The “Fast Food” Essay:

Quick and Consistent Strategies for Success on the ACT Writing Exam

All successful food chains understand that to be top notch, you must know…

Your customersYour ingredientsHow to put the ingredients together

Your CustomersYour Customers

Two “raters” score your essayEach rater is trained and certified

to grade the ACT essayEach rater assigns your essay a

score on a scale of 1-6 and these scores are added together to give you a subscore of 2-12

If two raters have wildly different scores, a third rater is brought in

Your Customers contd.

The essay graders are your customers

and you want to give them an essay that tastes just like

what they’re expecting…

How do I know what my customers are expecting?

You can learn exactly what the ACT raters expect by looking at the actual ACT

essay directions.

The ACT DirectionsRead the directions below and make sure you

understand them:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

AssignmentIn your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about one of two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

The Dos and Don’ts of Great ACT Writing

DO: Write only on the given

topicTake a clear position on

the topicWrite persuasively to

convince the raterInclude reasons and

examples to support your position

DON’T: Write on a topic that

barely relates to the one given

Take a “wishy-washy” approach and try to argue 2 sides

Write creatively or ornately just to show off

Include examples that are not directly related to your position

The Dos and Don’ts of Great ACT WritingDO:

Write with correct grammar and spelling

Write clearlyWrite specifically and

concretely Write 5 paragraphs and

NOTE these paragraphs with proper indentation

Write only on the given lined paper

Write NEATLY!

DON’T: Forget to proof your work

for mistakesUse too many fancy

vocabulary words or overly long sentences

Be vague or use generalizations

Put more importance on length than on quality

Make your handwriting too large

The Rater’s Instructions

Raters must refer to a set-in-stone list of criteria when

evaluating each essay and deciding what grade (1-6) it deserves. Here’s what raters

are told to grade upon…

The Rater’s Instructions contd. Rank the student’s ability to…

Take and articulate a perspective on an issue

Maintain a clear focus on the perspective throughout the essay

Explore a position by using supportive evidence and logical reasoning

Organize ideas logicallyCommunicate clearly in writing

CHARACTERISTICSHere’s how scorers separate the good from the

bad….4-6 papers (good ones)Writers show a clear understanding of the purpose of

the essay by articulating their perspective and developing their ideas

Most generalizations will be developed with specific examples to support the writer’s perspective

A clear focus will be maintained throughout the paperThe paper will show competent use of languageAlthough there may be occasional errors, these will

only occasionally distract the rater and won’t interfere with the rater’s ability to understand the writer’s meaning

CHARACTERISTICSHere’s how scorers separate the good from the

bad….1-3 papers (bad ones)

Writers will not clearly articulate a perspective on the issue

The writing will usually demonstrate some development of ideas, but the development may be very general or repetitious

Most papers will maintain focus on the general topic identified with the prompt, but they may not maintain focus on the specific issue

Except for the weakest papers, the essay will use a clear but simple organizational structure

The language will be understandable for the most part, but errors will distract the rater and possibly interfere with understanding

To write a tasty ACT essay, you’ve got to know the necessary ingredients…Recipe for a top-notch ACT Essay:

Blend equal parts of the following:Positioning: the strength and clarity of

your stance on a given topicExamples: The relevance and

development of the examples you use to support your argument

Organization: The organization of each of your paragraphs and of your essay overall

Command of language: Sentence construction, grammar, and word choice

Positioning: The Essay TopicsTypical ACT topics will give you a

statement that addresses 2-sided issues like dress codes, block scheduling, justice, the definition of success, or the importance of learning from mistakes

The broadness of these topics allow you to find many examples to support the position that you take in your essay.

SAMPLE ACT PROMPTSome high schools in the United States have considered creating separate classrooms for male and female students in subjects such as mathematics and science. Some educators think separate classes will be beneficial because students will be less distracted from learning. Other educators think having separate classes for females and males will not be beneficial because it will seem to support stereotypes about differences in ability between males and females. In your opinion, should high schools create separate classes for male and female students?

The Two Sides: How to successfully state your essay’s position

Given the 30-minute time constraint, you need to quickly employ the following strategies to ensure a solid position:Brainstorm the two sides of the issue

with supporting pointsChoose one (and only one) positionUse a T-Chart to brainstorm

The T-Chart Method

My Position Opposing Position

Point 1 Point 1

Point 2 Point 2

Point 3 Point 3 (if

possible)

Your position will need at least 3 points; try to brainstorm at least 2 for the opposing position

Let’s try one for whether we should have separate classrooms or not…

We should separate:

Fewer distractionsEliminate teachers’

gender biasStudents would be

more comfortable in their academic interactions

It would perpetuate gender biases - although students wouldn’t be compared within one class, surely they would be compared among classes

Students of different genders provide different perspectives in academia

Comparison to “separate but equal”

We should NOT separate:

Essay Position: High School should be extended to 5 years

The Steps so far…

1. Read the prompt2. Make a T-chart that identifies

arguments for both sides of the issue3. Choose a side

NEXT STEP: Come up with examples that will substantiate your argument and compose an outline that organizes these ideas.

Step 4: Develop Examples

To make an ACT essay shine, you need to use excellent examples. This means that you use:Specific examplesA variety of examples

ANOTHER SAMPLE PROMPT

Many successful adults recall a time in their life when they were considered a failure at one pursuit or another. Some of these people feel strongly that their previous failures taught them valuable lessons and led to their later successes. Others maintain that they went on to achieve success for entirely different reasons. In your opinion, can failure lead to success? Or is failure simply its own experience?

A Look at Specific Examples…What are some possible examples to

support that “Learning the lessons taught by failure is a sure route to success”?

Possibility: The American Army during the Revolutionary War, which learned from its failures in the early years of war how it needed to fight the British

How to make this example work?BE SPECIFIC! Give dates, mention

people, battles, tactics.

Don’t be Intimidated!Don’t worry if you don’t instantly recall the

dates of historical eventsANY descriptive details that you can provide

will strengthen your argument, whether they are personal examples or historical facts

Just be sure to choose examples that you know a lot about in order to be specific

A solid example and details that use the example to prove the argument make the difference between a good ACT essay and a great one

Your Turn!

Write down at least two more specific examples that would help illustrate the position that: “Learning the lessons taught by failure is a sure route to success.”When you are finished, try to think of a COUNTER example.

Variety of Examples

As crucial as using specific examples is the variety of examples that you supply to prove your point

You’re more likely to impress the ACT scorers if you use a broad range of examples from different areas—history, art, politics, literature, and science, as well as your own life—as opposed to examples in only one of these areas

How It’s DoneHere are 3 examples of how you might choose to support the position, Failure can lead to success.

History: The Americans’ victory over the British in the Revolutionary War

Literature: In spite of David Copperfield’s difficult childhood, he eventually found personal and professional happiness

Current Events: The JetBlue airline succeeding by learning from the mistakes of its competitors.

THE OUTLINE

Use the basic structure of the 5-

paragraph essay to organize your outline

The 5-paragraph EssayA good ACT essay is like a triple-decker burger.

A tasty, tasty CON-PRO-PRO burger. It has 5 paragraphs, each with a purpose.

Paragraph 1: The Introduction (top bun)

Paragraph 2 - CON: Counterargument + Refutation

Paragraph 3 -PRO: Supporting Point + Examples (meat)

Paragraph 4 - PRO: Supporting Point + Examples (meat)

Paragraph 5: Conclusion (bottom bun)

Your OutlineIntroduction

Background information: What is the controversy?Thesis statement and reasoning

Paragraph 1 - CONCounterargument + refutation, include example(s)

Paragraph 2 - PROSupport point to your thesis + example(s)

Paragraph 3 - PROSupport point to your thesis + example(s)

Conclusion

The Top Bun: Introduction

Your introduction must do 3 things:Grab the reader’s attention (hook

statement)Explain your position on the topic

clearly and conciselyTransition the rater smoothly into

your 3 supporting pointsState your thesis

The Thesis StatementThe thesis statement identifies where you

stand on the topic and should pull the raters into the essay. A good thesis statement is strong, clear, and definitive.

High schools should create separate classrooms for male and female students, as this construct would ultimately help close the achievement gap between the sexes in the United States.

Although single-gender classrooms may be beneficial in some ways, high schools should not adopt the practice of separating male and female students because this academic structure would ultimately reinforce gender stereotypes.

School districts in the United States should not adopt a policy that separates classes by gender.

Body Paragraph 1: Support Includes Counterargument and RefutationAll top scoring essays include a

statement that explains a counterargument—a side that the opposition takes on– as well as refutation of this counterargument.

Basically, good essays show the beliefs of the opposition and show why the author’s position is stronger

Example, “Those who support single-sex classrooms may argue that… however, …” or “Many educators/parents argue…”

Body Paragraphs 2 & 3

Support your thesis statement with supporting evidenceIntroduce your supporting pointProvide specific and varied

examples to prove your point

Example – “One reason schools should remain on the four-year graduation plan is …“

Paragraph 5: Conclusion1. The re-cap: In 1-2 sentences,

summarize what you’ve already argued

2. Expand on your positionTake your argument and push it a little bit further—try looking into the future and show your reader what would happen if the position could be applied on a broader scale.

3. Provide a firm sense of closure in the last sentences.

Conclusion contd.

Examples of expanding your argument in the conclusion:

“If ______ is done ____will happen.”“It is when we truly ______that we see_____.”“Until ______happens, _______will continue.”Or provide another well-worded reminder of the

importance of your argument being accepted.

Sentence Structure, Word Choice, Grammar, and Spelling

Keep your sentences focused and concise—long and complicated sentences won’t impress the scorers.

Don’t search for sophisticated vocabulary words that you’re unsure of. Use the best words to make your points clear.

A few grammar errors won’t destroy your score, but patterns of errors will make your score suffer.

The Final Don’tsDon’t use “I” or “I believe” or “I think”. It

implies opinion or uncertainty and facts are much more persuasive. If you use them, just strike them out!

Don’t use “thing” or “stuff”. These words are ambiguous and don’t tell your reader very much.

Don’t use slang or word choices that aren’t appropriate for school. These words take away from your ability to persuade the reader.

Writers will not clearly articulate a perspective on the issue

The writing will usually demonstrate some development of ideas, but the development may be very general or repetitious

Most papers will maintain focus on the general topic identified with the prompt, but they may not maintain focus on the specific issue

Except for the weakest papers, the essay will use a clear but simple organizational structure

The language will be understandable for the most part, but errors will distract the rater and possibly interfere with understanding

•Writers show a clear understanding of the purpose of the essay by articulating their perspective and developing their ideas•Most generalizations will be developed with specific examples to support the writer’s perspective•A clear focus will be maintained throughout the paper•The paper will show competent use of language•Although there may be occasional errors, these will only occasionally distract the rater and won’t interfere with the rater’s ability to understand the writer’s meaning