Awa practise 1 doc

7. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a local newspaper.
We can all do something to improve the economy: Support our local small business owners. Instead of
going to a big chain store to buy your coffee, office supplies, or toothpaste and shampoo, shop at your local
coffee shop, stationery store, or pharmacy. Big chain stores have forced thousands of smaller stores out of
business, increasing unemployment and weakening the economy. They don’t deserve our patronage.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s
logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that
underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would
weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the
argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if
any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes.
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8. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a business magazine.
Some people feel that businesses should aim to create a more egalitarian office environment by giving
everyone equal-sized office space, for example, and seeking input from even the very lowest-level employ-
ees. But businesses are built upon and thrive on hierarchy. People who think a workplace can be egalitarian
are simply fooling themselves. Hierarchy should be acknowledged and reinforced in the business
environment.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s
logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that
underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would
weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the
argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if
any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes.
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9. The following was proposed by a husband to his wife.
Our neighbors, the Hansons, got a phonics program for their son Jimmy, and he was reading by age
four. If we get a phonics program for Junior, he will also be able to read by age four.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s

logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that
underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would
weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the
argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if
any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes.
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10. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a city newspaper.
The philosopher George Santayana once wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned
to repeat it.” We should place a greater emphasis on learning history in school so that our future citizens do
not make the same mistakes that have been made in the past.
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s
logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that
underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would
weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the
argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if
any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes.
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Answers and Explanations
Here are sample essays for ten of the practice prompts (five Analysis of an Issue prompts and five Analysis of
an Argument prompts). These ten essays would receive the top score of 6 because they have most or all of the
following characteristics:
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The content of your
written response
shows an under-
standing and inter-

pretation of the
issue or argument
and the task pre-
sented in the
prompt.
The development of
your written
response gives a
clear and logical
explanation of ideas
using specific and
relevant support.
The organization of
your written
response shows a
coherent, orderly,
well-reasoned
approach.
The expression of
your ideas reflects
an awareness of
audience, a com-
mand of vocabulary
and sentence struc-
ture, and an ability
to use language to
convey purpose.
The use of standard
English in your writ-
ten response

exhibits the correct
use of spelling,
punctuation, para-
graph organization,
capitalization, and
grammar.
■
Forms a thesis
statement that
reveals an in-
depth under-
standing of the
issue or argu-
ment
■
Presents a
sophisticated
and insightful
analysis of the
issue or argu-
ment
■
Develops ideas
clearly and fully
■
Provides a wide
range of relevant
and specific evi-
dence to support
the thesis state-

ment
■
Maintains the
focus of the thesis
statement
■
Uses a logical and
coherent structure
■
Applies skillful
writing devices
and transitions
■
Exhibits a mature,
sophisticated use
of language that
is precise and
engaging
■
Has a voice and a
sense of aware-
ness of audience
and purpose
■
Varies the struc-
ture and length of
sentences to
enhance meaning
■
Shows control of

the conventions
of standard Eng-
lish
■
Has few, if any,
errors even when
using sophisti-
cated language
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION EXPRESSION CONVENTIONS
The following sample essays are correct in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. Remember, however, that you
can have a few mistakes and still score a 6.
Analysis of an Issue Sample Essays
Prompt #2:
The main goal of education should be to teach students to be good citizens, not to prepare them for the
workplace.
Does a country need good citizens? Certainly, it does. But should the main goal of education be to teach
students to be good citizens? No. While nurturing good citizens should be a primary goal, it should not be
more important than preparing students for the workforce.
Upon graduation, most students head out into the workforce. At this crucial moment in their lives, what
is more important: their citizenship or their ability to become gainfully employed? As important as good cit-
izenship is, it does not pay the bills, and a society full of citizens who cannot support themselves will have
many serious problems.
Indeed, preparing young people for the workplace by providing them with analytical and technical skills
is essential for economic growth. Today more than ever, economic success is created and maintained by indi-
viduals who can run small businesses, make scientific advances, manage information, and labor in increas-
ingly technical manufacturing settings. A country of good citizens who lack the skills necessary to maintain
a stable economy will struggle financially and, therefore, socially and politically. How will the government
fund programs and provide necessary services to its citizens? How much will those good citizens suffer if the
country cannot support itself or has to compete with other countries for resources? How would it defend itself
in a time of war without a prepared, well-funded military?

However, this does not mean that education should focus primarily on workforce preparation. Eco-
nomic stability is not the only factor in a society’s success. For people to want to live and work in a society,
they must learn about and value the core beliefs of that society. Likewise, they must understand and partic-
ipate in the workings of that society. They must also respect and value their fellow citizens and their envi-
ronment. They must, in short, be good citizens, and it should be the duty of our schools to teach them how
to be.
In the United States of America, for example, children are taught the Pledge of Allegiance from the ear-
liest days of kindergarten; they are taught to respect the flag and all that it stands for. In later grades, those
children learn about the U.S. government, election processes, legal system, and tax system. This knowledge
will help to create good citizens who can serve on a jury or in the military, understand their duty to pay taxes,
vote to elect officials, and develop projects and programs that support and improve their communities.
For the United States to maintain its success and achieve its goals in technological growth, space travel,
military operations, environmental issues, and hundreds of other areas, we need educated citizens who are
well prepared for the workplace. A thriving, skilled workforce bolsters the economy and keeps money circu-
lating
—
money that funds our government through taxes. Without financially successful citizens, the coun-
try’s sources of revenue would soon diminish.
Thus, the main goal of education should not be primarily to prepare students for the workforce or teach
them to be good citizens but rather to prepare students for the workforce while teaching them to be good cit-
izens. To continue to succeed in our increasingly global world, to maintain our country’s standard of living,
and to keep America a place where people want to live and work, our schools must prepare good citizens and
educated workers.
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