Test Nav Tools
Academic Vocab
From Prompt to Plan
Explanatory & Argument Writing
Narrative Writing
100

How can the ANSWER ELIMINATOR tool help you? 

Eliminate the MOST wrong 1-2 answers. (Read and think about the WHOLE answer before eliminating it!)

100

List 2 words that mean "call attention to" or "point out."  (Hint:  E........ H........)

The author uses repetition to call attention to an important theme.  

EMPHASIZE

HIGHLIGHT

100

How many paragraphs does an ESSAY usually have?

What is the purpose of each paragraph?

4 (Intro, 2 Body Paragraphs, Conclusion) or

5 (Intro, 3 Body Paragraphs, Conclusion)

100

When do you use ACES (or ACECES)?

What do the letters A-C-E-C-E-S stand for? 

Use ACES (or ACECES) to remember how to organize a BODY PARAGRAPH.  

A = Answer, Argument, Topic Sentence

C = Cite Evidence (Quotes or information that support your topic sentence)

E = Explain / Elaborate (Use your own words to explain how your quote or information connects to your topic sentence)

S = Summarize (wrap up your body paragraph by restating your main idea/point)

100
In your own words, what is a NARRATIVE?

A fictional story with characters, setting, and events. 

200

Why should you CLICK AHEAD in the questions before you start reading?

To closely read and examine the ESSAY PROMPT. 

200

List 3 words that mean "SHOW."

(Hint - I ..... R......P.....)

ILLUSTRATE

REVEAL

PORTRAY

200

How do you SHOW that you have started a new paragraph?

Indent the paragraph OR hit "return" to create SPACE between paragraphs. 

200

Set up your whiteboard with a BASIC ESSAY OUTLINE for an EXPLANATORY prompt that asks you to write about how an idea is developed in two different texts. 

INTRO Paragraph 

BODY PARAGRAPH #1 (ACECES) - How Text #1 shows the idea. 

BODY PARAGRAPH #2 (ACECES) - How Text #2 shows the idea. 

CONCLUSION 

200

How are NARRATIVES usually organized? 

BEGINNING

MIDDLE 

END

300

How can you use the NOTEPAD to help you with the ESSAY?

Create your own graphic organizer

Copy and paste content from the prompt and the texts

300
What are synonyms for the phrase "contribute to the development of"

add to

connect to

help create

show / reveal

300

When you read the prompt for the first time, what 3 things should you notice/focus on? 

What TYPE OF WRITING?

How many TEXTS?

What's the TOPIC?  

300

Prompt:  Write an essay explaining how Cole in "Trees Around Us" and the speaker in "The Outdoors" help the reader understand how nature can affect people.

Using this prompt, write sentence starters for two body paragraphs of this essay.  

Topic Sentence for Body Paragraph #1: In "Trees Around Us" Cole helps the reader understand that nature can have a _________ affect on people.  

Topic Sentence for Body Paragraph #2:  In "The Outdoors" the speaker helps us understand that nature is _________by the way they __________.  


300

If you are CONTINUING the NARRATIVE (= extending the story / what might happen next), what are 2 important things to remember?

The SAME PERSON is the NARRATOR

WRITE A NARRATIVE (not what you think might happen)

Pro Tips:  Start your story by --

1.  Using the last line of the original story

2.  Establishing the character/setting:  The next _________, <character> woke up and could only think about _______________.  

400

What is the MOST IMPORTANT thing to know about how the NOTEPAD works?

The notepad is linked to a specific question.  Your work will save, but will only be visible when you are working on that specific question (including the essay!)

400

What is an ANECDOTE

Why might a nonfiction article include an ANECDOTE?

Anecdote = short (amusing) story of a person or event

Why?  = to show how an idea might affect a real person or a real situation

400

Determine the TYPE, TEXTS, TOPIC of the following prompt: 

Write an essay explaining how Henry in "School Days" and the speaker in "What I Learn" help the reader understand the challenges of starting at a new middle school.

TYPE: Explanatory

TEXTS: 2 - "School Days" and "What I Learn"

TOPIC: the challenges of starting at a new middle school

400

Use the following prompt to write a sentence starter TOPIC SENTENCE for one of the body paragraphs:

Write an essay explaining how Henry in "School Days" and the speaker in "What I Learn" help the reader understand the challenges of starting at a new middle school.

Topic Sent for Body Paragraph #1: In "School Days," when Henry starts at a new middle school, he experiences challenges like ________ and __________. 

Topic Sent for Body Paragraph #2: "What I Learn" shows that starting at a new school can be difficult because of ______ and _______.  

400

Use your whiteboard to create an OUTLINE for a "CONTINUE THE NARRATIVE" prompt.  

Beginning (Characters - Setting - Conflict)

Middle (Main Events)

End (Resolve the Conflict)

500

What are 2 important actions you should do before you hit "SUBMIT" on your test?

TAKE A BREAK: When you think you're done, take a little break, then come back and:

REVIEW: Make sure every question is answered (look closely at questions with 2 parts)

EDIT YOUR ESSAY:  REREAD and EDIT for capitalization, puncuatation, spelling


500

FILL IN THE BLANK:

Sometimes authors organize information _________________________, meaning, in the order that events happened.  

CHRONOLOGICALLY

500

Determine the TYPE, TEXT, and TOPIC of the following prompt. 

Using information from the articles "School is School" and "What are we learning?" write a letter to your school principal in which you argue that students should be responsible for cleaning the school.

TYPE -Argument

TEXT - "School is School" and "What are We Learning?"

TOPIC - Students SHOULD be responsible for cleaning the school. 

500

Write a sentence starter TOPIC SENTENCE for the following prompt:  

Write a letter to your school principal in which you argue that students should be responsible for cleaning the school.  Use information from both texts to support your ideas. 

One reason students should be responsible for cleaning the school is that ....

Another reason that students should be responsible for cleaning the school is that ....

500

Give 2 pieces of advice to someone who has to: "write a narrative that tells the events of the story from the point of view of <different character>?"

Tell the SAME (original) story from the new/different character's perspective.  Keep the major events the SAME

"I" = that character

Include thoughts and feelings