STAAR WRITING REVIEW

Commas & Semicolons

100

You add a comma and a FANBOY between what two kinds of clauses?

What is two independent clauses?

200

Name all the FANBOYS

What is FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET, SO

300

When do you add a comma in a complex sentence?
A. When the dependent clause is first
B. When the dependent clause is last
C. You never add a comma in a complex sentence

What is A. When the dependent clause is first.

400

What is the best way to combine these two sentences?

(1) Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases. (2) It can also be used to determine a child's parentage.

A. Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases, and it can also be used to determine a child's parentage.
B. Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases and it can also be used to determine a child's parentage.
C. Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases because it can also be used to determine a child's parentage.

What is A. Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, allows the genetic diagnosis of vulnerabilities to inherited diseases, and it can also be used to determine a child's parentage.

500

What is the best way to combine these two sentences?

(1) Though there are several hundred tests available, only a handful are approved by the FDA. (2) These are sold as at-home test kits, and are therefore considered "medical devices" over which the FDA may assert jurisdiction.

A. Though there are several hundred tests available, only a handful are approved by the FDA and these are sold as at-home test kits, and are therefore considered "medical devices" over which the FDA may assert jurisdiction.
B. Though there are several hundred tests available, only a handful are approved by the FDA; and these are sold as at-home test kits, and are therefore considered "medical devices" over which the FDA may assert jurisdiction.
C. Though there are several hundred tests available, only a handful are approved by the FDA; these are sold as at-home test kits, and are therefore considered "medical devices" over which the FDA may assert jurisdiction.

What is C. Though there are several hundred tests available, only a handful are approved by the FDA; these are sold as at-home test kits, and are therefore considered "medical devices" over which the FDA may assert jurisdiction.

Apostrophes, Capitalization, Quotes & Spelling

100

What should you do every time you are given an answer choice with a different spelling of two words?

What is look them both up to find the correct spelling.

200

What is the correct way to write the sentence?

The two girls dresses were purple.

A. The two girl's dresses were purple. B. The two girls' dresses were purple. C. The sentence is fine as is.

What is B. The two girls' dresses were purple.

300

What is the correct way to write the sentence?
He's madder than old King Kong he says he's meaner than a junkyard dog.

A. "He's madder than old King Kong," he says, "he's meaner than a junkyard dog."
B. "He's madder than old King Kong" he says, "he's meaner than a junkyard dog."
C. "He's madder than old King Kong" he says "he's meaner than a junkyard dog''.

What is A. "He's madder than old King Kong," he says, "he's meaner than a junkyard dog." ?

400

What is the correct way to write this sentence? Why?

I asked my mom if I could stay with grandma.

A. I asked my Mom if I could stay with Grandma.
B. I asked my Mom if I could stay with grandma.
C. I asked my mom if I could stay with Grandma.
D. I asked my mom if I could stay with grandma.

What is C. I asked my mom if I could stay with Grandma. ? Because you capitalize relationships when they are being used as names. The word "my" in "my mom" makes it so mom should not be capitalized, but "Grandma" is used as a name so it SHOULD be capitalized.

500

What is the best way to write the following sentence?

She always says that I am smart because I do all my homework.

A. She always says, "that I am smart" because I do all my homework.
B. She always says that I am smart, because I do all my homework.
C. She always says that I am smart because I do all my homework.

What is C. She always says that I am smart because I do all my homework.
Why? The subordinator "because" makes the second clause dependent, so we do not need a comma. We do not need quotes because it is not a direct quote; it is a rephrasing of a quote in the writer's own words.

Writing Prompts

100

In what format should you write a personal narrative?

What is in a 1st person story format?

200

Is the following prompt a personal narrative or an expository prompt?

Teachers can have a big influence on our lives. Write about a time a teacher who has helped you or taught you something important. Be sure to describe why you think that teacher made a difference in your life.

What is a personal narrative.

300

What must you do before reading and understanding the prompt and writing your essay?

What is make a plan - bubble map, kernel essay, outline, etc. ?

400

What type of essay will you write for the following prompt? What can you use for your first line?

READ the following quote. Modern invention has banished the spinning wheel, and the same law of progress makes the woman of today a different woman from her grandmother. ~ Susan B. Anthony

THINK carefully about the following statement. Some inventions have had a huge impact on the way we live our lives. An invention may make our jobs easier, or it could change the way we communicate, or it might provide us with great entertainment.

WRITE an essay describing an invention that has influenced your life.

What is expository? You can use the quote as the first line of your essay.
Example: Susan B. Anthony once said, "Modern invention has banished the spinning wheel, and the same law of progress makes the woman of today a different woman from her grandmother."

500

What happens if you do not answer the prompt or choose not to write one of the essays?

You will fail the STAAR writing test.

Word Choice

100

What is imagery?

What is word choice that invokes any of the 5 senses?

200

Mario wants to use a more effective word than "thing" in his sentence, how should be revise?

Though the advertisement for the used car said it was in immaculate condition, Jose quickly noticed several things in the automobile.

A. incidents
B. luxuries
C. flaws
D. claims

What is C. flaws?

300

What is the most effective word to add to the sentence?

Health insurance prevents routine medical visits from becoming too ______ for the average citizen; without insurance, seeing a doctor can be very expensive.
A. helpful B. urgent C. costly D. valuable E. advantageous

What is C. costly?

400

Which words are the most effective to use to finish this sentence?

Although they have always done things ______ in the past, the twins felt it was crucial that they experience college ______, and foster a healthy sense of independence.

A. closely ... collectively
B. joyfully ... happily
C. deceptively ... quietly
D. individually ... independently
E. jointly ... separately

What is E. jointly ... separately ?

500

What is the most effective word choice to finish the sentence?

The famous pop singer tragically died at age thirty-two; it was an ______ event for all his many fans, but it was especially hard on his most ______ fans.

A. unthinkable ... healthy
B. amazing ... dubious
C. appalling ... devoted
D. appreciated ... strange
E. emotional ... heavy

What is C. appalling ... devoted

Transitions & Organization

100

What is the transition word in these sentences? What does it mean?
I cleaned my room. Therefore my mom let me go out and play.

What is therefore? Therefore means "because of this"

200

Read the statement and choose the sentence that best supports the idea.

1. It should not be against the law to use iPods and cell phones while walking.
____Some people say it should be.
____When a careless walker causes an accident, other people can get hurt.
____People have a right to some freedom.
____Hawaii, New York, and other states may pass laws against using electronics while crossing a road.

What is People have a right to some freedom. ?

300

(1) In the times of the Middle Ages, many children dreamt of becoming a knight. (2) Usually one first became a page when one was eight years old. (3) As a page, a boy would serve his lord because he became a teenager. (4) Then he would become an esquire.

1. Which sentence could be added after sentence 1 to strengthen the introduction of this paper.
A A knight was really cool.
B Only boys could become knights.
C Becoming a knight required years of service and training.
D Children in the Middle Ages had to work very hard.

What is C Becoming a knight required years of service and training. ?

400

(1) I collect Nikes and Reeboks the way some millionaires collect Ferraris and Porsches. (2) I feel a calling in my soul. (3) Sneakerheads collect, buy, and sell rare sneakers. (4) Sneakerhead are fanatical about these shoes. (5) Collectors travel for hours to commune with hundreds of other sneakerheads at events like “Sneaker Con.” (6) They even have their own language. (7) Since “deadstock” means unworn shoes in their original packaging. (8) The price of used sneakers goes up each year. (9) “Colorways” are the available colors of a particular model.

1. Which sentence could be added to the beginning of the paper to help introduce the topic?

A. Open my closest and you will find dozens of pairs of sneakers including some that haven’t been worn.
B My sneaker collection is big.
C I am going to tell you about an interesting hobby that I have.
D Some people collect different things like coins, stamps, models, jewelry, or baseball cards.

What is A. Open my closest and you will find dozens of pairs of sneakers including some that haven’t been worn. ?

500

(1) I collect Nikes and Reeboks the way some millionaires collect Ferraris and Porsches. (2) I feel a calling in my soul.
(3) Sneakerheads collect, buy, and sell rare sneakers. (4) Sneakerhead are fanatical about these shoes. (5) Collectors travel for hours to commune with hundreds of other sneakerheads at events like “Sneaker Con.”
(6) They even have their own language. (7) Since “deadstock” means unworn shoes in their original packaging. (8) The price of used sneakers goes up each year. (9) “Colorways” are the available colors of a particular model.

Which sentence could be added after sentence 2 to strengthen the introduction to this paper?

A Sneakers are fun to collect.
B I like sneakers of all kinds.
C I am what is called a “sneakerhead.”
D Some people think my hobby is strange.

What is C. C I am what is called a “sneakerhead.”?