What does a Good Reader read before beginning an MCAS passage?
The directions, italics, all multiple choice questions, and the open response question.
What should the first sentence (topic sentence) of your open response should do?
It should turn the question around or Restate the Prompt using Title, Author, Restate, Period.
What does a Good Reader highlight in the questions and the text?
For a question, good readers have F.U.N (find Underline and Number) In the text, good readers highlight the answers to questions. Good readers DO NOT highlight random sentences or words that do not answer questions.
How many pieces of evidence or support should you include in your open response?
At least three.
What is the author's tone or attitude in this poem and how do you know? His bark breaks the sound barrier, His nose is as cold as an ice box, A wag of a tail you will never see, His jumping causes falling rocks, He eats a mountain of food that costs a fortune, Growls are how he greets you, Can you take him with you?
The author's tone is annoyed because the author is stating that the dog barks loud, he's mean, he's obnoxious, he costs a lot to own, and he wants to give him away.
Name a pre-writing activity that will help you organize your thoughts before you begin writing your open response.
Creating a graphic organizer, such as a T chart, web, box, bullet chart, etc.
What is obvious and intentional exaggeration? EXAMPLE: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
hyperbole
What is the name of the poetry device which begins two or more consecutive words with the same letter and sound? EXAMPLE: Two terrible tigers tortured two tiny turtles.
alliteration
What should the topic sentence look like for the following MCAS open response prompt: Based on the article,"Rollercoasters, then and now" by Elizabeth Young, describe how roller coasters have changed over time. Support your answer with important details from the article.
In the article "Rollercoasters, then and now" by Elizabeth Young, she describes how rollercoasters have changed over time.
Rollercoasters have changed over time according to the article, "Rollercoasters then and now, by Elizabeth Young.
It is important that your open response has evidence from the text in "QUOTES", but the whole point is for you to explain HOW your evidence proves your answer. What sentence frames can you use to create this balance?
According to the passage in paragraph ______ , it states "_____________________." This shows that _________________________________.