Georgia Milestones American Literature EOC extended writing response overview quiz quiz

It is graded only on grammar

It must be a certain length

It responds to two passages, and the evidence must come from those texts

It uses first person

By word count

On a 5-point rubric

On a single holistic 10-point scale

On a seven-point two-trait rubric: Idea Development, Organization, and Coherence (0 to 4) and Language Usage and Conventions (0 to 3)

Conventions are not scored

The idea trait is worth more (4 of 7), so develop ideas first, then proofread for conventions

Conventions can outscore ideas

The traits are averaged

Some students like volunteering and some do not.

Schools should require volunteering, because the passages show it builds skills, strengthens communities, and benefits volunteers.

This essay is about volunteering.

Volunteering is a topic many people discuss.

State the point, give text evidence from a passage, then explain how it supports the controlling idea

List five facts

Quote, quote, quote

Summarize the passage three times

Analysis: the explanation linking the evidence to the controlling idea

A longer quotation

A second quotation

The author's name

The rubric rewards how well ideas are developed, not how many points appear

Breadth is against the rules

Longer essays always score higher

More points means more grammar errors

Argumentative; take a side

Narrative; tell a story

Informational/explanatory; explain the authors' views without taking your own side

There is no mode

It adds word count

It is faster

Naming is against the rules

Refuting the strongest opposing view shows the position survives scrutiny and helps reach the top of the idea trait

Avoiding the controlling idea

One long paragraph

Random ordering of points

A sensible order of paragraphs and transitions, so the essay builds rather than jumps

One passage has no useful evidence

To make it longer

The task is source-based on two texts, so relying on one ignores half the evidence and weakens any synthesis

Typing speed

A longer essay

More analysis (explaining evidence), tighter organization, and, for an argument, refuting the counterclaim

More quotations with no explanation

Using first person