ACT Writing Checklist

Client

Shmoop

Description

Developed a writing checklist to help students review the substance, structure, and style of their practice essays. Waxed poetic about writing conventions and cracked a few jokes to buoy spirits that were sapped during test practice.

ACT Writing Test Checklist (Aka Shmoopy Bullet Pointed List)

Hip-hip-hooray! You finished your practice essay!

Before you take your victory lap, use this Review Checklist to see how well you did writing under a time crunch. As you edit, try to store these tips in your memory bank for withdrawal during the real deal ACT.

On Substance
Did you...

Include a mind-blowing thesis statement that clearly expresses your perspective on natural resource conservation?
For example, “Although people do have a moral obligation to care for the environment in which they live, many choose to ignore their moral compasses and follow the paths of their own self-interest. Therefore, to support and sustain the Earth’s natural resources, increased governmental regulation and enforcement is imperative.” Boom! Mind blown.
Critically examine the multiple perspectives given?
The perspectives range from an idea that keeping the status quo is the way to go (rhyming!) to one advocating for a massive increase in government controlled conservation efforts. You can agree, disagree, or park your Prius somewhere in between, but you must consider each perspective in some way.
Discuss the implications associated with each perspective? If we don’t change the way we treat the environment, what might happen? If the government steps up its enforcement of conservation efforts, how might people react? If you were rewarded for tree-hugging, would you try harder to do so? Think about the positives and negatives and engage with each perspective offered.
Cite specific examples to support your ideas and demonstrate your understanding of the topic?
Solid examples: “From the Dust Bowl to the BP oil spill, history proves that humans are careless when it comes to the environment” or “Elon Musk of Tesla made his technology patents for electric cars available to everyone, thus illustrating the fact that people are willing to put environmental concerns above their own selfish desires.”

On Substance
Did you...

Include a mind-blowing thesis statement that clearly expresses your perspective on natural resource conservation?
For example, “Although people do have a moral obligation to care for the environment in which they live, many choose to ignore their moral compasses and follow the paths of their own self-interest. Therefore, to support and sustain the Earth’s natural resources, increased governmental regulation and enforcement is imperative.” Boom! Mind blown.
Critically examine the multiple perspectives given?
The perspectives range from an idea that keeping the status quo is the way to go (rhyming!) to one advocating for a massive increase in government controlled conservation efforts. You can agree, disagree, or park your Prius somewhere in between, but you must consider each perspective in some way.
Discuss the implications associated with each perspective? If we don’t change the way we treat the environment, what might happen? If the government steps up its enforcement of conservation efforts, how might people react? If you were rewarded for tree-hugging, would you try harder to do so? Think about the positives and negatives and engage with each perspective offered.
Cite specific examples to support your ideas and demonstrate your understanding of the topic?
Solid examples: “From the Dust Bowl to the BP oil spill, history proves that humans are careless when it comes to the environment” or “Elon Musk of Tesla made his technology patents for electric cars available to everyone, thus illustrating the fact that people are willing to put environmental concerns above their own selfish desires.”

On Structure
Did you...

Write an introduction with an attention grabbing opener? Examples: “If nothing is done to protect the resources that make up our home planet, a day will come when mother Earth serves us an eviction notice” or “The government should focus on cleaning up the halls of Washington, not the environment.”
Incorporate the arguments you planned on using into your thesis statement?
Something like, “Increased environmental regulation is unnecessary because it eliminates personal choice, it perpetuates inequalities in wealth, and it will result in greater dissatisfaction with the government.” A good thesis kills two birds with one stone: it clearly states your argument and the examples you plan to discuss, and it provides the order in which you will discuss them. Follow the template outlined in your thesis and your essay will be an organizational masterpiece. Please note: no birds were harmed in the writing of this thesis statement.
Organize each of your body paragraphs around a clear point with a solid topic sentence beginning each paragraph?
Include strong transitions within and between each body paragraph to clearly show the relationship between your ideas? Avoid transitions like “first,” “second,” and “third” that merely list your arguments. Instead, include transitions like “similarly,” “in contrast,” or “consequently,” which help you discuss the correlation between your ideas.
Write a conclusion that restated your thesis, summarized your main points, and ended memorably?
Your conclusion is the last thing graders read before assigning your essay a score that will change your life forever. Perhaps that’s a tad dramatic, but you get the idea. Leave them with a positive impression of your writing.

On Style
Did you...

Vary your sentence structure?
Utilize vocabulary and tone appropriate to your audience? Avoid clichés like the plague and eliminate slang and language that is overly informal, yo.
Use strong verbs and active voice?
Incorporate persuasive techniques into your own writing? Pose rhetorical questions so the audience ponders your point. Include figurative language to help your words dance off of the page. Use parallel sentence construction to reinforce your ideas, to reflect upon the implications of environmental conservation, and to reveal your solution.

On Process
Did you...

Use the space provided to generate ideas and plan your essay before writing?
Turn your initial ideas into an organized outline?
Write with a #2 pencil?
Write legibly and clearly?
Stay within the boundary lines of the paper provided?
Keep calm and write on if you started running out of time, finishing your current paragraph and then busting out your conclusion to tie it all together?

If you did all of those things, your essay probably rocked the house. Now it’s time for that victory lap. Enjoy the cheers from your adoring fans; you earned them.

Want to see more?