Michigan Merit Exam mme Teacher Prep Course Presenters Lisa Guzzardo Asaro Dr. Judith Dorsch Backes Carrie Wozniak

Online Access to Training Materials b Module 5 b Click on MME TAB b Click on TOOLBOX Pg. 2

MME OVERVIEW b MME Contributing Components b MME Exam 2007 Assessment Design b Score Categories and Scale Score Ranges, 2008 b Stand Names by Subject b Performance Level Descriptors b Average ACT Scores for MI Schools b Student Reminders Pg. 3-11

ACT Prep Materials and Online Resources b Michigan eLibrary b Learning Express Library Pg. 2

b Click on Tests and Tutorials b New User ID/Returning ID User ID (write it down)User ID (write it down) Password (write it down)Password (write it down) Verify PasswordVerify Password Pg. 2-3

Learning Express Library Sign-in Featured Resources b Learning Express E-Books.com Academic Test PrepAcademic Test Prep –ACT Exam Success b Learning Express’ ACT Exam Prep Pg. 3

ACT Exam Success Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 Introduction 1 (4) CHAPTER 2 ACT Assessment Study Skills and Test-Taking Strategies 13 (5) CHAPTER 3 ACT English Test Practice 31 (23) CHAPTER 4 ACT Math Test Practice 131 (27) CHAPTER 5 ACT Reading Test Practice 203 (39) CHAPTER 6 ACT Science Reasoning Test Practice 249 (48) APPENDIX Additional ACT Resources 327 Pg. 5-66

E-Books: ELA Chapter 3 (page 31) Overview: About the ACT English Test On the ACT English Test, you will have 45 minutes to read five prose passages and answer 75 multiple choice questions. These questions test two types of English skills: your understanding of the conventions of standard written English (“Usage and Mechanics”) and your knowledge of rhetorical strategies and techniques (“Rhetorical Skills”).

E-Books: ELA Continued Chapter 3 The 40 questions about usage and mechanics cover: punctuation (13%), grammar and usage (16%), and sentence structure (24%). The 35 questions about rhetorical skills address: general writing strategies (16%) organizational techniques (15%), and style (16%).

E-Books: MATH Chapter 4 (page 131) Overview: About the ACT Math Test The 60-minute, 60-question ACT Math Test contains questions from six categories of subjects taught in most high schools up to the start of 12th grade. The categories are listed below with the number of questions from each category: Pre-Algebra (14 questions) Elementary Algebra (10 questions) Intermediate Algebra (9 questions) Coordinate Geometry (9 questions) Plane Geometry (14 questions) Trigonometry (4 questions)

E-Book: Reading Chapter 5 (page 203) b b The ACT Reading Test assesses your ability to read and understand what ACT considers college freshman level material. The test is 35 minutes long and includes 40 questions. b b There are four passages on the test, each of which is followed by ten multiple- choice questions.

E-Book: Reading Continued Chapter 5 b b The passages (each around 800 words) are identified by a heading that will tell you what type of text you are about to read (fiction, for example), who the author is, the date it was written, and might also give you more information to help you understand the passage. b b The lines of the passage are numbered to identify sections of the text in the questions that follow.

E-Book: Science Reasoning Chapter 7 (page 249) b b The most important thing you should know about this test is that it is not a science test, but instead a reasoning test. b b Unlike tests that you may have taken in high school, the ACT Science Reasoning Test does not assess your knowledge of a particular science topic. b b Rather, it is designed to test your ability to understand and learn scientific material.

WorkKeys: 3 Parts b The WorkKeys system from the ACT is designed to help students develop better workplace skills. b WorkKeys help students figure out how prepared they are for jobs that interest them and guides them to the education and training they need.

WorkKeys Characteristics and Skills b There are five levels of difficulty. Level 3 is the least complex and Level 7 is the most complex. b The levels build on each other, each incorporating the skills assessed at the previous levels. b For example, at Level 5, individuals need the skills from Levels 3, 4, and 5. b Examples are included with each level description.

WorkKeys: ACT Reading for Information PART ONE: Reading for Information b It is often the case that workplace communications are not necessarily well-written or targeted to the appropriate audience. b Reading for Information materials do not include information that is presented graphically, such as in charts, forms, or blueprints. Pg. 2-11

PART ONE: Reading for Information b This test measures the skills people use when they read and use written text in order to do a job. b The written texts include memos, letters, directions, signs, notices, bulletins, policies, and regulations. WorkKeys: ACT Reading for Information

PART TWO: Applied Mathematics b This test is designed to be taken with a calculator. A formula sheet that includes all formulas required for the assessment is provided. formula sheetformula sheet b While individuals may use calculators and conversion tables to help with the problems, they still need to use math skills to think them through. WorkKeys: ACT Applied Mathematics Pg

WorkKeys: ACT Locating Information b b The WorkKeys Locating Information test measures the skill people use when they work with workplace graphics. b b Examinees are asked to find information in a graphic or insert information into a graphic. b b They also must compare, summarize, and analyze information found in related graphics. Pgs

Understanding the ACT Writing Prompt b The ACT Writing Test b Prompts used for the ACT Writing Test b Sample ACT Essay Prompt b Anchor #1 b Anchor #2 - #4 Pgs. 2-7

Combined English/Writing Scale Scores Complete these steps to calculate your Combined English/Writing Score b Find your scale score for the English Test in the left column. b Find your Writing Test subscore at the top of the table. b Follow the English Test score row across and the Writing Test subscore column down until the two meet. b The Combined score is found where the row and column meet. Pgs. 8-9

ACT and the Persuasive Essay The Fast Food Essay The Metaphor Graphic Organizer The Metaphor Graphic Organizer Pgs.10-23

The Metaphor Graphic Organizer F-G G-H H-I

FAST FOOD Graphic Organizer for your Student’s Essay b Know Your Customers (B-C) Do/Don’tDo/Don’t Scorer’s InstructionScorer’s Instruction b Know Your Ingredients (D-M) b Know How to Put the Ingredients Together (N) Pg. 11

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS 1. POSITIONING (D) The student’s essay must take a position on the question Show students how to rephrase the promptShow students how to rephrase the prompt Select a positionSelect a position 2. EXAMPLES (E) Students must include excellent examples Strong examples include specific events, dates, or measurable changes over timeStrong examples include specific events, dates, or measurable changes over time Students must write about things that have happened in detailStudents must write about things that have happened in detail Varity of examples is important too…how much ground students coverVarity of examples is important too…how much ground students cover Pgs

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED 3. ORGANIZATION (F) b No matter what topics students decide to write upon the organization should be the same. The Top Bun: Introduction Paragraph #1 b The introduction to an ACT essay has to do 3 things : –Grab the scorer’s attention –Explain your position on the topic clearly and concisely –Acknowledge the counter argument to the student’s position –Transition the scores smoothly into your three examples Pgs

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED b Transition between Meat Paragraphs (paragraphs #2–3 and #3-4) The first meat paragraph dives right into its topic sentence, but the second and third meat paragraphs need transitions. b Help student with transition words like another or finally. 3. ORGANIZATION (H) Pgs

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED 3. ORGANIZATION (H-I)  No matter what topics students decide to write upon the organization should be the same. The Bottom Bun: Conclusion (Paragraph #5) b The conclusion of a student essay should accomplish 2 things : –Recap the student’s argument –Expand the student’s position and look to the future

KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS CONTINUED COMMAND OF LANGUAGE (K-M) 4. COMMAND OF LANGUAGE (K-M) b An ACT essay with a clear position and strong examples will not get a perfect score without the Special Sauce, so work with students to pay close attention to these 3 facets of their essay: Variation in Sentence StructureVariation in Sentence Structure Word ChoiceWord Choice Grammar and SpellingGrammar and Spelling Pgs

KNOW HOW TO PUT YOUR INGREDIENTS TOGETHER Process and Pacing Chart STEP 1: Understand the prompt and take a position. 1 MINUTE STEP 2: Brainstorm examples. 4–5 MINUTES STEP 3: Create an outline. 5–6 MINUTES STEP 4: Write the essay. 15 MINUTES STEP 5: Proof the essay. 3 MINUTES Pg

On Demand Persuasive Writing b IDEA ORGANIZER My position is... My counter argument is... Reason #1 Support... Reason #2 Support... Reason #3 Support... Pgs. 24

My Position: Opposing Position: Reason 3: Reason 2: Reaso n 1: Count er Argu ment Deconstructing the Essay IPOD Graphic Organizer Pg. 25

Conclusion IPOD Graphic Organizer Backside Pg. 26

ACT Persuasive Writing Scoring Guidelines b Student will use a 6 point, Persuasive Essay holistic rubric on the day of the test b Teachers can use a 6 point, Persuasive Essay analytic rubric instructionally with students before the test date b Student friendly rubric Pgs Pg. 30 Pgs. 31

ACT Writing Comment and Condition Codes COMMENT CODES b Make and Articulate Judgment b Develop Ideas b Sustain Focus b Organize and Present Ideas b Communicate Clearly CONDITION CODES b Passage submitted cannot be scored b No valid English score Pg. 32

Setting ACT Score Goals b English Test + b Mathematics Test + b Reading Test + b Science Reasoning Test b Science Reasoning Test + b =Total Score Goal divided by 4 b =Composite Score Goal Pgs

College Readiness Standards b English Scores b Mathematics Scores b Reading Scores b Science Reasoning Scores Life Science/BiologyLife Science/Biology Physical Science/Chemistry/PhysicsPhysical Science/Chemistry/Physics Earth Science/SpaceEarth Science/Space b ACT Writing Pgs

ACT Persuasive Writing Anchor Set b Scored Anchor Set Have students read the student anchor essayHave students read the student anchor essay Have students read the scoring explanations for scores 1 – 6Have students read the scoring explanations for scores 1 – 6 Teachers use these sets to scaffold student instructionTeachers use these sets to scaffold student instruction Pgs

Deconstructing the Essay IPOD Graphic Organizer b Use the anchor sets provided or find anchor sets online, and have students complete each IPOD component with information from the paragraphs b Students should do this for a scored 4, 5, and a 6 Pg. 67

Additional MME Wrap Around Information b Math: 39 multiple choice b Science: 49 multiple choice b Social Studies: 42 multiple choice 40 MINUTES for each part Pgs. 2-6

MME Math b ACT Test Taking Tips for Math students Pgs

Additional Resources b Oakland Schools Prep Materials...page 2 b Characteristics of Complex Text as defined by ACT…page 3 b Academic Vocabulary…page 4-5 b Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II Bookmarks…page 6-7