Praxis Core Writing 5723 | Part 02 | Source-Based Essay | Kathleen Jasper

Kathleen Jasper
17 Jul 202022:55
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script offers a comprehensive guide on tackling the source-based essay section of the Praxis Core Exam. It emphasizes the unbiased grading system, where essays are scored by two human graders and a third is brought in if there's a discrepancy. The speaker outlines a structured approach to writing the essay, which includes defining a thesis statement, mapping the essay, writing detailed paragraphs, and proofreading. The script highlights the importance of using information from the provided sources, citing them correctly, and rephrasing to avoid plagiarism. The speaker also provides a strategy for creating an impactful introduction and conclusion, and stresses the value of practice in preparing for the exam.

Takeaways
  • πŸ“ The Praxis Core Exam includes a source-based essay component which is scored by two human graders and potentially a third if there is a discrepancy in scoring.
  • πŸ€– The source-based essay requires identifying and explaining the most important concerns from two provided sources on a given topic.
  • πŸ“š The essay must incorporate information from both sources and may also include personal experiences, observations, or readings, with proper citation.
  • πŸ’‘ The essay structure typically involves a thesis statement, mapping the essay, writing detailed paragraphs, an introduction, a conclusion, and proofreading.
  • πŸ“ˆ The thesis statement for a source-based essay can be memorized and adapted for different topics by plugging in the subject.
  • πŸ” To prepare, practice writing essays using different prompts and refining your ideas to improve your skills.
  • 🏫 The source-based essay prompt provides a narrative on a topic, followed by a task directive and two opposing viewpoints in the form of source materials.
  • βš–οΈ The grading process aims to be unbiased and fair, especially with the inclusion of a third grader as a tiebreaker if needed.
  • πŸ”‘ Effectively using the source materials involves summarizing key points and rephrasing them in your own words, rather than creating original content.
  • πŸ“ When mapping out your essay, identify the main points from each source that will form the body of your detailed paragraphs.
  • πŸ“ The four-paragraph essay format is well-suited for the source-based essay, with each paragraph focusing on a key aspect of the sources.
  • ✍️ Proofreading is crucial to ensure there are no errors and that the essay is cohesive, maintaining a consistent point of view throughout.
Q & A
  • What is the scoring process for the source-based essay in the Praxis Core Exam?

    -The source-based essay is scored by two human graders. If they agree within one point, the essay is scored and the candidate moves on. If they disagree, a third human grader is brought in as a tiebreaker to ensure fairness and unbiased grading.

  • How does the source-based essay differ from the argumentative essay?

    -The source-based essay requires the candidate to identify the most important concerns regarding an issue from two provided sources, explain why they are important, and use information from both sources. It does not require personal experiences or a definitive position as in the argumentative essay.

  • What is the recommended approach to writing the source-based essay?

    -The recommended approach includes typing the thesis statement, mapping the essay, writing detailed paragraphs, proofing the body paragraphs, writing the introduction, writing the conclusion, and then proofreading the entire essay.

  • What is the structure of a typical source-based essay prompt?

    -A typical source-based essay prompt starts with a narrative about a topic, followed by a synopsis of the issue and the task instructions. It then provides two sources with differing opinions on the issue, which the candidate must use to inform their essay.

  • How can a candidate prepare for the source-based essay?

    -A candidate can prepare by practicing with different writing prompts, focusing on summarizing points from provided sources, and learning how to cite sources properly. They should also familiarize themselves with the APA formatting for citations.

  • What is the significance of having a canned thesis statement for the source-based essay?

    -A canned thesis statement allows the candidate to quickly establish the structure of their essay around the topic, indicating that it is seen as both an opportunity and a threat. This saves time and ensures a clear and focused argument throughout the essay.

  • How does mapping help in organizing the essay?

    -Mapping helps in identifying the key points from each source that will be discussed in the detailed paragraphs. It provides a structured approach to organizing the essay, ensuring that the candidate covers all the necessary points and maintains a logical flow of information.

  • What is the purpose of citing both sources in the essay?

    -Citing both sources is crucial as it demonstrates the candidate's ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and present a balanced view on the issue. It also adheres to the task instructions and academic integrity standards.

  • Why is it important to rephrase and not copy directly from the sources?

    -Rephrasing ensures that the candidate demonstrates their understanding of the material and their ability to present it in their own words. Direct copying could be considered plagiarism and lead to a lower score or failure of the exam.

  • How does the source-based essay assess a teacher's potential abilities?

    -The source-based essay assesses a teacher's ability to analyze and synthesize information, present a balanced argument, and cite sources appropriately. These are important skills for a teacher who needs to evaluate student work, present diverse viewpoints, and teach research skills.

  • What is the final step in writing the source-based essay?

    -The final step is to proofread the entire essay from top to bottom, checking for any errors, inconsistencies, or areas that need improvement. This ensures the essay is polished, coherent, and meets the requirements of the task.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ“ Praxis Core Exam Essay Grading Process

The paragraph discusses the grading process for the source-based essay in the Praxis Core Exam. It emphasizes the unbiased nature of the grading system, which involves two human graders and a third as a tiebreaker if the first two do not agree within one point. The paragraph also mentions that the Praxis exam is different from the FTCE exam in this regard. The speaker advises on the importance of organization in writing the essay and provides a method to write the thesis statement by plugging in the topic. The steps to writing the source-based essay are outlined, including mapping the essay, writing detailed paragraphs, and proofreading.

05:02
πŸ€– Analyzing Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence

This paragraph focuses on the process of analyzing two sources regarding artificial intelligence (AI) for a source-based essay. It explains how to identify the differing opinions in the sources and how to use the information provided to construct an essay. The paragraph provides an example with two sources, one arguing that AI is risky (Mar 2018) and the other from MIT Technology Review stating AI as a force for good. The speaker suggests using the four-paragraph essay structure and emphasizes the ease of creating a thesis statement by reflecting the dual perspectives on the topic.

10:03
πŸ“š Mapping AI Concerns and Benefits

The paragraph delves into mapping out the detailed points from the two sources about AI. It outlines the process of identifying key concerns raised by Mar 2018 about AI, such as autonomous weapons and data tracking, and contrasts these with the positive aspects of AI as presented by MIT 2018, including democratization of services, risk prediction, and improvements in finance, education, and healthcare. The speaker demonstrates how to create a map for an essay, emphasizing the importance of pulling out specific details without reading the entire source material.

15:04
πŸ—£οΈ Writing and Citing Detailed Paragraphs

This section illustrates how to write detailed paragraphs for the source-based essay, using direct quotes and citations from the sources. It provides examples of how to rephrase and summarize points from Mar 2018 and MIT Technology Review 2018, ensuring that the essay is well-supported by evidence. The paragraph also explains the correct citation format and the importance of presenting a compelling argument by using impactful quotes from the sources.

20:05
πŸ“ Crafting an Introduction and Conclusion

The final paragraph discusses the process of writing the introduction and conclusion for the source-based essay. It emphasizes the importance of creating an engaging introduction that introduces the topic and sets the stage for the detailed paragraphs. The paragraph also explains how to write a conclusion that restates the main issue and calls for further research or debate. The speaker advises on maintaining a consistent point of view throughout the essay and provides a formulaic approach to writing conclusions that can be adapted to any topic.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Source-based essay
A source-based essay is a type of writing task where the writer must analyze and incorporate information from provided sources into their essay. In the context of the video, it is a specific requirement for the Praxis Core Exam, where the essay must identify and discuss the most important concerns regarding a given issue using information from two sources. The video script provides a detailed walkthrough of how to approach writing a source-based essay, emphasizing the importance of understanding the perspectives from the sources and incorporating them into a structured essay format.
πŸ’‘Praxis Core Exam
The Praxis Core Exam is a group of tests used for entry into many teaching programs in the United States. It assesses basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. The video script discusses the structure and scoring of the source-based essay component of this exam, highlighting the unbiased grading method involving multiple graders and a tiebreaker to ensure fairness.
πŸ’‘Thesis statement
A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that presents the main argument or point of view of an essay. In the video, the presenter explains how to create a thesis statement for a source-based essay by identifying the topic and stating that it is seen as both an opportunity and a threat. The script provides a formulaic approach to writing thesis statements that can be adapted to various topics.
πŸ’‘Mapping
In the context of the video, mapping refers to the process of organizing and planning the structure of the essay before writing. The presenter outlines how to create a map for each detailed paragraph, extracting key points from the source materials. This method helps to ensure that the essay is well-organized and that all relevant points from the sources are included.
πŸ’‘Citation
Citation is the act of acknowledging the source of information used in an essay. The video emphasizes the importance of correctly citing sources in a source-based essay, following APA formatting guidelines. It provides examples of how to cite sources within the text, ensuring that the writer gives credit to the original authors and allows readers to locate the sources.
πŸ’‘Proofreading
Proofreading is the process of reading through written work to identify and correct errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. In the video, the presenter advises proofreading the entire essay from top to bottom to ensure there are no mistakes. This step is crucial to polish the essay and maintain a professional tone throughout the writing.
πŸ’‘Bias
Bias in the context of the video refers to a preference or inclination towards a particular viewpoint. The presenter discusses how the source-based essay format can help reduce bias by providing multiple perspectives on a topic. The unbiased grading method of the Praxis Core Exam, which includes a tiebreaker in case of disagreement between graders, also aims to minimize bias in scoring.
πŸ’‘APA formatting
APA formatting is a set of guidelines for formatting academic papers and citing sources. The video script mentions APA formatting in relation to how sources should be cited within the essay. It provides an example of how to format the citation using the last name and the year of publication, which is a standard practice in APA style.
πŸ’‘Argumentative essay
An argumentative essay is a type of writing where the writer takes a position on a topic and argues for it using evidence and reasoning. The video contrasts the source-based essay with the argumentative essay, noting that the latter requires the writer to come up with personal experiences and a definitive position, whereas the former relies on summarizing points from provided sources.
πŸ’‘Intro and Conclusion
The introduction and conclusion are essential parts of an essay that set the context and summarize the main points, respectively. The video script provides a strategy for writing these sections by using the introductory information given in the source-based prompt and rephrasing it to fit the thesis statement. The conclusion is emphasized as a 'plug and play' section that can be adapted to any main issue discussed in the essay.
πŸ’‘ELS (English Language Learners)
ELS refers to individuals learning English as a second language. The video script suggests that the source-based essay format can be particularly beneficial for ELS students because it provides a structured approach to writing and reduces the need for extensive personal language generation, making it more accessible for those not fluent in English.
Highlights

The Praxis Core Exam uses a specific method for scoring the source-based essay, involving two human graders and a third in case of disagreement.

The source-based essay grading process is considered unbiased and fair, despite its higher cost.

The essay must draw on information from both provided sources and may include personal experiences.

The essay structure includes a thesis statement, detailed paragraphs, an introduction, a conclusion, and proofreading.

The thesis statement for the source-based essay can be memorized and adapted to any topic.

The essay map should include key points from each source to be addressed in the detailed paragraphs.

The introduction can be crafted using the initial topic presentation, reworded for originality.

Detailed paragraphs should summarize and cite points from the sources, avoiding direct copying.

APA formatting is used for citations, with the last name and year of the author.

The essay should maintain a consistent point of view throughout, avoiding perspective shifts.

The conclusion should be adaptable to any main issue discussed in the essay, acting as a 'plug and play' formula.

Proofreading is crucial and should be done from top to bottom without adding new content.

The source-based essay is favored for its fairness and ability to reduce bias, especially for non-native English speakers.

The essay task is practical for educators, as it assesses the ability to present researched information.

The source-based essay is considered easier than the argumentative essay because it relies on provided sources.

The use of direct quotes from the sources can help to bulk up the essay while maintaining originality.

It is important to reword and cite information from the sources rather than copying verbatim.

The essay prompts can vary widely, covering topics from AI to dress codes in schools.

Transcripts
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