STAAR Last Minute Reminders

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STAARLast MinuteReminders

• 9th Grade ELA End of Course
• Monday Tuesday, March 26-27

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Monday - Writing

• You will write three compositions
• 1 Literary (short story)
• 2 Expository
• compare and contrast
• cause and effect
• description
• explanation

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Writing Reminders

• Focus on 1 or 2 ideas rather than listing many
  ideas
• Develop each idea with specific examples, details
  and in-depth explanations
• Include a short introduction and conclusion
• Use the dictionary/thesaurus
• Prewrite, prewrite, prewrite!
• DO NOT WRITE MORE THAN THE 26 LINES PROVIDED
• Writing outside the margins, above the box,
  below the box or in excess of 26 lines will not
  be read and therefore not scored your essay
  will appear incomplete!

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Literary (short story)

• Plot out your story before you write
• Focus on one moment in time
• Use details, but use them for a reason
• Character details that explain why he/she acts a
  certain way
• Setting details that serve some purpose in the
  story
• Work toward your conclusion right from the
  beginning Dont just stick it on at the end
  because you are out of room
• Do not use existing storylines or characters (no
  Spongebob or Batman!)
• Write a story, not an expository essay

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Literary Example

• The girl stared into the mirror at what was
  supposed to be her reflection. This cant be
  right she thought as she examined The Stranger
  more closely. It resembled her in the way that
  its light brown hair was up in a loose ponytail.
  Its dark chocolate eyes peered into her own. The
  height was right and even the bracelet on her
  wrist was identical. But the skin was too pale
  and on the face was a smirk that was foreign to
  The Girl. Who are you? The Girl questioned.
  Im you The Stranger replied. Well, Im the
  person you sometimes yearn to be it added. You
  convince yourself from day to day that Im not
  here and you ignore me constantly, but today you
  question who I really am and if Im all that
  bad. The Girl, realizing that she has given in
  to her most evil self, tries not to panic, not to
  give anymore leniency or authority to The
  Stranger. The Stranger stands and waits for The
  Girl to respond, all the while soaking up the
  unpleasant feelings and fear radiating off of The
  Girl. Suddenly, the unpleasant feelings transform
  into gladness and the fear morphs to sureness.
  The Stranger takes a step back and knows it has
  lost the battle. The Girl decrees, As long as I
  live, I will never be overcome by you! I have a
  strong spirit that will be free to love and give
  forever. As for you, youll never go away. Youll
  be my constant reminder of who I will NEVER be.
  Youll NEVER get stronger or weaker. We will
  fight this battle as long as we must, but youll
  never be the victor! As The Stranger slowly
  walked away, it turned its head ever so slightly,
  only to whisper, Ill see you tomorrow, then.
•  

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Expository

• Thesis statement must be included in your (short)
  introduction
• Focus on one or two main ideas
• Use specific details and examples to explore
  these ideas in depth
• Think about word choice avoid unnecessary words
  or repetitiveness
• Remind the reader of your thesis in your (short)
  conclusion
• After prewriting, read the prompt again to make
  sure you are answering the question asked

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Expository Example

• The five senses, without them mankind wouldnt
  have accomplished anything. Confusion would
  overwhelm us all. Out of the five senses, the
  gift of hearing and sound is something most
  people cant imagine living without. I for one,
  would have trouble finding comfort, understanding
  my environment, and communicating without the
  gift of hearing.
• I use my ears as a tool to soothe myself through
  times of distress. With the help of music or the
  assuring words of my mother or father, I find
  comfort. For example, the mighty roar of waves
  crashing down to the surface is a sound I
  couldnt live without. My love for the ocean is
  so strong, and with the help of sight, smell, and
  touch, I can enjoy the spectrum of color and
  salty sea air it has to offer. But without
  hearing the symphony of sound the ocean releases,
  I would feel uneasy in my skin and my stomach
  would churn. In addition, I would not be able to
  hear the pitter patter of footsteps on a wooden
  floor that signals someone is coming. I would not
  be able to hear the piercing scratch of a branch
  as it smacks a window and understand it is windy
  outside. As Im getting ready, the drip drop of
  rain among the cool asphalt wouldnt warn me to
  snatch a coat before I leave the house. Without
  hearing, my environment would be a mystery and
  communication would result in a world of
  everlasting misery. I wouldnt be able to thank
  someone after they say bless you or ask a
  stranger what time it was.
• In conclusion, my life would seem meaningless
  without the sense of hearing and sound. I would
  be difficult to find comfort in our cruel world
  or understand our ever-changing environment, or
  simply to use communication to say goodbye.

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Editing

• Some trouble spots to look for
• Subject-verb agreement are both singular or
  both plural?
• Verb tense agreement is everything written in
  past or in present tense?
• Capitals, periods, commas
• Parallel structure
• (I think, I write, I win. NOT I am thinking, I
  write and win.)
• Unnecessary words / needless repetition
• Lack of transitions, or illogical transitions

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Tuesday - Reading

• Read Short Answer Response questions first so you
  know what to look for as you read the selections
• Annotate! Annotate! Annotate!
• Reread passages you do not understand
• Use the dictionary for unfamiliar words
• Multiple Choice Eliminate any obvious wrong
  answers first
• Reread questions you do not understand (see a
  trend here?)

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Short Answer Responses

• You will write 2 short answer responses
• Use complete sentences
• Answer, Prove, Explain
• Clearly state ONE specific idea
• Support that idea with a SPECIFIC QUOTE
• When a question asks about two selections, you
  must provide a quote from each selection
• DO NOT WRITE MORE THAN 10 LINES

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Example Single Selection Question

• In this excerpt from Anne of Green Gables, do you
  think the stage directions enhance your
  understanding of the scene? Explain your answer
  and support it with evidence from the selection.

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Score Point 1 Partially Sufficient

• In Anne of Green Gables I believe the stage
  directions enhance the understanding of the
  scene. Some evidence to prove it is all of the
  first paragraph. It enhances the understanding of
  the scene by introducing the main character,
  setting the scene, and setting the mood. Without
  the stage directions its all confusing. Some
  more text evidence is all of paragraph 8. It
  enhances the scene by introducing a man who is to
  adopt Anne and what his character is like. In
  conclusion I believe the stage directions enhance
  the scene because without them its very
  confusing.
• Lacks specific quotes or examples

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Score Point 1 Partially Sufficient

• Yes it does enhance my understanding, it
  describes Anne to me. It lets me know that shes
  waiting for something or someone and that she
  might be unfortunate. The child wears a
  too-large overcoat.
• Quote is not relevant to commentary Does not
  prove that she is waiting for something and only
  vaguely relates to the idea that she might be
  unfortunate

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Score Point 2 - Sufficient

• The stage directions help a lot because you can
  create better pictures in your head about what is
  going on. When the story says Anne clutches her
  bag. She is terrified shows Anne is scared
  without Anne having to say it.

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Score Point 3 - Exemplary

• The stage directions do help to create an image
  of the scene in the play. In a short story or
  novel, authors use diction to describe the
  setting that the characters are in, which helps
  to paint a visual image in the readers mind.
  Likewise, descriptions in a play such as a small
  figure, a child, sits on a battered suitcase and
  directions that indicate who a character talking
  to such as to Anne help the reader see what is
  happening. Readers can definitely see the play
  being acted out in their minds, which helps them
  to understand the scenes better and connect with
  the characters.

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Paired Selections Sample Question

• How are the themes of Those Winter Sundays and
  All My Babies are Gone Now similar? Support
  your answer with evidence from both selections.

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Score Point 1 Partially sufficient

• The themes from Those Winter Sundays and All
  My Babies Are Gone are similar in that they are
  both looking into past moments in their lives.
  What did I know of loves austere and lonely
  offices? I wish I had treasured the doing a
  little more
• Idea is too general quotes are not explained

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Score Point 1 Partially sufficient

• Both themes suggest the authors regret not
  spending time with their loved ones. In the poem,
  the author spoke to his father indifferently
  which shows lack of feeling. And in All My
  Babies Are Gone, the author mentions her regret
  of not living in the moment with her kids.
• Idea is good, but evidence is too general (no
  quote) for one of the selections.

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Score Point 2 - Sufficient

• Both authors show regret about their earlier
  life. In Those Winter Sundays, the author
  realizes that No one ever thanked his father
  for taking care of the family. In My Babies Are
  Gone Now, the author says, I wish I had
  treasured the doing a little more and the getting
  it done a little less.

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Score Point 3 - Exemplary

• Both themes are similar because both the child
  and mother in the selections feel remorse for not
  being able to appreciate who they have in front
  of them and not being able to take advantage of
  time. No one ever thanked him. The child
  acknowledges the fact that his father with
  cracked hands that ached from labor would wake
  up in the blueblack cold to provide warmth for
  his family, yet no one seems to be grateful for
  it. Time flew by for this mother she didnt get
  to cherish her three treasures because in the
  blink of an eye they turned into three almost
  adults.

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You are ready!

• Remember that this test is necessary for
  graduation .
• If you take it seriously and remember what we
  have done in class, you will do well.
• You have worked hard this year, and you are ready
  to show what you know!