Essay/Narrative Writing
Tackling the test/MCAS Rules
Conventions
Answering Questions
Text Structure
100

If the prompt says "write an essay", you should write...

an essay

100

If I am feeling stressed, a strategy that I can use is...

deep breathing, saying something encouraging to myself (any other good strategy for calming myself down that's quiet)

100

At the end of every sentence I should include....

A period. (or exclamation point or question mark)

100

True or False: I should read ALL of the multiple choice options BEFORE I answer the question.

True

100

The first question I ask myself when finding text structure is...

Is there a problem?
200

True or False: if the prompt says "write an narrative/story" you should include evidence directly from the text

False! It's a story. Look at the story to make sure characters, setting, problem and solution but you don't need evidence DIRECTLY from the text

200
True or False: On MCAS, I am allowed to talk to my neighbor.

False!

200

When quoting evidence a great sentence starter would be...

In the text it says

200

True or False: I should go back to the text to make sure that the option I chose is supported by the text.

True

200

If a text has no problem it might be...

Compare & Contrast, Description, or Sequence

300

If the prompt says "write an paragraph", you should include these 6 sentences...

Claim, Ev. 1, Re. 1, Ev. 2, Re. 2, Conclusion

300

True or False: If I don't do well on MCAS I will fail 3rd grade.

False! You will not fail! This test is a "show what you know". It's meant to show where you are at in Third so you're fourth grade teachers know how to help you grow.

300

When I quote evidence, the punctuation around the quote are called...

Quotation Marks

300
True or False: If the question says that to select more than one, it's ok if I only choose one.

False. Pay attention! When the questions wants you to select more than one, select more than one.

300

If a text talks about how something is similar in some ways but different in other ways, it would be this text structure...

Compare & Contrast

400

True or False: When a prompt says to present and develop a central idea it means that you should write your essay on what the central idea of the text is. 

False! Every prompt says to present and develop a central idea. This means that your writing should follow the prompt! Your idea makes sense!

400

True or False: I can submit right away once I am finished.

FALSE!!! Remember, your teachers are MCAS robots and MUST read a script to your first. Do NOT submit without raising your hand and waiting for your teacher to read to you.

400

After each paragraph in an essay, you should hit this button two times to have spacing between your paragraphs..

Enter! Enter!

400

True or False: If I read a question and I am not sure what it is asking, I can raise my hand to ask my teacher for help.

False! On ELA MCAS, you cannot get any help on reading questions (unless you have that accommodation). You should re-read the question.

400

The difference between problem & solution and cause & effect is that cause and effect...

cause & effect has no solution. The problem in the text never gets solved.

500

The parts of an essay are... 

Summary & Thesis

Claim, Ev1, Re1, Ev2, Re2, Con

Restate Thesis & Restate Claim

500

True or False: You have a limited amount of time to complete ELA MCAS, so make sure that you finish before lunch.

False: You have literally all day as long as you are trying still. Please take your time and look at the texts and questions carefully.

500

Fix this writing:

one day ms stevenson went to the stor to get some groceries for dinner and She grabed 1 pkg of chicken one bag of rice two bags of broccoli and some cupcakes for dessert

One day Ms Stevenson went to the store to get some groceries for dinner. She grabbed one package of chicken, one bag of rice, two bags of broccoli and some cupcakes for dessert.

500

True or False: Sometimes a question may ask you to use your knowledge from both texts. In this case you should find evidence from both text to support your answer not just from your memory.

True! Go back to each text even though that's hard and make sure you have evidence to support your thinking.
500

If I have read the text and haven't found a problem, but the text also doesn't seem like description or compare & contrast, I should...

Re-read the text!!

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