Preparing our students for the EAP English Prompt

Why is this Important?? 1. Introduce students to reading they will do in college. 2. Many students lack successful reading strategies & are not prepared for the demands of college reading. 3. Students need help learning to read difficult texts 4. Do not know how to adjust reading strategies for different purposes (different subjects) -have difficulty understanding the structure of argument and do not understand rhetorical context

What are we trying to teach?? ~ stop relying on authority -rely on themselves. ~learn to ask questions ~look to writing to aid understanding ~must understand how analysis works -take apart the whole & explore the individual pieces

What is the EPT Requirement?? ~We must clear the confusion among parents & students regarding the EPT Requirement -begin with fellow teachers  working as a team  working across the curriculum

Meeting the EPT requirement Testing Out: ~SAT I: score of 550 or more ~ACT: score of 24 or more ~AP Lit & Composition: score of 3 or higher ~AP Language & Composition: score of 3 or higher ~Passing the EAP English test **Unless a student meets one of the above criteria, the must take the EPT (English Placement Test)

Purpose of the EAP Assessment ~Provides an early signal to students, parents and teachers about a student’s preparedness for college ~Alerts students to what they can & can not do ~Encourages 12 th grade intervention **Prevents students from being required to take remedial courses in college

Writing and Reading Connection Writing Reading must go hand in hand!

Collegiate Writing Expectations I. Amount of Writing: ~Quarter classes -2 short word essays OR one short essay and one long research paper -A midterm exam with short answer essay questions and a longer final exam with longer questions ~Semester Courses -Two midterm exams -Final exam -Long analytical, research paper of at least 8 pages

What students can not do… Only 1/3 of students are prepared for the two most frequently assigned writing tasks: –Analyzing information or arguments –Synthesizing information from several sources

What is an EAP English Prompt? ~An EAP English prompt is a prompt that tests a students READING & WRITING ability. **these skills are intertwined in this assignment

Attacking an EAP Prompt!

What is the EAP? ~EAP -CSU Program -Math AND English ~EPT -Different tests/Different colleges ~Expository Reading & Writing -Nonfiction, preparation

What is the point of the EAP Prompt? ~ Measures the student's reading skills. -can you understand the point that the author is ~Measures the students ability to respond or take a stand on the author’s opinion. -can you develop that point of view (using reasoning and evidence based on our class readings, or your observations to support your ideas. ~Measures the students ability to convey their response to the author in writing -can you put what’s in your mind in a clear, cohesive statement a reader can easily understand

What does an EAP question look like? ~The essay asks students to write in response to a prompt. The prompt will typically present complex ideas requiring the student to read it more than once! ~The prompt is usually free of figurative, technical, or specific literary references. What does this mean?

Example Question

Directions: You are to plan and write an essay on the topic assigned below. Before you begin writing, read the passage carefully and plan what you will say. Your essay should be as well organized and carefully written as you can make it. In 1815, John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson “the war…was no part of the Revolution. It was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected…years before a drop of blood was drawn at Lexington.” In 1815, John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson “the war…was no part of the Revolution. It was only an effect and consequence of it. The Revolution was in the minds of the people, and this was effected…years before a drop of blood was drawn at Lexington.” Explain Adams’s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from our readings from this unit.

How should I answer the question? 1.Don’t panic! 2.Brainstorm / outline answer (5 minutes) ~reword prompt (to ensure understanding) ~think about answers ~organize thoughts into a quick outline 3.Begin writing ~stick to your outline! ~write simply– it’s better to be grammatically correct than to try to throw in large vocabulary words! 4.FOCUS on your objectives!

Tips for constructing your response… 1. Break down the prompt -YOU MUST Reread and Annotate the prompt -YOU MUST identify the author’s main point -YOU MUST determine whether you agree or disagree w/the author’s points **writing notes on prompt is critical!!! 2. Begin your outline -take your notes from the article & organize into ¶ form  organize your outline by paragraphs  incorp. evidence and commentary into outline

3. Start Writing ~Use the KISS method (Keep it Simple Stupid!)  don’t worry about impressive grammar structure and vocabulary words -use what you know & follow rules of Academic English ~Use your outline!!!!!

Remember: You have only 3 objectives: 1. develop a point of view on the issue presented in an excerpt 2. support your point of view using reasoning and examples from your reading, studies, experience, or observations 3. Write clearly!! -follow the conventions of standard written English

Grading the Prompt ~Score is based on a 6 point scale (see Focus on English) ~Score of 6: - An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery, although it may have a few minor errors. ~Score of 4: -An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery, although it will have lapses in quality. ~Score of 1: -An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery, and is severely flawed.

Questions??????