What You Need to Know:

1. Be able to select a prompt strategically according to your strengths and interests

- there will be 7 prompts you can select from on the exam. Some are related to
topics we have discussed in class, some are high interest topics and some are
difficult topics (for those of you who like a challenge!). Choose wisely according to
what you believe will give you the best chance at performing well on the exam!
2. Be able to dissect a prompt using all 7 steps of prompt dissection. Your dissection
MUST be in order and STEP 7 must be represented for full credit. Remember - STEP
7 requires you list 3 things: What do I do? What do I plan? How do I organize? These
three things must be represented for full credit.
3. Be able to brainstorm using a two column chart and brainstorming packages. You
MUST list the stances at the top (you cannot just put "PRO" or "CON"), you must
present your brainstorming packages in the correct format and you must have
enough brainstorming packages to warrant an essay (remember, during our review
recently, we identified the number of brainstorming packages you should have as
AT LEAST 3). Where you put them in the two column chart is dependent upon the
TYPE of essay you are writing - discursive, persuasive or expository.
4. Be able to write a thesis statement that reflects S,D,P,O,B. Your thesis must be
specific in terminology, debatable, address the entire prompt, reflect the
organization of the remainder of the essay and be broad enough in scope to: 1).
write an entire 500-600 word essay, 2). answer the entire prompt thoroughly, and
3). warrant claims and evidence that do not necessarily repeat your qualifications.
5. Be able to write an introductory paragraph that contains a LEAD IN, a BRIDGE and
a THESIS STATEMENT. In order to get an "A" for this structure on your exam (i.e. a
10/10 or a 9/10), you must present a lead in that is informative, that keeps the
reader in mind and builds and image appropriately for them. You can use the simple
structure presented in one of the announcements I sent out while discussing
Introductory Paragraphs, but just realize that this is a much simpler presentation
and it will be graded as such. Of course, you can still score well on it (it will probably
be scored between a B and a C, depending on how well you present the
information), however, it will likely not get scored higher than that. That being said,
don't fret too much about this - if using the simple format will result in your BEST
introductory paragraph, go with that. There are plenty of other points available on
the exam that will allow you to still get an A or a B+ if you earn them.
6. Be able to write a body paragraph that does the following: 1). Follows the format
CEI, 2). Contains a CLAIM, 3 pieces of EVIDENCE and INTERPRETATIONS following
each piece of EVIDENCE, 3). Contains evidence that is relevant and on topic, 4).
Contains INTERPRETATIONS that attempt to present Context, Significance and Links.
For this, remember, the evidence INSIDE the body paragraph should have some sort

of context or background that tells the reader WHAT the evidence IS (remember our
discussion on "predictive policing." When used as a piece of evidence, you have to
tell the reader what predictive policing is before you can reveal your point to them.
Without that context or background, the reader has no way of accepting why it's a
valid conclusion that predictive policing is problematic or beneficial to
society...depending on how you used it.), as well as a discussion on the POINT (why
is the evidence in this body paragraph??). When you reveal the POINT of the
evidence, you should be actually touching upon the link - the connection between
the evidence and the claim. However, remember that you should also have a LINK
at the END of your body paragraph - something (usually a sentence) that informs
the reader that all of the evidence you've presented not only supports your claim in
this individual body paragraph, but also answers the question you selected
(remember, again, our discussion on the body paragraphs about whether or not we
should look to the future with pessimism or optimism. After presenting all of the
evidence, for example, on how improvements in technology have resulted in a
safer, more secure environment, you have to finalize that paragraph by letting the
reader know that THIS - knowing we are safe and secure because of the efforts of
predictive policing, surveillance cameras and informative alerts that arrive via
cellphone - is a reason to look to the future with optimism.).