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TUCSON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT DEPARTMENT
Short Answer Responses
WPO 1 Editing: Correcting Spelling, Usage, and Punctuation
Read the following sentence and then rewrite it, making the necessary corrections in spelling, usage, and punctuation.Few speechs are better known then Dr. Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream.
WPO 2 Persuasive Writing: Constructing an Effective Thesis
You have been asked to be a panelist on the National Youth Media Advisory Board to discuss the effect of film violence on the behavior of teenagers. Compose a one-sentence thesis statement that clearly presents your point of view.
WPO 3 Analysis of Literary Elements: Defining Character
When I needed a new jacket and my mother asked what kind I wanted, I described something like bikers wear: black leather and silver studs with enough belts to hold down a small town. We were in the kitchen, steam on the windows from her cooking. She listened so long while stirring dinner that I thought she understood for sure the kind I wanted. The next day when I got home from school, I discovered draped on my bedpost a jacket the color of day-old guacamole. I threw my books on the bed and approached the jacket slowly, as if it were a stranger whose hand I had to shake. I touched the vinyl sleeve, the collar, and peeked at the mustard-colored lining.
Briefly explain how the narrator seems to feel about his new jacket and then specify what clues indicate his feeling. Limit your response to two or three sentences.
WPO 4 Crafting a Research Document: Supporting a Thesis with Facts
Lanita is writing a research paper on population growth. She’s considering using one of the three statements listed below as a fact in support of her thesis: The world’s population is growing at an alarming rate. Explain which of the statements below would provide the strongest support and tell why it is the best choice.
America’s malls have grown more and more crowded each year.
The population of Mexico has tripled since 1960.
Advances in science have kept up with the growing demand for food.
WPO5 Writing a Formal Communication: Requesting Information
You are planning a large family reunion at the Saguaro National Monument. Since requests for the use of monument facilities must be made in writing, you will compose the body of a letter requesting the following:
Reservations for a certain date.
Rules and regulations regarding live music.
Information regarding possible fees.
Skipping the address portion of the letter, you may simply begin with Dear Park Ranger:
WPO 6 Writing a Narrative: Using Literary Elements
From the kitchen mother yelled that my jacket was in the closet. I closed the door to her voice and pulled at the rack of clothes in the closet, hoping the jacket on the bedpost wasn’t for me but my mean brother. No luck. I gave up. From my bed, I stared at the jacket. I wanted to cry because it was so ugly and so big that I knew I’d have to wear it a long time. I was a small kid, thin, a young tree, and it would be years before I’d have a new one. I stared at the jacket, like an enemy, thinking bad things before I took off my old jacket whose sleeves climbed halfway to my elbow.
Write two or three sentences that would continue the passage and provide more sensory imagery, such as taste, smell, sound, touch, or sight. You may include dialog.