Testing Tips
What tools CAN you use on the day of the test?
Possible Answers:
Dictionary/Dictionary Search Bar, Highlighter, Scratch Paper, Online Notepad,
What type(s) of examples should you include in your STAAR Essay?
Example(s) from real life (famous person, personal story, historical, etc.)
He wanted a dog a cat a bird.
He wanted a dog, a cat, and a bird.
What can you infer about the mom in this excerpt?
Deborah slammed the door when she came home and immediately began yelling at her son about the few dishes that were in the sink.
Possible answers:
She had a bad day. She's mean. She's impatient.
If you don't know what a word means or how to spell it, what should you do?
Ask to use a dictionary/use the dictionary search tool!
What would earn you a 0 on the essay portion?
Not addressing the prompt.
What needs to be changed in this sentence?
Maria took ap chemistry this year and got an A.
AP Chemistry needs to be capitalized because it is the name of that specific course.
What helps you make inferences?
Your background knowledge (what you know about how the world works) AND details provided by the author
What can you NOT use on the day of the test?
Phone, smart watch, any communication device that records or has access to the internet, another person's answers, etc.
Give a thesis statement that responds to this prompt:
Write an essay stating your position on whether it is better to fit in or be unique.
Teacher choice, but the basic format is:
What (Opinion) because Why (Reason)
Example: Fitting in is better because life is less lonely with friends.
Which of these best addresses the prompt of "Is competition necessary for success?"?
A) Competition is everywhere.
B) Competition is necessary because it prepares you for the workplace.
C) Competition is stupid and it makes people do bad things and I just hate it because for example my brother is good at everything.
B
What is an inference you can make about this character?
Diana Moon Glampers loaded the gun again. She pointed it at the musicians and told them they had 10 seconds to get their equipment back on.
She is powerful/in charge/violent
She is stern/angry/impatient/mean
One good reason why you should read the questions BEFORE reading the passage.
Possible Answers:
Know what to look for as you read, know what to take notes on, saves time, etc.
What are the 3 acronyms for remembering the parts of an essay?
ABC, MEAT, XYZ
language that goes into great detail to describe what something tastes, sounds, looks, smells, or feels like.
imagery
What is another way to start your conclusion that is NOT "In conclusion,"?
Ultimately,
All in all,
In the end,
What it all comes down to is,
Name two things in this scene that help you infer Mirabel and Isabella do not get along?
Body language
Angry words
What two things should you plan BEFORE writing your essay?
Thesis and matching examples
What 3 things MUST you have to earn a passing score on the essay?
1. Clear thesis.
2. SPECIFIC examples THAT MATCH THE THESIS
3. Organization (intro, body, conclusion).
the reason that the author wrote the piece.
author's purpose
What transition could you add between these sentences?
Most people fail because they don't turn in their work. ______________ they also might not understand the material.
However,
In addition,
Another possibility is that
What can you infer about this speaker's life?
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
They have had a hard life.