Essay
An essay in which you are asked to inform or explain an idea to the reader
What is an explanatory essay
Santiago carried Morry up the stairs everyday for a week. Although it was cumbersome, he was paid $1000 for the service.
Define cumbersome
what is large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use.
The difference between a metaphor and a simile
What is a simile uses like or as and a metaphor does not to compare things
Claim: Procrastination often leads to unnecessary stress
A. 92% of students report starting assignments the day they are assigned.
B. A survey found that 68% of students who procrastinate report higher stress levels the night before deadlines.
C. One student said, “I kind of stress out sometimes.”
D. A student completed an assignment early and felt relaxed.
What is B
The amount of written responses you must complete on the MCAS
What is THREE
The two elements of an effective thesis statement
What is answers the prompt and introduces main points
No matter how much Ms. Steadman wished to perclude the arrival of Quinn's various fidgets, she seemed to have an endless amount.
Define Perclude
What is to prevent from happening; make impossible.
JJ was a cheetah as the trail blurred in his vision and his competitors fell behind him.
Name the figurative language and the purpose.
What is a metaphor comparing JJ to a cheetah to show how fast he is
Claim: People often make poor decisions when influenced by peer pressure
A. 55% of teens say they value their friends’ opinions.
B. A student chose to study instead of going out with friends.
C. In a study, teens were twice as likely to engage in risky behavior when peers were present.
D. A student said, “My friends are important to me.”
What is C
Name three out of four of the genres that will appear in the MCAS passages
What is Fiction, Nonfiction, Drama, Poetry
The three styles of essay responses
What is Explanatory, Argumentative, Narrative
Chunk had an affinity for making Ms. Schopp's desk into a movie scene. He would place little creatures around the desk, seemingly interacting with eachother, causing Ms. Schopp to laugh regularly at the story before her.
Define the word AFFINITY
What is a natural liking for a person, thing, idea, etc.
The food in Ms. Steadman's lunch box seemed to be calling out to Mason as he sat with a rumbling stomach.
Name the figurative language and it's purpose
Ms. Steadman walked in wearing neon pants, a shirt with Chuck Norris on the front, and a headband that gave the appearance of an alien.
You could use this as evidence in this style of explanatory essay. Hint: What they say, what they do, what other people say, what the narrator says.
what is characterization
evidence that does not need to be in quotations but is still taken from the text in your own words.
indirect evidence/paraphrasing
The two elements of the MCAS Essay Rubric
What is Idea Development and Standard English Conventions
Alexa stood up on her desk and began serenading the class. The class joined in, causing the current assignment to become obsolete.
Define OBSOLETE
What is no longer in use
Molly's thick curls untangled delicately on her shoulders as she walked into the classroom.
Name the figurative language and it's purpose.
Claim: Procrastination leads to lower-quality work.
Evidence: “Students who start assignments the night before are 50% more likely to report rushing their work.”
A. The evidence is relevant and sufficient.
B. The evidence is relevant but not sufficient because it measures rushing, not quality directly.
C. The evidence is not relevant because it mentions time.
D. The evidence is sufficient because 50% is significant.
What is B
The step taken before reading the passage or looking at the questions
What is reading the bolded and italicized information above the passage
character, setting, dialogue, relevant details
Define IMPERVIOUS
What is not admitting of passage or capable of being affected
Jackson seemed to have Midas's touch when it came to jamming out on his guitar.
Name the figurative language and it's purpose.
What is an allusion to illustrate that Jackson is very good at playing the guitar
Theme: Chosen family can be more valuable to an individual than blood.
Give a piece of evidence from a story or movie to support this statement.
Answer will vary
Name three things that can help you succeed on the MCAS that have nothing to do with ELA skills.
What is get a good nights rest, eat breakfast, stay hydrated, take breaks, and/or eliminate dumb answer choices.