...Writing the Paragraphs in the First Draft (Outline) Introduction After prewriting your topic and organizing evidence it’s time to write a first draft. Your draft is only going to be a preliminary version of your final work, so don’t worry too much about grammar, spelling or the overall structure. Write your thesis and supporting paragraphs A. The topic sentences are usually at the beginning of each paragraph and state the main point in support of the thesis. B. Unify your sentences by writing about facts, opinions and/or examples that are directly related to the topic sentence of the same paragraph. C. Be specific in your paragraphs, provide the reader with answers to who, which, what and similar questions, concrete words, sensory images and strong verbs. D. Make paragraphs coherent by writing your ideas in chronological, spatial or emphatic order and using signal devices to show how ideas are connected. Write other background and transitional paragraphs A. Background paragraphs provide readers with additional information that doesn’t necessarily support the main thesis but helps them understand more about your topic. B. Transitional paragraphs may appear between supporting paragraphs summarizing what has been discussed so far to help the reader keep track of the discussion. Write the title, introduction and conclusion A. Titles can be written before or after the draft, a common title may be a repetition of sounds, a humoristic phrase or a question...
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...What role should standardized testing play in Texas' public education system? The methods by which children are educated and academically measured in Texas have evolved over the past few decades, due to federal and state directed education policies. In an effort to establish accountability and improve the nation's competitiveness on a global scale, standardized testing has become a driving component of curricula nationwide. Almost every state, including Texas, governs its public schools under a national policy directive known as the "No Child Left Behind Act" (NCLB). The NCLB requires all states to utilize assessments to determine and report if a school has made adequate yearly progress (AYP) in the proficiency levels of all students. This is a relatively recent shift from local control of schools to centralized governance which is intended to improve education and eliminate harmful disparities in education quality (Ricci 342). Instead of school districts determining education standards, the state and federal governments provide the policy direction. One method to assess education performance and compliance with the centralized policy is the use of accountability measures - i.e., standardized tests. The NCLB, coupled with state policy, is intended to decrease inequality and set an objective measurement in place where school districts, schools, teachers, and even students can be held accountable for their progress or lack thereof. However, there are arguments from opponents...
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