{"id":21833,"date":"2019-07-09T11:50:38","date_gmt":"2019-07-09T16:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=21833"},"modified":"2020-09-11T20:41:35","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T20:41:35","slug":"how-to-write-a-praxis-essay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/how-to-write-a-praxis-essay\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Praxis Essay"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Essay writing evokes an immediate reaction from nearly everyone, and prospective teachers are no exception. Generally speaking, you either love to write or you see it as a chore. Either way, the Praxis Core Writing test will require you to do a bit of it.<br \/>\n<strong>[ GOOD TO KNOW:\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/praxis-essay-scoring-rubric\/\">Praxis Essay Scoring Rubric<\/a>\u00a0<strong>]<\/strong><br \/>\nKeep in mind that even the strongest writers can have <a title=\"praxis errors\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/12-common-errors-on-the-praxis-writing-test\/\">problems with the unique nature of the Praxis exam<\/a>. You must respond directly to the topic, and you have to generate your essay in a short period of time. Overly ambitious or flamboyant essayists can run short on time or run too far afield from the topic at hand.<br \/>\nThe test makers require you to perform a highly specialized type of writing. Creativity and improvisation are not the goals of a Praxis essay. Instead, an essay is defined as a short literary composition on a single subject, usually presenting the personal view of the author. That definition can take you a long way toward effective essay writing on the Praxis exam.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h5    avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-first  '><h5 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Be Concise and Stay Focused<\/h5><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue863' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>First off, Praxis essays are meant to be short. For each essay, you have only 30 minutes to read and digest the essay prompt, compose the essay, and proof it for errors and clarity. The test makers are looking for brief, clear essays.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue83e' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Secondly, the Praxis essays are meant to be on a single subject. Although tangents, allusions, and digressions make for good fiction, they\u2019ll send you into dangerous territory on the Praxis exam. Be sure that whatever you include in your essays pertains to the subject at hand. If a sentence or idea does not relate directly to the topic of your essay, it should be omitted.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84e' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Finally, the Praxis essays assess how well you respond to the prompt provided. One of the essays will ask you to express your views on a topic\u2014you will need to express and support an opinion or argument. Remember, you will have to do more than simply express your views on this exam; you will be expected to provide illustrations, examples, and generalizations that support your view.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\nThe other essay will ask you to evaluate two source texts and identify the main points of the issue as illustrated by the texts. A strong essay of this type addresses both texts with proper in-text citations. It does not take a stance on the issue provided but rather assesses the important points related to the topic.<br \/>\nThe topics are selected such that any educated person should be able to draw from experience to answer the question. No specialized knowledge is required.<br \/>\nKeeping all three of the points above in mind as you pull your essay together will put you well on your way to success on the Praxis Core Writing test. Of course, the key to effective preparation is knowing what you\u2019re up against.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Know What to Expect on the Praxis Core Writing Test<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nYou have only 30 minutes to write each essay, so effective time management is key. Be sure to complete each essay in the time allotted. Even a well-crafted essay that abruptly ends without a conclusion will lose valuable points.<br \/>\nSpeaking of points, the <a title=\"praxis essay\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/praxis-essay-scoring-rubric\/\">essay section is scored differently<\/a> than are the other sections of the Praxis exam. Instead of receiving a score based on the number of questions you answered correctly,\u00a0your essay is scored \u201cholistically\u201d on a scale of 0 to 6. A score of 6 indicates \u201ca high degree of competence in response to the assignment.\u201d A score of 4 or 5 also demonstrates competence, but to a lesser degree. A score of 3 or lower may show some competence but also demonstrates organizational flaws, poor mechanics, or other significant errors.<br \/>\nYour source text essay is graded by two human graders. The argument essay is graded by one human grader and one computer grading program. If your graders\u2019 scores differ by more than one point, a third reader will be brought in to decide where your mark should fall. The third reader will always be a human reader.<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >How to Approach the Praxis Essays<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nEven though you have only 30 minutes to complete each essay, you should take time to organize your thoughts before writing about a topic. You should also leave time to proof your essays after writing them.<br \/>\nWriting an essay for the Praxis exam is a two-stage process. First, you decide what you want to say about a topic. Second, you figure out how to say it. If your writing style isn\u2019t clear, your ideas won\u2019t come across no matter how brilliant they are. Good Praxis English is not only grammatical but also clear and concise. By using some basic principles, you\u2019ll be able to express your ideas clearly and effectively in your essays.<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Top 4 Principles of Good Praxis Essay-Writing<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >1. Your Control of Language is Important<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Writing that is grammatical, concise, direct, and persuasive displays the \u201csuperior control of language\u201d that earns top scores. This involves using the same good grammar that is tested in the selected-response (multiple-choice) questions. It also involves good word choice or diction and sentence structure.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >2. It\u2019s Better to Keep Things Simple<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Perhaps the single most important thing to bear in mind when writing a Praxis essay is to keep everything simple. Because you are aiming to pass this test and get it out of your life, there is no reason to be overly wordy or complex as you write your essay. Simplicity is essential whether you are talking about word choice, sentence structure, or organization. Complicated sentences are more likely to contain errors. Complicated organization is more likely to wander off topic. Keep in mind that simple doesn\u2019t mean simplistic. A clear, straightforward approach can convey perceptive insights on a topic.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >3. Minor Grammatical Flaws Won\u2019t Kill You<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Small mistakes are bound to happen when working under the kind of pressures you face on this exam. So don\u2019t panic. Essay readers expect minor errors, even in the best essays. That doesn\u2019t mean you should include an error or two to keep them happy. It means you should be aware of the kinds of errors you tend to make. If you have trouble with parallelism, double-check how you listed groups of things. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses should help you proof your essay before completion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >4. Keep Sight of Your Goal<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Remember, your goal isn\u2019t to become a prize-winning stylist. Write a solid essay and move on. Write well enough to address the topic and demonstrate that you can write. Remember, essay graders aren\u2019t looking for rhetorical flourishes. They\u2019re looking for effective expression. Express your ideas clearly and simply, and you\u2019ll be well on your way to success.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\nBy now, you should know what you\u2019re up against on the essay portion of the Praxis Core Writing test. You need to demonstrate that you can think quickly and organize an essay under time pressure. The essay you write is supposed to be logical in organization and clear and concise in its use of written English. Praxis essay writing is not about bells and whistles; it\u2019s about bread and butter. Nothing fancy\u2014just answer the question in clear language.<br \/>\nThe real challenge is to write an effective essay in a short time. With that goal in mind, we\u2019ve developed a proven Five-Step Method that will help you make the most of your 30 minutes.<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >5-Step Praxis Core Writing Test Method<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_promobox '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue82d' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 1: Digest the Issue or Source Text and the Prompt (1-3 minutes)<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><ul>\n<li>Read the prompt and get a sense of the scope of the issue<\/li>\n<li>Note any ambiguous terms that need defining<\/li>\n<li>Crystallize the issue<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8d8' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 2: Select the Points You Will Make (4 minutes)<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><ul>\n<li>Think of arguments for both sides of the issue and decide which side you will support<\/li>\n<li>Assess the specifics of the prompt<\/li>\n<li>Brainstorm about both source texts and select the elements of each that you plan to quote<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8a5' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 3: Organize Your thoughts (2 minutes)<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><ul>\n<li>Outline your essay<\/li>\n<li>Lead with your best arguments<\/li>\n<li>Think about how the essay will flow as a whole<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue837' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 4: Write Your Essay (20 minutes)<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><ul>\n<li>Be direct<\/li>\n<li>Use paragraph breaks to make your essay easy to read<\/li>\n<li>Make transitions, linking related ideas<\/li>\n<li>Finish strongly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue812' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Step 5: Proofread Your Essay (1-3 minutes)<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><ul>\n<li>Save enough time for one final read through the entire essay<\/li>\n<li>Have a sense of the errors you are likely to make and seek to find and correct them<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-yes   avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_hr '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Looking for\u00a0more prep? Kaplan has the Praxis\u00a0Test Prep &amp; Practice Resources for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\n<\/div><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-right ' ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/praxis' class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-medium avia-position-right ' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >KEEP STUDYING<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<div   class='hr hr-default   avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_promobox  avia-builder-el-last '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>[\u00a0 INTERESTED IN WHAT&#8217;S TESTED ON\u00a0ALL\u00a0PRAXIS TESTS?\u00a0 \u2193\u00a0 ]<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/whats-tested-on-the-praxis-mathematics-test\/\">Praxis\u00a0<strong>Mathematics<\/strong>\u00a0Test<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/whats-tested-on-the-praxis-reading-test\/\">Praxis\u00a0<strong>Reading<\/strong>\u00a0Test<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/whats-tested-on-the-praxis-writing-test\/\">Praxis\u00a0<strong>Writing<\/strong>\u00a0Test<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/praxis-essay-scoring-rubric\/\">Praxis\u00a0<strong>Essay Scoring Rubric<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/praxis-elementary-education-curriculum-instruction-and-assessment-practice-questions\/\">Praxis\u00a0<strong>Elementary Education Curriculum Instruction and Assessment<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"kaptest.com\/study\/praxis\/whats-tested-on-the-praxis-elementary-education-content-knowledge-test\/\">Praxis\u00a0<strong>Elementary Education Content Knowledge<\/strong>\u00a0Test<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Essay writing evokes an immediate reaction from nearly everyone, and prospective teachers are no exception. Generally speaking, you either love to write or you see it as a chore. Either way, the Praxis Core Writing test will require you to do a bit of it. [ GOOD TO KNOW:\u00a0Praxis Essay Scoring Rubric\u00a0] Keep in mind [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28813,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[295],"tags":[296,300],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21833"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21833"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35080,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21833\/revisions\/35080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}