PACT Essential Academic Skills: Tests
701, 702, 703 Graded A
Descriptive writing
Writing used to create detailed descriptions of people, places, and things, and/or mood and
atmosphere. Can stand alone or be part of a narrative
Sensory details
descriptions of sight, sound, touch, smell, taste
transition words
words that create a sense of time and organize events in the story
narrative writing
writing that tells a story or describes a specific person, place, or thing.
Persuasive/argumentative writing
writing that seeks to convince the reader ot believe the writer's opinion on a topic
Examples of narrative/descriptive writing
short stories, vignettes, letters, memoirs, and poems
Examples of Persuasive/argumentative writing
advertisements, commercials, speeches, newspaper editorials, debates
Expository/Informative writing
,writing that explains a topic or gives general information on a topic
examples of Expository/Informative writing
compare/contrast essays, brochures, research reports, informative pieces.
rhetorical patterns
sequential order, chronological order, order of importance, spacial order, cause and effect,
problem and solution, claim and refutation, compare and contrast
sequential order
orderly progression of events, ideas or steps
Chronological order
orderly progression of events based on time
order of importance
arrangement of ideas with the most important claim at the top or bottom
spatial order
arrangement of ideas related o physical space
cause and effect
event is described followed by the possible outcomes
problem and solution
author presents a problem and a possible solution
claim and refutation
, arguing against a statement, fact, or claim
compare and contrast
provides similarities and differences about two ideas
key transitional language
however-turning point
first...second...third- process given
for example- illustration of point
question determining sequential order
Did the author explain a process?
Question determining Chronological order
Did the author walk through a process or period in history?
question determining order of importance
Did the author use terms like "most importantly" near the top or bottom?
question determining spatial order
Did the author keep places together based on geography?
Question determining Cause and Effect
Did the author explain what would happen after X occurred?
Question determining problem and solution
Did the author pose a problem and then provide answers?
701, 702, 703 Graded A
Descriptive writing
Writing used to create detailed descriptions of people, places, and things, and/or mood and
atmosphere. Can stand alone or be part of a narrative
Sensory details
descriptions of sight, sound, touch, smell, taste
transition words
words that create a sense of time and organize events in the story
narrative writing
writing that tells a story or describes a specific person, place, or thing.
Persuasive/argumentative writing
writing that seeks to convince the reader ot believe the writer's opinion on a topic
Examples of narrative/descriptive writing
short stories, vignettes, letters, memoirs, and poems
Examples of Persuasive/argumentative writing
advertisements, commercials, speeches, newspaper editorials, debates
Expository/Informative writing
,writing that explains a topic or gives general information on a topic
examples of Expository/Informative writing
compare/contrast essays, brochures, research reports, informative pieces.
rhetorical patterns
sequential order, chronological order, order of importance, spacial order, cause and effect,
problem and solution, claim and refutation, compare and contrast
sequential order
orderly progression of events, ideas or steps
Chronological order
orderly progression of events based on time
order of importance
arrangement of ideas with the most important claim at the top or bottom
spatial order
arrangement of ideas related o physical space
cause and effect
event is described followed by the possible outcomes
problem and solution
author presents a problem and a possible solution
claim and refutation
, arguing against a statement, fact, or claim
compare and contrast
provides similarities and differences about two ideas
key transitional language
however-turning point
first...second...third- process given
for example- illustration of point
question determining sequential order
Did the author explain a process?
Question determining Chronological order
Did the author walk through a process or period in history?
question determining order of importance
Did the author use terms like "most importantly" near the top or bottom?
question determining spatial order
Did the author keep places together based on geography?
Question determining Cause and Effect
Did the author explain what would happen after X occurred?
Question determining problem and solution
Did the author pose a problem and then provide answers?
