WRITING:

The writing section tests your written English skills. For your task, you have to read the passage
carefully and then answer the given questions below.

CHILDREN AND TELEVISION

Television has been changing the way people live for thirty years. It influences
nearly every aspect of modern life. Whereas television could be used as an educational tool for
children, programs with little or no educational value are shown more often.

Experts are concerned about the view of the world that youngsters are learning
from television. Parents, schools, and churches have traditionally been the social models and
teachers for children. However, because television influences children’s attitudes and behavior,
its role in society is becoming increasingly more powerful – it is much more than a simple
recreational activity. The medium “has changed childhood more than any other social innovation
in the history of the world,” declares child psychologist Robert M. Liebert.

Exposure to excessive violence is another influence of television. According to

several studies, televised violence may cause children to become more aggressive. Also, because
so much violence is seen by children on television, they become more used to it as the only
solution to difficult situations. Children who watch a great deal of violence on television may
become apathetic toward actual aggression. One study has shown that, compared to a control
group, fifth-graders who watched an aggressive television broadcast were slower to ask for adult
help when a fight broke out among younger children. This decreased sensitivity to human
suffering is frightening, says psychologist Ronald S. Drabman.

Clever advertising aimed at children certainly influences them. “Exposing

children to so much high-powered advertising of sugar-rich products on television puts their
dental health at risk and is also, of course, a negative influence on proper nutrition,” says Dr.
Dale Roeck. Another expert asserts that “almost all the products that television sells to kids are
products that people who care about kids feel shouldn’t be consumed in the first place.” Very
young children don’t even distinguish between commercials and programs. Is it fair to show
advertising to young children?

Instructors at Horace Mann nursery school in New York noticed definite

improvements in pupils’ attitudes and behavior, including a decrease in their fighting, after the
instructors asked parents to limit the youngsters’ viewing to one hour daily. Educational experts
also believe that parents could help by discussing both the good and bad aspects of television
with their children and by helping them to select beneficial programs.
Direction: On your answer sheet, write an essay of about 300 words to develop your point of
view.

Questions:

1. What is your view on the idea that it takes failure to achieve success?

2. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your readings, experience, or
observations.

Rubrics for your essay writing.

Criteria Inadequate=D Adequate=C Above Exemplary=A

(Below (Meets Average=B (Far Exceeds
Standard) Standard) (Exceeds Standard)
Standard)

Organization Writing lacks Writing is Writing is Writing shows

logica coherent and coherent and high degree of
organization. It logically logically attention to logic
shows some organized. Some organized with and reasoning of
coherence but points remain transitions used points. Unity
ideas lack unity. misplaced and between ideas clearly leads the
Serious errors. stray from the and paragraphs reader to the
topic. to create conclusion and
Transitions coherence. stirs thought
evident but not Overall unity of regarding the
used throughout ideas is present. topic.
essay.

Level of Shows some Content Content Content

Content thinking and indicates indicates indicates
reasoning but thinking and original thinking synthesis of
most ideas are reasoning and develops ideas, in-depth
underdeveloped applied with ideas with analysis and
and unoriginal. original thought sufficient and evidences
on a few ideas. firm evidence. original thought
and support for
the topic.

Development Main points lack Main points are Main points well Main points well
detaile present with developed with developed with
 development. limited detail quality high quality and
Ideas are vague and supporting quantity support.
with little development. details and Reveals high
evidence of Some critical quantity. Critical degree of critical
critical thinking thinking is thinking is thinking.
present. weaved into
points.

Grammar & Spelling, Most spelling, Essay has few Essay is free of
Mechanic punctuation, and punctuation, and spelling, distracting
grammatical grammar correct punctuation, and spelling,
errors create allowing reader grammatical punctuation, and
distraction, to progress errors allowing grammatical
making reading though essay. reader to follow errors; absent of
difficult Some errors ideas clearly. fragments,
fragments, remain. Very few comma splices,
comma splices, fragments or and run-ons.
run-ons evident. run-ons.
Errors are
frequent.

Style Mostly in Approaches Attains college Shows

elementary form college level level style; tone outstanding style
with little or no usage of some is appropriate going beyond
variety in variety in and rhetorical usual college
sentence sentence devices used to level; rhetorical
structure, patterns, diction, enhance content; devices and tone
diction, and rhetorical sentence variety used effectively;
rhetorical devices. used effectively. creative use of
devices or sentence
emphasis. structure and
coordination

Format Fails to follow Meets format Meets format Meets all formal
format and and assignment and assignment and assignment
assignment requirements; requirements; requirements
requirements; generally correct margins, and evidences
incorrect margins, spacing, and attention to
margins, spacing spacing, and indentations are detail; all
and indentation; indentations; correct; essay is margins, spacing
neatness of essay essay is neat but neat and and indentations
needs attention. may have some correctly are correct;
assembly errors. assembled. essay is neat and
correctly
assembled with
professional
look.