Students should demonstrate the ability to pre-write and plan their essay when completing the written composition portion of the TAKS. Space for brainstorming and organizing ideas is included in the test booklet. Students should take time to consider what they want to say in their essay, the overall theme of the essay and any supporting details that might be necessary.
The introduction paragraph gives students an opportunity to let the reader know what will be discussed in the essay. It can be considered an agreement between the writer and the reader about what information the essay will contain. The introduction paragraph does not have to be written first; sometimes students write the body of the essay and then go back to write the introduction.
The introduction paragraph should include a hook, something that compels the reader to keep reading. The type of hook a student uses will depend on the type of essay, but it can be a question or a small bit of information that piques the reader's interest but does not give away too much information. Ideally the hook will lead the reader into the second paragraph of the essay.
The easiest way to lose a reader is to stray from the information presented in the introduction paragraph. Each subsequent paragraph should support and expand on what was written in the introduction of the essay. Students should decide in advance the purpose of each paragraph of the essay, and they should make sure each paragraph fulfills its purpose.
A strong closing paragraph will reiterate the information presented in the introduction paragraph. The closing paragraph is a conclusion and should include a summary of the important points in the essay.
Students should always re-read their essays and make revisions as needed. Check for proper punctuation and spelling and fix any sentence fragments or run-on sentences. Students should leave time to re-word sentences and paragraphs as needed. This is an important part of the writing process.
While grammar, mechanics and organization are important, the voice or writing style can also impact a student's score on the TAKS written portion. Students should not use a conversational tone in their essay, but they should use their own unique voice. This is especially true if the essay asks the student to connect a concept to her own life experience or feelings.