 4

Effect

Effect

Effect

Effect

Review: Step 1

• When you first read the Writing Task, underline the verbs that tell you what to do.

• Then list them in your “Do? What?” chart.

Example: Writing Task #1

Throughout your years in school, you have studied many different people. Think about one of these people you have studied during your time at school. What makes this person special enough to study?

Write an essay in which you discuss a person you have studied in school. Explain what it is about this person that is special. Use details and examples to support your ideas.

Step 2

• After you have listed the verbs on the “Do? What?” chart, list what you have to do.– For example, if you

listed “Write,” then you need to follow it with “an essay” because that is what the prompt is asking you to write.

DO What?WRITEDISCUSSEXPLAIN

USE

SUPPORT

•an essay•a person•Why he/she is special•Details & examples•Your ideas

Step 3

• Create an organization chart by writing the name of the person in the center of the circle.

• In the big inner circle, write all the ideas that come to mind when you think of this person.

Idea Idea

Idea Idea

Idea Idea

Idea

Name

Step 4

• Create a categorizing chart to organize the ideas that you brainstormed—make sure to list each idea under one main subheading (these will eventually become your topic sentences)

thesis

Topic 1 topic 2 topic 3

Step 5• Organize your thesis, topic

sentences, and conclusion (call to action, how this idea affects us today, final assessment of the topic, etc….)

Thesis

TopicSentence Topic

SentenceTopic

Sentence

Conclusion