Writing
To enhance their skills in each writing-related strand, students who score in the 9–10 score range may benefit from activities that encourage them to do the following:
| Score Range 9–10 |
| Expressing Judgments |
- understand that an issue has a context; think about what considerations outside the issue shape or limit it
- learn how to identify and critique assumptions underlying the issue as stated; consider perspectives that might call into question some aspect of the issue itself
- in an extended discussion, practice demonstrating the logical or practical weaknesses of a counterargument
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| Focusing on the Topic |
- revise writing to ensure that every sentence is necessary to the purpose of the piece
- refine thesis statements to reflect subtle, critical thinking about complex issues
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| Developing a Position |
- learn how to elaborate ideas fully by logically describing their connection to the essay's main idea
- practice sustaining a logical and relevant discussion by writing longer and more complex essays
- check to see if the essay's treatment of each idea is proportional to the idea's importance
- listen to news analyses on television or radio; notice the strategies that skilled speakers use to present their ideas on an issue
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| Organizing Ideas |
- practice arranging ideas so that one paragraph leads logically to the next throughout the essay
- consider how transitional phrases and sentences can help convey logical connections between ideas and between paragraphs
- think about how an introduction and conclusion can work together to provide unity within an essay
- experiment with how to conclude an essay while continuing to challenge the audience with critical questions or implications
- discuss the effect of a conclusion that suggests the essay has been only part of a much larger discussion
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| Using Language |
- check to be sure pronouns agree with antecedents in complex sentences
- edit sentences for empty language, wordiness, and redundancy
- read a wide variety of texts to improve vocabulary and gain exposure to precise and effective language use
- read and discuss the effects of rhetorical devices such as rhetorical questions, sarcasm, and humor used by favorite authors
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