Cuny Assessment Test Writing Sample Essay

Taking the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing by Laurence D. Berkley - First Edition, 2012 from Macmillan Student Store

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Taking the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing

First Edition ©2012

Taking the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (CATW) provides the strategies and models students need to write an effective response to the CATW exam. It includes an overview of the exam's format, an explanation of how the exam will be assessed, a step-by-step guide to crafting an effective written response to a sample reading passage, tips for editing and proofreading, and lots of opportunities for practice. Whether used in a developmental writing course or by students preparing on their own, this guide can help students improve their writing and ace the CATW exam.

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ISBN:9781457602283

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Taking the CUNY Assessment Test in Writing by Laurence D. Berkley - First Edition, 2012 from Macmillan Student Store

An overview of the exam's format and the rubric used for scoring the exam
Step-by-step instructions for writing the exam that highlight the three key components to the exam response: writing an effective and accurate summary of the reading passage, identifying a significant idea in the passage and explaining its significance, and supporting the writer's claims with evidence and examples
Annotated examples that demonstrate how to write the response and provide students with the concrete examples they need
"Now Try It Yourself" exercises throughout the book to give students the hands-on practice they need to succeed, and a workbook chapter that guides students in drafting a response
Editing and proofreading tips that focus on key issues for students, such as wordiness and repetition, with exercises to practice these important skills
Sample responses with scores, so students can see the kinds of answers they will need to produce to earn upper-level scores on the exam
Ten additional reading passages that students can use to practice writing effective responses
A grammar and punctuation review that focuses on key issues for native and non-native speakers, such as correcting fragments and run-ons, plus lists of commonly confused (accept/except, its/it's, they're/their/there) and commonly misspelled words

"The book is exemplary. It is clear, easy to understand, broken down into the most essential components all the while keeping students' critical thinking skills very much in mind. . . . The author has managed to make the material not just interesting, but compelling."

— Doris Barkin, City College of New York

"The author offers a sound and systematic approach to the exam, with some excellent advice for students confronting this form of timed essay writing. It's an impressive addition to the new field of the CATW."

— Enid Stubin, Kingsborough Community College

"This is a solid text in which each component is as valuable as the next. It is . . . a straight-forward, hands-on, 'this is what it is all about' text."

— David Rothman, Queensborough Community College

"If you pay careful attention and follow all the advice in Taking the CATW . . ., there's no way you can't pass the exam."

— Beth Counihan, Queensborough Community College

"Clear, thorough, and methodical approach to success on the CATW."

— Claudia Zuluaga, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

"It offers a concise and clear pathway for success on the CATW exam."

— Marisa Klages, LaGuardia Community College

Preface for Instructors

Chapter 1: Introducing the CATW Exam

The Format of the Exam

Scoring the Exam

Chapter 2: The Writing Directions

Chapter 3: Writing a Response to a Sample CATW Passage

Reading Passage: "The Lottery Is for Losers"

Crafting the Summary

Developing Your Significant Idea

Explaining Its Significance

Supporting the Central Focus with Reasons and Evidence

Supporting Your Claims with Evidence and Examples

Using Examples from Your Coursework or Reading

Writing the Conclusion and Introduction

Crafting the Finished Product

Chapter 4: Taking the Exam: Writing Your Own Response

Crafting the Summary

Developing the Significant Idea

Supporting the Central Focus with Reasons and Evidence

Supporting Your Claims with Evidence and Examples

Writing the Conclusion and Introduction

Crafting the Finished Product

Chapter 5: Editing and Proofreading

Chapter 6: Sample Responses with Scores

Chapter 7: Additional Practice CATW Exams

Chapter 8: Correcting Common Errors

Sentence Fragments

Run-on Sentences

Subject-Verb Agreement

Possessives

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Some Commonly Confused Words

Some Commonly Misspelled Words

Answers to Some of the Exercises in Chapter 5

Laurence D. Berkley

Laurence Berkley is an Assistant Professor and Chief Reader in the English Department at Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Boston University, his Master's Degree from Columbia University, and his Ph. D. from New York University.