1. GEORGIA HIGH
SCHOOL
WRITING TEST
2012 Writing Test Prep

2. The Test
 When? October 3rd Make-up? October 4th
 Students in the 11th grade participate in the
Georgia High School Writing Test and must pass
the GHSWT to earn a regular education diploma.
 The writing test requires students to produce a
composition of no more than two pages on an
assigned topic.
 The two-hour test administration includes 100
minutes of student writing time.

3. Persuasive Writing
 In persuasion, the writer assumes a position
on an issue and uses language to influence
the reader.
 The purpose is to express a writer’s opinion
on a subject either explicitly or implicitly.
 Through the support provided, the writer
presents a convincing point of view.

4. Scoring
 The scoring system is analytic. Analytic
scoring means that more than one feature
or domain of a paper is evaluated.
 Each domain itself is scored holistically. The
score assigned indicates the test raters’
overall impression of the writer’s command
of the components, using predetermined
scoring criteria contained in the Scoring
Rubrics.

5. Rubric: Domains 1 & 2
Domain 1: IDEAS
The degree to which the writer establishes a
controlling idea and elaborates the main
points with examples, illustrations, facts, or
details that are appropriate to the persuasive
genre.
Domain 2: Organization
The degree to which the writer=s ideas are
arranged in a clear order and the overall
structure of the response is consistent with
the persuasive genre.

6. Rubric: Domains 3 & 4
Domain 3: Style
The degree to which the writer controls
language to engage the reader.
Domain 4: Conventions
The degree to which the writer demonstrates
control of sentence formation, usage, and
mechanics.
 N te : I g e ne ra l, s e nte nc e fo rm a tio n a nd us a g e
o n
a re we ig hte d m o re he a vily tha n m e c ha nic s in
d e te rm ining the o ve ra ll c o nve ntio ns s c o re .

7. Ideas: The BIG Idea
THESIS Statement
One specific sentence stating your position
on the topic/prompt.
 Do NOT use 1st person.
This statement should be supported with
specific evidence in the body of your paper.
 All points in the body of your paper should
connect back to the thesis statement.

8. Last Year’s Writing Topic
 Writing Situation
Technology has changed our country a great
deal in the last 10 years. Your social studies
class is debating the importance of many new
inventions in today’s world. Decide which
invention you think is the most important.
Directions for Writing
Write a letter to convince your classmates that
your selection is the most important invention
in today’s world. Use specific examples and
details to explain why the invention you select
is so important.

9. Score: 5
Everyday new technology is developed
and old technology is improved. But, really we
owe the greatest of our technology to the late
1980’s when the internet was created. The
internet is, by far, the most astounding
concept ever invented. The net has, in its very
short life, promoted free thought, boosted the
world’s economy, and brought people
together.

10. Writing Assignment
Submit to the “Writing Test: Thesis” dropbox an introductory paragraph with a
clear and concise thesis statement. (Type directly into the textbox of the
dropbox.)
 Writing Situation
Technology has changed our country a great deal in the last 10
years. Your social studies class is debating the importance of
many new inventions in today’s world. Decide which invention you
think is the most important.
 Directions for Writing
Write a letter to convince your classmates that your selection is the
most important invention in today’s world. Use specific examples
and details to explain why the invention you select is so
important.