Testing Strategies
This is what I should do if I am struggling with a question for too long
Skip ahead and mark the question so I can return later
What the author is trying to teach you about a topic or a text.
Central idea
An idea that comes up again and again. One word.
Motif
When writing a short response, how should you always begin?
Restate the question fully
Before I answer a multiple choice question, what are some strategies I can use?
1. Read the question carefully 2. Underline important information in the question that helps me locate a place in the text to find evidence 3. Locate and underline evidence in the text that supports the question being asked 4. Use the process of elimination to narrow down my choices 5. Choose the answer that has the most accurate information based on the text
True or False: If I don't know an answer to a question, I should leave it blank
False
What are the 5 ways that an author can structure a nonfiction text?
Cause/Effect
Chronological Order
Problem/Solution
Main Idea/Supporting Detail
Compare/Contrast
The message of lesson of a text
Theme
What should I do when writing my conclusion?
Copy and Paste thesis from the introduction, include a "zoom out" or lesson learned
Possible ways a paragraph could advance a plot
possible answers:
Introduce a conflict
Show a character’s motivation
Make a conflict worse
Provide a resolution
Show a lesson learned
These are things I can do before my test to give myself the best chance at success
Get a good night of sleep and eat a big breakfast
How you you can determine the author's point of view on a topic
Identify the tone through looking at word choice (positive or negative), find opinions expressed
Karen was a ray of sunshine What type of figurative language is presented in the sentence above?
Metaphor
What is the acronym I should use to plan out my body paragraphs and what does it stand for?
R- restate essay question
A- Answer question in own words
G- Get evidence
G- Get evidence
E- Explain with analysis
What are more complicated words for "shows" that might show up on the state test?
Reveals, expresses, illustrates, portrays, depicts, demonstrates, indicates, conveys
A paragraph can contribute to the structure of a story by:
Adding description
Comparing and contrasting something
Showing cause and/or effect
Showing a problem and/or solution
What are some ways an author could develop a character’s thoughts?
-inner thinking
-dialogue
-action
-descriptive language
Name two things to include in my introduction
hook and thesis
What are some tools on the computer that can help me during the state test multiple choice section?
1. Answer eliminator button to cross out wrong choices
2. Highlighter tool to highlight key words
3. Bookmark tool to mark a question that I don't know and want to come back to
When you get your scratch paper during the test, what should you do?
Write your essay checklist down!
Write the RAAGE acronym!
What are some strategies for writing a strong central idea?
1. Ask yourself what the topic is and then what the author is trying to teach you about the topic.
2. Look for keywords in the title and key ideas in the subtitles
3. Use key sentences from the text
4. Combine main ideas from each section of the text
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Tone is the author's attitude towards a subject or the "vibe" of their writing. example: a stressful).
Mood, rather, is the way a character feels while they are reading. (example: a stressful writing tone could create a nervous feeling or mood in the reader).
What goes into an extended response on the state test?
1. Introduction
- Hook
-Thesis
2. Body Paragraph 1
RAGGE
3. Body Paragraph 2
RAGGE
4. Conclusion
Restate Thesis
Zoom out
How many multiple choice questions will there be on the state test on day 1? How many multiple choice questions will there be on the state test on day 2?
26 on day 1
7 on day 2