Strategies
Use this to eliminate answers you know are wrong.
Trash, Treasure, Gold
How many total points is a short response question worth?
2 points
This test is a piece of cake. Piece of cake means..
It is easy!
Time is a thief.
Metaphor (because it compares time to a thief without using "like" or "as")
When is the NYS ELA Test?
Wednesday & Thursday/ April 15th-16th
Use this when you need to double check an answer or section of the passage
Go back to the text / Reread
You have to include 2 of these in every written short response.
"Raccoons have many traits that help them survive. They can see well at night, so they hunt at night to avoid humans and other dangers. They also have specialized fingers." The main idea is...
Raccoons have many traits to help them survive.
The leaves danced in the breeze.
Personification (because it gives human qualities, "danced," to the leaves).
What kind of food should you eat prior to taking the NYS test?
Nutritious food! Fruits/ Veggies/ Whole Grains/ Lean Proteins.
Use this to note key terms in a question or details in a text.
Highlight / Annotate
True or False: Grammar and correct spelling are worth points on a short response.
False.
Grammar & Spelling do not count.
"Sam thought he could win the basketball game all on his own. He tried and tried but it was no use. Finally, he started working with his team. Once the team worked together they won the game!" What is the central message?
Teamwork makes the dreamwork.
I’ve told you a million times.
Hyperbole (an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally).
How many hours of sleep should you get the night before the NYS test?
8 hours or more.
Do this to get a "head start" on the questions.
Preview the questions before reading the text.
What should the first sentence of your short response do?
Restate the question (reworded into a statement)
"Mary studied really hard for her test. She paid attention in class and did all of her homework. When she didn't understand a topic she asked the teacher for help. When test day came, she breezed through it and got 100%!" The lesson of this story is..
Hard work pays off.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Alliteration (repetition of the "p" sound at the beginning of words).
True or False: You are allowed to used certain electronic devices such as airpods or apple watches during the NYS test.
False: You cannot use any electronic devices during the NYS test.
When trying to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar term/phrase - use this by reading words around the term/phrase
Context/ Context Clues
The best way to ensure full credit on a written short response question is to include ___________________
Restate, Answer, Two Pieces of Evidence, Explanation
"When bright artificial lights shine near a beach, baby sea turtles often become disoriented. Since they naturally follow the brightest light to find the ocean, these distracting city lights lead them toward dangerous roads instead of the water. Consequently, many hatchlings struggle to reach their safe home in the deep sea." How is this passage organized?
Artificial lights cause baby sea turtles to struggle to reach the sea.
Cause and effect
What TYPES of figurative language are shown here:
The wind howled like a wolf in the night.
Simile (because it uses "like" to compare the wind to a wolf).
Personification (the wind can not howl).
Where will you be taking the NYS ELA test?
A classroom