Transcript The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

The Ontario
Secondary
School Literacy
Test
Information Session
What is the OSSLT?
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The grade 10 Literacy Test is a
provincial test of the reading and
writing skills students have
acquired by the end of grade
nine.
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It is based on The Ontario
Curriculum across all subject
areas up to the end of Grade 9.
OSSLT March 29, 2012
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The test will be
one morning long
– broken up into
two 75 minute
sessions on
Thursday March
29, 2012
Each student will
complete two test
booklets.
Each student will
receive ONE
Literacy Result.
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Everything you
write is considered
part of your writing
performance.
When you write
answers for
reading tasks you
are marked for
both your reading
and writing ability.
Points to Remember…
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Do NOT write point form
answers.
Answer all questions in
complete sentences.
Remember to use correct
spelling, grammar and
punctuation (to the best of your
ability).
It is a guarantee that the literacy
test will have the following:
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Reading:
Informational
Narrative
Graphic
Dialogue
News Report
31 multiple choice
4 open response
questions
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Writing:
News Report
Series of
Paragraphs
supporting an
opinion
2 Short writing
tasks
8 Multiple Choice
The Reading Selections
Specific Reading Skills are Assessed:
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Understanding directly stated
ideas and information (literal
meaning)
Understanding indirectly stated
ideas and information
(inferences)
Making connections between
the passages and personal
knowledge and experience
(interpretation)
Examples:
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Directly Stated
Information:
What did Sam
do after he left
the radio
station?
The answer can
be found in the
text.
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Indirectly stated
information:
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Why did Sam
leave the radio
station before the
end of his shift?
You must use your
own knowledge
and the
information in the
text to formulate an
answer.
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Examples:
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Making Connections:
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Describe a time when you had
to make a difficult decision.
Compare your experience to
Sam’s using specific examples
from the text.
NOTE: Many students provide
an answer; however, they do not
often use the necessary
examples.
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Multiple Choice
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Multiple Choice often seems
easy and quick; however, these
questions are quite challenging
and require careful thought.
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Multiple Choice “points” add up,
so it is good to practice before
the test.
Example:
•
A)
B)
C)
D)
What is Thomas A.
Stewart?
A high school
A football team
A local organization
The name of a high
school in Peterborough
• More than one correct
answer will be
presented
• It is important for each
student to take the time
to find the most correct
answer
• D) The name of a high
school in Peterborough
The Writing Tasks
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Long Writing
Tasks: News
Report (one
page), Series of
Paragraphs
Expressing an
Opinion (two
pages)
Short Writing
Tasks (six lines
each –
paragraph
skills)
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Multiple Choice
Questions:
Organization of
Ideas
Sentence and
Paragraph
Structure
Language
Conventions (use
of capitalizations
and punctuation)
Rough Work:
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PLAN out your writing.
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Many students skip this stage
and it shows in their work.
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Shorter, well organized writing
responses are better than long,
disorganized ones.
Specific Skills Assessed…
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Focus on a main
idea (the main
topic)
Provide supporting
details (develop
the topic)
Organize and link
ideas (sort them
and sequence
them into a logical
order)
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Use appropriate
tone (think of
the stated
audience)
Correct:
grammar
spelling
punctuation
A Helpful Hint:
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Read instructions!
Many students do not read the
instructions.
Example:
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Write a Series of Paragraphs
Expressing an Opinion (a minimum
of three)…
Preparation Strategies:
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Getting Ready
Guide
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This guide
contains tips
and information
to help students
prepare for the
OSSLT.
Resources:
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Planning and
Preparation
Guide
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This guide
shows sample
questions from
the OSSLT.
Resources:
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Example Test
Booklets
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These booklets
look like the test
and give you an
idea of the amount
of work you will be
asked to do in the
hour and fifteen
minute session.
The Website…
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www.eqao.com
Check out the website to practice.
Print out the practice test and try it at
home.
Make use of the tips and strategies
listed in the Getting Ready Guide.
AFTER SCHOOL LITERACY
INSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN ON
FEBRUARY 15, 2012
Wednesdays 2:50-4:30
Food is Provided!
TOPICS COVERED:
• How to write a News Report effectively
• Series of Paragraphs supporting an opinionexplained
• Reading strategies
• Multiple choice dos and don’ts
LUNCH HOUR LITERACY TEST
PREPARATION SESSIONS BEGIN ON
March 5, 2012
Mondays and Wednesdays in the Library
TOPICS COVERED:
How to write a News Report effectively
Series of Paragraphs supporting an opinion-explained
Reading strategies
Multiple choice dos and don’ts
PLUS: Go over your Grade 9 Practice Literacy Test and see
what you need to work on for this year!
Example of News Report
Look at the
exemplars at
your table.
Assign a level
from the rubric
provided to
each one.
Code 10
The response is related to the headline or photo.
The response identifies an event, but provides no supporting details.
There is no evidence of organization
Code 20
The response is related to headline and/or photo
but only partly in the form of a news report.
Code 30
The response is a news report related to the headline
and photo with a clear focus on an event
There are insufficient and/or vague supporting details.
Basic details are provided but are insufficiently developed.
The quotation does not add much further information.
There is evidence of organization.
The opening sentence is typical of a news report.
Code 40
The response if focused clearly and consistently on an event.
There are sufficient supporting details, however only some are specific.
The organization is mechanical and any lapses do not distract from
overall communication. The order of information follows the headline.
Code 50
There are sufficient specific supporting details.
The organization is logical. The response is organized chronologically.
Effective use of transition words help the flow of information.
Code 60
There are sufficient specific supporting details, thoughtfully chosen. All 5Ws
are answered with specific information and developed with thoughtful details.
Organization is coherent demonstrating a thoughtful progression of ideas.
The body paragraphs develop ideas coherently and smoothly. Each quotation
Is placed effectively to support the idea in the previous paragraph.
Now, it’s your turn…
• Write a news report using the prompt
provided.
• I will mark it and hand it back to your
teacher tomorrow.
• Remember, you can practice at home or at
school! There are lots of opportunities to
ensure you pass the first time!
Good Luck!!!