2013 PSAT/NMSQT

What is the PSAT? It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It is a clearinghouse for MANY scholarship opportunities.

Why should I take it? Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT. Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.

What is on the SAT? Critical Reading Two 25-minute critical reading sections = 48 questions  13 Sentence completions, 35 Critical Reading questions Editing Skills One 30-minute writing section = 39 questions  14 Identifying sentence errors, 20 Improving sentences, 5 Improving paragraph questions These multiple-choice questions on writing skills measure a student's ability to express ideas effectively in standard-written English, to recognize faults in usage and structure, and to use language with sensitivity to meaning. Writing Skills 25 minutes to write an essay

PSAT Review – WHY?? To help you perform better on tests like this in the future To highlight thinking skills needed on many assessments and in the “real world” To model how to think through these types of questions We’re focusing on the questions most missed by CGHS students

Next Steps- Model inferencing question - #12 Student groups of 3 per classroom teacher Each group has Recorder- student who writes the group’s thoughts Timekeeper- student who manages time limits Rounder- student responsible for keeping group on-task

Section 1 -- #12 Skill: Inferencing In 1996 Rose Ann Roberson researched the stories that “women’s page” editors at several newspapers chose to cover and what influenced those choices during the late 1960s and 1970s, when women’s sections were transitioning into “lifestyle” sections. She found that these editors did not want to abolish the women’s sections; rather, they wanted to include in their sections stories that were more relevant to their readers than traditional fare was. Robertson looked at their coverage of working women and civil rights and found that these female editors were running progressive stories long before such subjects reached the front pages. These developments were in spite of rather than because of directives from management.

After reading, identify The Main Idea: Clues I use to determine the main idea:  “transitioning” = change  “more relevant to their readers than traditional fare” = change to what modern women readers wanted  “working women and civil rights…progressive stories” = at this time, (1960s and ‘70s) civil rights and women’s rights/equality were experiencing huge changes in society The main idea: Women’s page editors were progressive (ahead of their time or most of their peers) with respect to social issues.

Question #12 The last sentence suggests that the “directives from management” were viewed by the women’s page editors to be A. supportive of their own beliefs B. progressive in intent C. ambivalent about women’s issues D. indifferent to tradition E. at odds with their own goals -A and B would mean the same, so neither can be correct -“in spite of rather than because” in the last stc of the passage shows the managers and the editors had opposite views, and “at odds with” in option E says this, too. E is the correct answer.

Next Steps- Model inferencing question - #12 Check! Student groups of 3 per classroom teacher Each group has Recorder- student who writes the group’s thoughts Timekeeper- student who manages time limits Rounder- student responsible for keeping group on-task

Instructions for Groups For the type of skill your group is given:  write the name of the skill prominently at the top of the paper,  list what you associate with that,  what it means, and  things you might look for or consider in that category For the question(s) you’re assigned:  list how the group members thought through the problem  write why the correct answer is the right one, and  write why the others are wrong Timekeeper- you have 15 minutes total