Transcript STAAR Powerpoint - what should I expect from the test?

What to know before the test.
STAAR ELA/EOC 1
One test for reading and writing – Tuesday,
March 29.

You do get a dictionary for this whole test.

USE the dictionary!

Everyone will have a dictionary – no
sharing needed.
WRITING – 50%

Revising and Editing – 24%
 28 multiple choice questions

2 compositions – 26%
 Expository/Essay composition (essay)
“Essay”:
One page for each writing prompt
 One page = 26 lines (25 lines plus the
bottom edge of the box)
 Don’t draw lines between their lines
 PREWRITE is super important! Use it to
focus, plan, eliminate, etc.
 NO TITLES are needed – start right into
the paragraph on the top line.

READING

Fiction selection, non-fiction selection

35 multiple choice questions total - 30%

3 short answers - 20%
Short Answers
Short answers are expensive!!
 They’re graded on a 0-3 scale with three
points for level (score point 1 = 3 points,
score point 2 = 6 points)
 Short answers will give you 10 lines
including the bottom edge of the box
 USE COMPLETE SENTENCES! MAKE
IT A PARAGRAPH!

Remember RATES!!
Reflect and Answer the question
 Text Evidence – use a QUOTE to
support your answer
 Explain that evidence to Support.

RA –
TE - ES
Use GOOD quotes!
Text evidence isn’t good enough if:
1. it's a general or vague
2. it's too partial to be meaningful - quote
enough to have some context
3. it's weakly linked to the question
4. it's quoted so that it manipulates the
meaning of the text. (It sounds like you
misunderstood the reading!)
Want to get all the points on
Short Answer?
You get a 2-3 if you
 use text evidence that is accurate and
relevant or specific and well chosen.

include ideas that go beyond a literal
reading of the text (THINK LEVEL 2)
and are reasonable and perceptive (see
something beyond the obvious).
Expository/essay
You're asked to clearly explain what you think
about something. This is not an
argument essay this year.
Don’t take a pushy tone or bully the reader.
Your job is to explain what you think in a
way that’s understandable to someone
else.
Don’t end by telling the reader what to do or
how to think.
Expository/ESSAY PROMPT

Arranged in the "Read, Think, Write, Be
sure to..." structure
 Read - a short quote or a couple of sentences
(in a box)
 Think - the box info is generalized and
reworded
 Write – this part tells you what to write about!
 Be sure to - 4-5 bullets of reminders - treat them
like a checklist
Expository/essay

***The Prompts aren't designed to push
you to one right answer or certain
example as proof, so if your idea works
and you can support it, go for it.

Don’t talk about something you can’t
discuss with details. Draw from what
you know; that’s always more interesting
than what you make up.
Expository/essay

They want writing that reflects students'
own thinking - don't pretend to be
someone much older.

First or third person is okay to use – but
stay away from “one,” and “you” is still
awful. Instead, go with “people” or
“someone” – but watch the pronouns –
be sure they match in number.
More…

“The earlier the thesis in the essay, the
better,” says the lead grader. Still need
an intro sentence or two first…

Your ideas should tie back to the thesis,
BUT they should also tie to each other,
so make a TRANSITION from one idea
to the other so they connect in some
way. HOWEVER, stay away from cliché
transitions – be more sophisticated.
Misery loves company!