Praxis Core Writing --- Essay Section

Argumentative Essay

Make an argument and support it.

Argumentative Essay Structure

3 to 4 paragraph with topic sentences/support

Source-Based Essay

Make a decision about what you believe based on two paragraphs. and then support it using BOTH sources.

Source-Based Essay Structure

4 paragraph as follows:

1. Introduction with thesis

2. Compare the 2 sources

3. Contrast the 2 sources

4. Conclusion

OR

1. Introduction with thesis

2. Pros of each source

3. Cons of each source

4. Conclusion

OR

1. Introduction with thesis

2. Assess Source 1

3. Assess Source 2

4. Conclusion

Tips for BOTH Essays:

- Understand the prompt quickly

- Write using supporting details and examples.

- Write Paragraphs (Introductions, body paragraph and conclusion)

- Weave in your own experience (but be sure to stay on point)

Invoke the three C's

Be Clear, Concise, and Correct

Ways to improve your writing:

-----

Favor action verbs "to be" verbs

WEAK: Frances is afraid of crocodiles

STRONG: France fears crocodiles

Make every word count

Don't bloat your essay with extra words. If they don't pull their weight, delete them.

Write about what you know

When you can use strong examples, your writing will be clearer and have. amore confident tone.

Practice

The best way to learn to write is to write, write, and write. The more you practice, the better you perform. Practice writing essays like those you'll need to produce for the test. Get an honest, objective apparel from an advisor or professor.

Include a beginning, a middle, and an end

State what you are going to say in the beginning, say it, and then paraphrase what you said. You'er aiming for a coherent narrative, not a repetitive one.

Expand your essay sparingly and helpfully

On the Praxis Core Writing Test, length counts but garage does not. Don't pad your writing. Focus on expanding your ideas with examples, definitions, comparison, counterclaims, and so forth.

Use concrete examples

Pick the side of the issue that you can agree well, and support it vigorously. Examples can be drawn from:

- References to historical events, current events, science, art, etc. "The book by _________ mentions that" or "According to...."

-Personal Experiences on things that have happened to you or to people you know.

Adopt an appropriate point of view

Avoid second person in formal writing. Try to use third person (he, she, it, they, them) or first person (I, me, my, our, we is)

Use transitions words

*Transition words you can use are in the Quizlet later on*

Consider opposing arguments (Argumentative Essays)

Examples of statements to use:

-Of course, many will probably disagree with my assertion that _______________

-Yet some readers may challenge my view that _______. Indeed, mu own agreement seems to ignore _________.

-Yet it is always true that ____________? Is that always the cases, as I have been arguing, that ______________?

-Although I grant that ________________, I still maintain that _____________.

Draw Evidence from the source texts provided (Source-Based Essays)

X (states, argues, assert, explains, emphasizes, describe how) ____________. She/He means that _________.

Comparison

a statement of the similarities among two or more people, events, ideas, etc.

comparison transition words

Along the same lines

In the same way

Likewise

Similarly

Concession

is a literary device used in argumentative writing, where one acknowledges a point made by one's opponent.

Concession transition words

Admittedly

Although it is true that

Granted

Of course

Naturally

To be sure

Elaboration

means to explain the main idea in depth using key details that also describe or develop the topic.

Elaboration transition words

Actually

By extension

That is

In other words

To put it another way a

Ultimately

Importance

significance information

Importance transition words

Above all

Best

Worst

Most Importantly

In particular

Cause and effect

The reason something happens and the result of it happening.

Cause and effect transition words

Accordingly

As a result

Consequently

Hence

It follows, then

So

Then

Therefore

Thus

Example transition words

For example

For instance

Time transition words

First, second,...

Finally

Last

Meanwhile

Currently

To add-on transition words

Additionally

Also

Besides

Furthermore

In addition

In fact

Indeed

Moreover

So too

Contrast transition words

Although

But

By/In Contrast

Conversely

Despite the fact

Even though

However

On the other hand

On the country

Conclusion transition words

As a result

Finally

To conclude

To summarize

In short

In conclusion

The 5-20-5 for attacking your essay (Argumentative)

Step 1: Plan (5 minutes)

If you AGREE with prompt:

-She argues ____________, and I agree because _____________.

-Her argument that ________________ is supported by new research showing that ___________.

If you DISAGREE with prompt:

-X's claim the ____________ rest upon the the questionable assumption _____________.

-However, by focusing on ______________, X overlooks the deeper problem of ______________.

If you QUALIFY with prompt:

-Although I agree with X up to a point, I cannot accept his overall conclusion that ________.

-My feelings on the issue are mixed. While I support X's position that ____________, I also find Y's argument about ____________ equally persuasive.

Make a brief outline:

-Introduction (what will argue, which relates directly to the prompt and contains your thesis - your statement the narrows the topic and asserts something about).

-Claim 1

-Support

-Claim 2

-Support

-Claim 3

-Support

-Opposing arguments

-Conclusion (restate your thesis in a new way; cast a note oof hope at the end or describe further work the must be done in this area; and with a strong fine sentence)

Step 2: Write (20 minutes)

Check your time. When your practice writing the essays, use a watch and check in to see which stage(s) slow your progress.

Step 3: Revise/Edit (5 minutes)

Source-Based Essay Outline

1. Introduction: Define

Thesis

2. Negative Points

3. Positive Points

4. Conclusion