The WASL writing test contains a topic, or prompt. Carefully read the prompt, and consider the audience and purpose of the writing. The audience--the graders--will be looking for thoughtful writing with clear organization, detailed development and adherence to language conventions such as grammar and spelling. The purpose is to reply to the question, topic or writing prompt clearly and within a specified amount of time. While reading the prompt, allow a few minutes to think about the topic. This will begin the process of developing a reply with details.
Brainstorming is a common tool to spark the writing process. Begin to think of ways to answer the question or develop the topic. Tap into prior knowledge of the topic. Personal experience provides specific examples for making a point. Other sources are experiences from friends and family, or examples from films, news, books and articles. The main goal at the brainstorming stage is to let your imagination freely explore the topic. At this point, there are no bad ideas, only possibilities for writing.
Sketch a brief outline. The writing typically includes an introduction, two or three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. For balance, the introduction and conclusion are shorter and more general than the specific body paragraphs. Writers can demonstrate organizational skills by developing two or three body paragraphs; each paragraph is started with a topic sentence to introduce the main point of the paragraph. Be sure to include specific examples that support the main idea in each body paragraph.
Write the assignment. If you have developed ideas in the brainstorming sections, and selected and organized the ideas into an outline, then writing the assignment can be a pleasant experience. Guided by the outline, with access to specific examples from the brainstorming stage, write your ideas using your own voice. Relax in the knowledge that you have the ideas and organization, and allow yourself freedom to display your personal style.
Proofread your writing and make and editing changes. This stage comes after the assignment is written. Take a breath after finishing the writing, and let your mind rest for a minute. Then, with fresh eyes, return to the assignment you have just completed. Read your writing as if you had never seen it before. Check for common spelling errors, word choice and punctuation. If you find any corrections, neatly cross out any deletions, or use an arrow (caret) to make any additions. Avoid making too many corrections, which can make a bad impression and make the writing difficult to read. Present a clean and neat piece of writing for the best impression.