Tools/Strategies
What tools could you use to mimic our typical annotation guide?
Highlighting and the notepad
What do the numbers on the left side of a text represent?
paragraphs in a passage or lines of a poem
MCAS open response questions will ask you to have a clear central idea. In other words, you need a ……
claim
When asked to provide evidence in your response, what do you need to include?
Direct quotes/details
What is the theme of a story?
The message or central idea
What should you create on your scrap paper to help you plan your open response(s)?
A graphic organizer
What types of open responses require you to write a story?
Narrative
When asked what a paragraph or sentence is emphasizing or indicates, what is being asked?
to identify the main point or most important idea that the writer is trying to convey in that specific paragraph or sentence
If asked to write an essay, what should your response include?
What does conflict mean in terms of literature?
a struggle or tension between characters or something else (fate, nature, society, etc)
Once you have completed a writing response, you should read it over and look for...
spelling/punctuation errors and ensure all questions were answered appropriately
A piece of writing usually found in newspapers, informing the reader of something important is....
an article
When asked to compare and contrast, what do you need to do?
Identify both similarities and differences
What is a question asking when it says “What is mainly suggested in the passage?”
It is asking what is implied/the overall message of the text that is not directly stated.
What does imagery mean?
The use of descriptive language and/or sensory details
Before reading the MCAS passage, I should….
read the question(s) first
A portion of a larger piece of writing is called...
an excerpt
To figure something out even though it isn’t specifically mentioned in the text means to....
infer what is being said
In a test question, best supported means….
to choose the answer that is strongly backed up by the information provided in the text
What does symbolism mean?
When an object/picture/ideas stands for something other than what it is, like an idea or feeling
When asked to write a response using two different texts (ex. article and poem) what should be included in your response?
Evidence from both texts
What is the purpose of using italics in a title or in a text?
To distinguish titles of works (books, movies, articles, etc) and emphasize words or phrases to make them stand out
What is the difference between affect and effect?
Affect(v)- to change something
Effect(n)- the change that results from something happening
If asked to explain how someone is portrayed in a passage, what are you being asked?
You are being asked to analyze and interpret how the character(s) are being described by the author.
What does author's tone mean?
The author's attitude or feeling towards the subject