These hints have been prepared by the people who actually score the GED essays written in Texas. This little publication is designed to help GED candidates prepare for the essay portion of the Writing Skills test.
The first thing the GED writer should know about the GED essay reader, the person evaluating your essay, is that the readers work very fast. Try to imagine what it is like to read and evaluate 30-40 essays per hour and you will get the idea that we are looking for the big picture. Here are some of the things we look for. We read for the general impression your essay makes. We like essays that tell us something interesting, essays that show the writer's personality, and essays that are well organized. Most of all, we like essays that really say something. Try to help us understand what you are saying by using paragraphs and organizing words like "first", "next", and "then". Take an objective look at your handwriting. Can you read it? Will a total stranger have trouble reading it?
We do not expect your essay to be perfect because 45 minutes is simply not long enough to produce an error-free piece of writing. As long as we can understand what you are saying, an occassional error in spelling or grammer will not subtract from your score.
Sometimes this publication is called "Dos and Don'ts" because that is the way the hints are organized. This first section contains a few suggestions for things to do before the test begins. The second section contains practical suggestions for ways to conduct yourself while writing the essay.
| DO | Write a practice essay of about 200 words. See how long your piece of writing is and how it feels to write that many words. When you are in a testing situation, it will not be necessary to count the words. Counting words takes valuable writing time. |
| DO | Learn what persuasive writing is. To do this, you may need to look at a few examples. A newspaper editorial is a good example of this type of writing. People writing editorials have opinions; They back up their opinions with reasons from their own experience or understanding. All of the topics assigned for the GED essay require you to take a position and defend it. |
| DO | Tell yourself that writing a short essay is a conquerable task, although you may feel uneasy about having to write an essay to be read by strangers. Everyone at all levels of experience and education feel insecure about writing in certain situations. Concern is a natural and universal response. You should remember that there are many ways to write effectively. Since there is no single 'right' way to write, you can have confidence in your abilities. |
| DO | Listen carefully to all instructions from the person who administers the test. Remember, if you write on the wrong topic, you will have to repeat the entire Writing Skills test. |
| DO | Read the topic again and think about it BEFORE you write anything. As you plan and write your essay, ask yourself, "Am I really writing on the topic?" |
| DO | Spend part of your 45 minutes organizing your essay before you write. A plan helps you stay on topic and helps you make good use of your writing time. |
| DO | Pick one side of the argument, state your position strongly, and then stick to it. Don't change positions in the middle of the essay! Good essays can be written from either side. Be brave enough to state and develop your own opinion. Don't try to write what you think the readers want to hear. |
| DO | Write a thesis statement, a sentence that states your opinion on the subject you are given to write about. This sentence helps you organize your whole essay. Readers look for this sentence (or sentences) because it helps them to understand your viewpoint. |
| DO | Give reasons for your position. Provide details, examples, and your personal experiences. The readers like to read about your experiences as long as they are related to the topic. People frequently write best when they are telling a story or recounting something they are personally familiar with. |
| DO | Develop your ideas fully. Sometimes it is better to illustrate one point fully than to give sketchy reasons with little support. |
| DO | Think of your essay as a conversation with your reader. Try to imagine what questions your 'conversation partner' might like answered. In a conversation, you talk freely and supply lots of details. You can do that in writing, too. |
| DO | Remember to use paragraphs. Paragraphs are signals to the reader that you have shifted your focus; They help the readers understand your organization. Paragraphs make it easier to read your essay quickly and with good comprehension. Notice how much easier it is to read a textbook or a newspaper article with many short paragraphs rather than fewer long ones |
| DO | Use transitions; words that link one sentence to another or one paragraph to another. They provide signposts to make the readers' work easier. |
| DO | Think of the people who will be reading your essay and make your handwriting as clear as possible. You want to get credit for all your clever ideas. |
| DO | Save enough time to read back over your writing. Use your editing skills. Neatly correct any errors in spelling or punctuation that you notice. Mark out any words or phrases that aren't necessary. It is perfectly all right to make corrections. Remember, we don't expect your essay to look perfect. |
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| DON'T | Copy an essay that someone else wrote. If you have prepared for the essay by going to class, don't write an essay just like the one that was developed in group discussion. The readers object to reading essays that sound just like the one they just scored a few minutes ago. Show your own style. Use you own ideas. |
| DON'T | Overstate your position. Be forceful without going to extremes. Statements like "This is the stupidest idea I've ever heard" don't really demonstrate your writing ability. |
| DON'T | Repeat everything you've said in the essay in the final paragraph. It is all right to summarize, but a single concluding sentence may be adequate in a 200-word essay |
| DON'T | Repeat the entire topic. That just wastes your time and ours. |
| DON'T | Count words. The essay readers won't if you won't. The essay should be about 200 words. Before you come to the test, write a practice essay of about 200 words and you will know how much to write once you are in the testing situation. |
| DON'T | Waste time and words with phrases like "Well, I don't know much about this topic, but here goes," or "I don't really know how to do this but I hope you like what I write". Have confidence that your opinions are just as valid and interesting as the next person's. Get right into your essay without rambling. |
| DON'T | Stop writing too soon. Sometimes essays receive low scores simply because they are too short. While the writing of an extremely short essay might be adequate, it usually lacks the development necessary to be scored in the upper half. Most examinees should use the full 45 minutes to organize, write, and edit their essays |
| DON'T | Sign your name. We like to get to know you from your essay, but we don't want to know your name because scoring should be done anonymously. |
| DON'T | Worry! The worst thing that could happen is that you might have to repeat the Writing Skills test. Doing things over until you get them right is just a part of life. In preparing to take the Writing Skills test again, your writing skills will definitely improve. |