STAAR Question Stems
Identify the following type of question:
What is the best summary of this selection?
Summary
Tips:
Use C/P/R or B/M/E
What can be used when moving between ideas in your writing?
Transitions
Tips:
Transitions are a way to let your reader know that you are moving from one idea to another.
Transitions can be used to ADD to an idea, CONTRAST an idea, and more.
Correct the following mistake:
The car lost it's wheels.
The car lost its wheels.
Tips:
It is= It's
Its= Shows possession; "I haven't heard its song."
What technique can we use to respond to a short constructed response?
Answer, Cite, and Explain
What type of paragraph comes before the first body paragraph in an essay?
Introduction
Tips:
Include a hook, context, and thesis (controlling idea) in your introduction.
Identify the following type of question:
In paragraph 20, what does the word potential mean?
Context clues
Tips:
Read the lines before and after the word to learn the meaning of the word.
What are possible hook stems?
"Imagine..."
"Have you ever..."
"Someone once said, ..."
"Did you know..."
Correct the following three mistakes:
I herd their was a secret chord that David plaid and it pleased the audience.
I heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the audience.
Tips:
Use a dictionary to help with spelling.
Restate this prompt/ question:
Explain how the author foreshadows that Stevie is overconfident in his martial arts abilities.
In the story “Thrown” by Mike Jung, the author foreshadows that Stevie is overconfident…
What should be included in every body paragraph?
Specific evidence
Tips:
Examples and/ or evidence from the text make your argument stronger.
Identify the following type of question:
What does paragraph 2 reveal about Lucy at this point in the selection?
Character Development
Tips:
Track character development on your annotation chart in the "Important People/Things" section by noting how the characters change.
What are possible conclusion stems?
"In conclusion, ..."
"As you can see, ..."
"All in all, ..."
"In summary, ..."
Correct the following four mistakes:
Dont go chasing waterfalls Just stick to the rivers and the lakes that youre used to
Don't go chasing waterfalls. Just stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.
What part of an SCR would require me to use one of the following stems?
"One example from the text is...", "The author states..."
Evidence (Cite)
What are the components of an extended constructed response (ECR)?
Introduction, body paragraph(s), and conclusion
Tips:
Make sure you use transitions to move from one paragraph to the next.
Identify the following type of question:
Read this sentence from paragraph 9.
"Mostly he drew during the free minutes of his day, when he could empty his mind and just trust his charcoal pencil."
Based on this sentence, the reader can conclude that Andy-
Inference
Author's Purpose
Tips:
Use all the clues provided in the text to answer these types of questions.
The answer will NOT be clearly stated if it is an inference question.
What are possible transitions for providing evidence?
"The text states,..."
"On page _, it states,..."
"The author states, ..."
"The article mentions..."
"One example from the text..."
Correct the following five mistakes:
i believe I can fly. I believe i can toush the Sky. I think about it everynight and day.
I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day.
What is missing from the following SCR?
One example from the selection is, "The other aikido kids sat in line to my left watching, which used to make me nervous when I was new." This is significant because it shows that Stevie grew as a person.
Answer
Tips:
Flip the question into the answer!
What should you always do before drafting your extended constructed response?
Plan!
Tips:
Use your scratch paper to start planning your Intro (Hook, context, thesis), Body (Examples and evidence), and Conclusion
Identify the following type of question:
The sensory language in paragraph 1 helps the reader understand that Byrd-
Inference
Author's Purpose
Text Evidence
Tips:
Use clues to understand WHY the author includes certain elements in his/her writing.
THIS HAS TO BE BASED ON THE TEXT
What are possible transitions for contrasting ideas?
"On the other hand..."
"Unlike ____, ____ .."
"Whereas _____, ____..."
"Meanwhile ..."
"However..."
Use their, they're, and there correctly:
On ____ way ____ , ____ going to stop at Whataburger.
On their way there, they're going to stop at Whataburger.
Tips:
Use a dictionary for spelling.
What is missing from the following SCR:
Joy changed from being protective of the bait and annoyed that Heron was trying to take it to being sympathetic towards her. This shows that Joy changed.
Evidence (Cite)
Tips:
Include evidence from the selection to support your answer.
Use quotation marks for direct quotes.
What two things make up the controlling idea (thesis)?
Claim
Reason
Tips:
Most theses include a claim and a reason.
Sometimes, your thesis will be a response to a question, so just flip the question prompt into the answer