Praxis Core Writing 5723 | Part 01 | Argumentative Essay | Kathleen Jasper

Kathleen Jasper

10 Jul 202035:53

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe video script offers a comprehensive guide on writing an argumentative essay for the Praxis Core test. It emphasizes the importance of a clear thesis statement, well-organized paragraphs, and the use of specific details to support the main argument. The presenter advises against using second person narrative and suggests writing out of order, starting with the thesis and mapping out the essay before diving into detailed paragraphs. Personal experience is recommended to be included, and the script provides a step-by-step approach, from outlining to proofreading, to ensure a coherent and persuasive essay. The summary also highlights the grading process involving both human and computer graders, and the need to aim for a score of four to be considered competent. Throughout the script, the focus is on practical tips to pass the writing assessment effectively.

Takeaways

📝 The argumentative essay for Praxis Core is initially graded by a human and a computer, with a third human grader used as a tiebreaker if needed.
🎯 Aim for a score of four, which is considered competent, to ensure a passing grade on the writing exam.
💡 Clearly state your thesis at the beginning of your essay to make it easy for the graders to understand your position.
📈 Use specific details and examples to support your thesis, avoiding abstract concepts that don't provide tangible evidence.
🧐 Be aware of grammar and language use; while minor errors are acceptable, major grammatical issues can negatively impact your score.
🔍 Write out of order, starting with your thesis statement, mapping your essay, writing detailed paragraphs, and then crafting the introduction and conclusion.
✍️ Proofread your body paragraphs before writing the introduction and conclusion to ensure they are free from errors and well-organized.
🔄 Use a variety of sentence structures to improve the flow of your essay and make it more engaging for the reader.
🚫 Avoid using second person narrative ('you') as it is not considered scholarly and can be seen as a language issue.
📈 The essay should display control in organization, offer key ideas with details, and show an adequate use of language and grammar.
⏱️ Remember that you are writing a timed essay, so efficiency in planning and execution is crucial to success on the exam.

Q & A

What are the two types of graders for the argumentative essay in the Praxis Core test?
-The two types of graders for the argumentative essay are a human grader and a computer grader.
How is the scoring process handled when the human and computer graders disagree by more than one point?
-If the human and computer graders disagree by more than one point, a third human grader is brought in as a tie breaker.
What is the goal score for the Praxis Core argumentative essay?
-The goal score for the Praxis Core argumentative essay is a four, which is considered competent.
Why do testing companies use computer graders?
-Testing companies use computer graders to reduce bias and because it's cheaper than paying humans to grade essays.
What is the importance of stating the thesis clearly in the argumentative essay?
-Stating the thesis clearly is important because it makes it easy for the grader to understand the writer's position and ensures that the essay is not a 'scavenger hunt' for the thesis statement.
What should the writer aim for in terms of language use in the essay?
-The writer should aim for an adequate use of language, which includes proper grammar, sentence variety, and clear, concise expression of ideas.
How should the body paragraphs of the argumentative essay be approached?
-The body paragraphs should be written first, focusing on detailed and specific examples that support the thesis. They should be proofread carefully before moving on to the introduction and conclusion.
What is the recommended order for writing the argumentative essay?
-The recommended order is to first write the thesis statement, then map the essay, write the detailed paragraphs, proofread those paragraphs, write the introduction and conclusion, and finally, proofread the entire essay.
Why is it advised to avoid using the second person narrative ('you') in the essay?
-The second person narrative is advised against because it shifts the perspective and can be considered a grammar or language issue in scholarly writing.
How can technological devices be used to foster collaboration in the classroom according to the script?
-Technological devices can be used for activities such as creating podcasts using cloud-based tools, collaborating on writing assignments using Google Docs, and participating in online polling and crowdsourcing.
What is the purpose of the final step of proofreading the entire essay?
-The final step of proofreading is to ensure there are no spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, or other issues missed earlier. It is crucial not to add new details in this step to avoid potentially reducing the essay's effectiveness.
What is the key to structuring the argumentative essay effectively?
-The key to structuring the essay effectively is to start with a clear thesis statement, follow with detailed paragraphs that support the thesis with specific examples, and end with an introduction and conclusion that encapsulate the main points without introducing new information.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Understanding the Argumentative Essay Grading Process

The paragraph explains the dual grading system for the argumentative essay in the Praxis Core test, involving both human and computer graders. It emphasizes the importance of clear thesis statements and the process of reaching a final score through agreement between graders or a tie-breaker if they disagree. The goal is to aim for a score of four, indicating competence, and to write clearly and concisely to reduce the risk of bias or misunderstanding.

05:00

💡 Key Elements for a High-Scoring Essay

This paragraph focuses on the critical components required for a high-scoring essay, including a clearly stated thesis, organized structure, key ideas with supporting details, and adequate use of language and grammar. It also discusses the significance of tangible details over abstract concepts and the importance of good grammar, despite common advice to the contrary.

10:02

📚 Writing Out of Order for Effective Essay Composition

The speaker advises writing the essay out of order, starting with the thesis statement and then mapping out the essay with bullet points to stay organized. The body paragraphs, which carry the most weight in grading, are written first, followed by the introduction and conclusion. The paragraph also covers the importance of proofreading the body paragraphs before moving on to the other sections.

15:02

🚫 Navigating Opinionated Prompts and Taking a Definitive Stance

The paragraph discusses how to approach argumentative essay prompts that present a strong opinion. It suggests disagreeing with the prompt as a strategy and emphasizes the need to take a clear position. It also mentions the instruction to use personal experience and first-person narrative, which differs from the usual academic advice to use third person.

20:04

📱 The Benefits of Technology in Classrooms Argument

The speaker outlines a strategy for writing an argumentative essay against banning technological devices in classrooms. It includes creating a thesis statement, mapping out the essay with key advantages such as engagement and differentiated instruction, and providing specific examples to support the argument. The paragraph also discusses the importance of avoiding second-person narrative for a scholarly tone.

25:06

🤝 Collaboration and Engagement through Technology

This paragraph delves into how technological devices can foster collaboration and engagement in the classroom. It provides specific examples such as creating podcasts and infographics, and discusses the importance of personal experience in the essay. The speaker also explains how to map out the essay and turn the map into a well-structured argument with clear overarching statements and supporting details.

30:10

📖 Structuring the Argumentative Essay with a Clear Thesis

The paragraph explains the process of structuring the argumentative essay, starting with a clear thesis statement that disagrees with the prompt. It details how to write the body paragraphs with rich examples and a flow that supports the thesis. The speaker also emphasizes the need to proofread thoroughly, ensuring that the essay is grammatically correct and adheres to the requirements of the prompt.

35:10

🔍 Final Proofreading and Ensuring Essay Coherence

The final paragraph stresses the importance of a final proofreading session to catch any errors and ensure the essay is coherent and adheres to the prompt. It advises against adding new information during this stage, as it could potentially lower the essay score. The paragraph concludes with the steps for writing the argumentative essay, from thesis to conclusion, and the importance of staying focused on the topic.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is a type of writing where the author presents a point of view on a controversial issue and supports it with evidence and reasoning. In the context of the video, the argumentative essay is a component of the Praxis Core exam, where the candidate must take a clear position on a given topic and support it with specific reasons and examples from their own experience.

💡Grading Process

The grading process described in the video involves both human and computer graders. Human graders are educators who assess the essay's content and quality, while computer graders use programmed algorithms to evaluate certain aspects of the essay. The combined score from both graders determines the essay's final grade. This process is crucial for reducing bias and ensuring cost-effective grading in large-scale assessments like the Praxis Core.

💡Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that clearly presents the main argument or claim of an essay. In the video, the presenter emphasizes the importance of stating the thesis clearly and directly, which helps the reader understand the writer's position without having to search for it within the text. The thesis statement is typically placed at the end of the introductory paragraph.

💡Essay Mapping

Essay mapping is a strategy used to outline and organize the ideas before writing the essay. It involves jotting down bullet points and key ideas that will be expanded upon in the essay. In the video, the presenter uses essay mapping to structure the argumentative essay, ensuring that the body paragraphs are focused and that the writer stays on topic.

💡Detail Paragraphs

Detail paragraphs are the sections of an argumentative essay where the writer presents specific evidence, examples, and reasoning to support their thesis statement. The video stresses that these paragraphs are critical for the essay's grade, as they contain the bulk of the argument and should be well-developed and free of grammatical errors.

💡Proofreading

Proofreading is the process of reading through written work to identify and correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. In the context of the video, the presenter advises proofreading the body paragraphs before writing the introduction and conclusion to ensure the essay's main argument is clear and error-free. Final proofreading of the entire essay is also recommended to catch any missed mistakes.

💡First Person Narrative

First person narrative is a writing perspective where the writer uses 'I', 'me', 'we', and other first-person pronouns to tell a story or present an argument. The video mentions that while third person narrative is typically preferred in academic writing, the Praxis Core study companion uses first person narrative, so the presenter models this approach in the essay example.

💡Second Person Narrative

Second person narrative is a writing perspective where the writer uses 'you' to directly address the reader. In the video, the presenter advises against using second person narrative in academic essays as it can shift the perspective and is often considered a language issue that detracts from the scholarly tone of the writing.

💡Grammar and Mechanics

Grammar and mechanics refer to the rules and principles that govern the structure of sentences, including word usage, punctuation, and syntax. The video emphasizes the importance of demonstrating control over grammar and mechanics in an essay, as poor grammar can distract the reader and negatively impact the essay's score.

💡Sentence Variety

Sentence variety refers to the use of different sentence structures and lengths to create a more engaging and dynamic piece of writing. In the video, the presenter discusses how incorporating sentence variety can improve the flow of the essay and make it more enjoyable for the reader.

💡Writing Out of Order

Writing out of order is a technique where the writer does not compose the essay from beginning to end in a linear fashion. Instead, they may start with the thesis statement, then write the body paragraphs, and only afterward write the introduction and conclusion. The video presenter recommends this approach for the argumentative essay, as it helps to ensure that the essay is well-organized and that the writer's position is clear.

Highlights

The argumentative essay in Praxis Core is graded by both a human and a computer, with a tiebreaker human grader if they disagree.

The combined score from the essay and multiple-choice questions contributes to the overall writing score.

Aim for a score of four, which is considered competent, to pass the writing exam.

Clearly state the thesis to avoid confusion for the graders; do not imply it.

The essay should display control in organization, with focused and definitive paragraphs.

Include key ideas and details with examples to support the thesis.

Adequate use of language, including grammar, is crucial, and errors can distract from the content.

Sentence variety is important for the flow of the essay and reader engagement.

Write the essay out of order, starting with the thesis statement and then mapping the essay before writing the detailed paragraphs.

Proofreading the body paragraphs before the introduction and conclusion is essential to ensure clarity and correctness.

The introduction and conclusion may seem repetitive when written out of order, but the body paragraphs will provide necessary context.

Argumentative essay prompts are often opinionated, requiring a definitive position from the writer.

Using first-person narrative is acceptable in the Praxis Core argumentative essay, as demonstrated by the study companion.

Avoid second-person narrative ('you') as it shifts perspective and can be considered a grammar issue.

The use of technology in the classroom can foster collaboration and increase student engagement, contrary to common misconceptions.

Personal experiences can be effectively incorporated into the essay to support the writer's position.

The final step is to proofread the entire essay without adding new details, ensuring a polished final submission.

Transcripts

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