Literacy Test Preparation Writing a Series of Paragraphs (Expressing your opinion in a Long Writing task)

Writing Tasks on the Literacy Test On the literacy test, you will have two long writing tasks 1) A News Report and 2) A Series of Paragraphs (Opinion Essay) Today’s lesson will focus on: A Series of Paragraphs

The instructions are always the same for the Writing A Series of Paragraphs question. The only change is the topic you are given to write about. Here is a copy of a sample question directly from the Literacy Test. On the next slide we will break down the requirements.

Breaking down the requirements so there are no surprises later: Written instruction on the Test Expectation of the instruction “Task: Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion…” Notice the word “minimum”. Three paragraphs will NOT be enough for full marks and you need to earn a 75% to pass. Prepare a FIVE paragraph essay. This allows you to fill in the space more easily and systematically. “Purpose and Audience: an adult who is interested in your opinion.” Use language that would make your teacher proud. “Length:…” EQAO always gives you two pages with a total of 48 lines across the page to answer the question. This space should be filled but not exceeded. “Topic:…” You are given a single sentence which you can Agree or Disagree with. It doesn’t matter which point of view you take. Pick one side and stick with it.

How your work is marked Each answer is assigned two marks : Topic Development (main idea, supporting details and organization) Use of Conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation)

Helpful Tips The “Topic” is always a single statement which you can argue For or Against. There is no right or wrong answer. Pick one side of the argument only and stick with it. AVOID the approach “I agree in some cases but disagree in other cases”. There is no reading attached to this question. All information comes from your own experience and imagination. There is a “Rough Notes” area which is not marked. Use the SEES method (next slide) in this area to organize your thoughts. This will make your organization and task of filling two pages (48 lines) much easier. You can use “I think”, “I agree” in your response. This is your opinion, don’t pretend it’s a fact.

S.E.E.S. method In the Rough Notes area: Write if you Agree or Disagree with the statement Write down SEES vertically three times and then jot one or two words down for each letter organizing what you want to say. S - Sentence 1 – Supporting Argument. (Directly Supports your point of view – Agree or Disagree) E - Sentence 2 – Explanation / Example which support the above supporting argument. (could be more than one sentence) E - Sentence 3 – Explanation / Example which support the above supporting argument. (could be more than one sentence) S - Sentence 4 – Summary statement

Let’s try an example We will look at how to set-up the Rough Notes area How to transfer your Rough Notes into your final Series of Paragraphs. Finally, we will look at exemplars. These will show us how actual student work was marked.

The question will look exactly like this The question will look exactly like this. This will be written at the top of the page. The rest of the page (half page underneath) is blank for you to use for your Rough Notes

The next two pages will look like this. 48 lines exactly for your answer

The final Series of Paragraphs should look like this The final Series of Paragraphs should look like this. To get to this level great of Topic Development, the Rough Notes area is very important Introduction Paragraph Body Paragraph #1 Body Paragraph #2 Body Paragraph #3 Conclusion Paragraph

Remember... The S.E.E.S. method In the Rough Notes area: Write if you Agree or Disagree with the statement Write down SEES vertically three times and then jot one or two words down for each letter organizing what you want to say. S - Sentence 1 – Supporting Argument. (Directly Supports your point of view – Agree or Disagree) E - Sentence 2 – Explanation / Example which support the above supporting argument. (could be more than one sentence) E - Sentence 3 – Explanation / Example which support the above supporting argument. (could be more than one sentence) S - Sentence 4 – Summary statement

Topic:. Is it a good idea for high school students to Topic: Is it a good idea for high school students to have a part-time job? Rough Notes AGREE S1 – Income E1 – Out with friend E1 – Clothing S1 – Avoid running to parents S2 – Independence E2 – Self-sufficient, maturity E2 – Commitment, don’t let employers down S2 – Responsibility, accomplishment S3 – Work Experience E3 – Resume, 2 people fighting over a job E3 – Like, dislikes about jobs S3 – People skills ** Notice the two page task has been organized into only 35 words. Most of your time doing Rough Notes should be spent Thinking. You only have to write enough here to jog your own memory and get organized.

How to turn the Rough Notes area into a Series of Paragraphs Paragraph One: First rewrite the “Topic” sentence and give a clear Agree or Disagree response to it. This sentence should be short and precise. Then, your next three sentences should outline what your supporting arguments will be by stating S1, S2, S3. Paragraph Two: Gives a well-developed paragraph detailing the first column from your Rough Notes area, S1, E1, E1, S1. Paragraph Three: Gives a well-developed paragraph detailing the second column from your Rough Notes area, S2, E2, E2, S2. Paragraph Four: Gives a well-developed paragraph detailing the third column from your Rough Notes area, S3, E3, E3, S3. Paragraph Five: Your concluding paragraph. Between paragraphs use Transition words: first of all, secondly, along with, furthermore, finally, etc.)

How you are marked on the Series of Paragraphs (Total possible marks=100) There are two rubrics: 1) Topic Development (main idea, supporting details, organization) You can earn up to 60 marks And 2) Conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation) You can earn up to 40 marks

The Rubric for marking Topic Development (main idea, supporting details and organization) looks like this

Let’s see how some students actually scored on this question Let’s see how some students actually scored on this question. Marks range from 0 to 60 in increments of 5. You can score a 35 (half way between a level 30 or 40) or 40 but not a 38. FULL responses are shown. Notice the length of the ones with the lower marks. Since you need 75% to pass, the lowest passing grade is 45.

CODE 50

Before we look at a perfect Code 60, let’s revisit the Rough Notes made earlier Topic: Is it a good idea for high school students to have a part-time job? Rough Notes AGREE S1 – Income E1 – Out with friend E1 – Clothing S1 – Avoid running to parents S2 – Independence E2 – Self-sufficient, maturity E2 – Commitment, don’t let employers down S2 – Responsibility, accomplishment S3 – Work Experience E3 – Resume, 2 people fighting over a job E3 – Like, dislikes about jobs S3 – People skills ** Notice the two page task has been organized into only 35 words. Most of your time doing Rough Notes should be spent Thinking. You only have to write enough here to jog your own memory and get organized.

CODE 60

The Rubric for marking Use of Conventions (Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation) looks like this Let’s look at some actual student answers. Marks range from 0 to 40 again marked in increments of 5. The topic is different to give you something new to read.

Code 20

CODE 40

Teacher Reference (Please use electronic version with students) Your task: Practice writing a series of paragraphs on the white ledger handout provided by your teacher. Or The following are Series of Paragraphs sample “Topics”. Give yourself ½ page for rough notes and 48 lines to answer. Is it a good idea for high school students to have a part-time job? Are today’s famous people good role models for young people? Should the sale of “junk foods” be banned from Ontario secondary schools? Should school uniforms be mandatory at the secondary level? Should joining a club or team be mandatory at the secondary level? Should Physical Education classes be mandatory for all four years of high school?