Writing Competencies Tested on the CASA

The CASA Writing subtest consists of a 42 item multiple-choice test and one constructed-response assignment. The skills addressed in this subtest require demonstration of the ability to write effectively at the college level. An outline showing these skill areas and their major sub-skills is shown below.

Objective 0009: Clear and Coherent Writing

• recognizing writing that is effective for a given purpose, audience, and occasion
• using strategies that achieve unity and focus in writing
• selecting effective thesis statements, topic sentences, and supporting details
• recognizing methods of effectively organizing paragraphs and passages
• organizing text to give effective emphasis to important words, phrases, and ideas
• reorganizing sentences or paragraphs to achieve a logical sequence of ideas
• selecting effective transitions between ideas and using transitions to clarify relationships among ideas

Objective 0010: Strong and Developed Writing

• editing text to introduce and conclude ideas effectively
• editing text to coordinate and subordinate ideas effectively
• editing text to create or improve the parallel structure of words, phrases, or ideas
• revising text to eliminate distracting or unnecessary information or details
• revising text to achieve precise and appropriate language
• revising text to replace imprecise or inappropriate words or phrases
• revising text to eliminate wordiness and redundancy
• revising text to eliminate unnecessary shifts in point of view
• revising text to eliminate misplaced or dangling modifiers, ambiguous or awkward pronoun references, and shifts in tense or mood

Objective 0019: Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

• applying knowledge of the standard use of verb forms
• applying knowledge of the standard use of pronouns
• applying knowledge of the standard use of adjectives and adverbs
• applying knowledge of the standard use of prepositions
• applying knowledge of subject-verb agreement and pronoun-antecedent agreement
• applying knowledge of the standard use of comparatives, superlatives, and possessives
• applying knowledge of the rules of spelling and of commonly misspelled words
• applying knowledge of the rules of capitalization and the standard use of capital letters
• applying knowledge of the rules of punctuation and the standard use of punctuation marks

Objective 0012: Writing Assignment – Prepare an Organized, Developed Composition

• analyzing the claims made in a substantive informational text
• writing arguments to support claims and counterclaims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
• stating and maintaining focus on key ideas through the use of a clear thesis statement and topic sentences
• organizing ideas effectively and maintaining a logical sequence of ideas
• establishing and maintaining a formal style and objective tone
• providing a conclusion that follows from and supports the argument presented
• using language and vocabulary that are clear, precise, and appropriate for a given audience and purpose
• demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar
• demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling

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