OSSLT Test Preparation Day 2: Learn strategies for answering multiple choice questions involving reading skills. Complete one OSSLT reading task that involves answering multiple choice questions.

What will I be asked to read?

1. Narrative Texts A dialogue (225 to 250 words): presents a conversation between two people A dialogue (225 to 250 words): presents an account of a significant time in an individual’s life

2. Information Texts Information paragraph News report: presents information in the form of a news story

3. Graphic Texts Presents ideas and information with the help of graphic features, such as: Diagrams Photographs\drawings Sketches Patterns Timetable Maps Charts Fewer than 150 words

2. What kinds of questions will I be asked? You will answer: 5 or 6 multiple choice questions for each reading selection You will write: a response to a question about what you read

1. You will be asked three types of multiple choice questions that demonstrate three reading skills Reading “on the lines” Reading “between the lines” Reading “beyond the lines”

Reading on the lines These questions have answers that are directly stated in the text Go back to the text and look for the answer You will find the answer right there, but you might not find it altogether

Reading between the lines You must make an inference You will need to use what is written in the text and your background knowledge (e.g. what you already know) to figure out the answer

Reading between the lines may ask you to: Define a word Draw conclusions Decide who is speaking Notice where and when events take place Answer questions that don’t ask you to recall facts Determine the writer’s audience and purpose

Making Connections questions: You extend “beyond” the text: You make predictions beyond what you have learned and know You draw conclusions about the text based on your knowledge of punctuation and text features

2. Reading Response questions. There are three types of questions: 1) BLAH, BLAH, BLAH Use specific details from the selection to explain your answer. 2) BLAH, BLAH, BLAH Use details from the selection and your own ideas to explain your answer. 3) Summarize this selection. Include a main idea and one detail that supports it.

How is the written response to reading marked? You need a Code 30 in order to pass this task. To get a Code 30, you must: Answer the question you were asked Provide accurate, specific and relevant ideas and information Fill up the 6 lines they provide and do not go beyond the lines they give you

2. What do good readers do?

“Before Reading”, you should Preview the reading selection. Skim to get an overall impression of what you will read Look carefully at the title, photograph or diagram

“During Reading”, you should Make notes to yourself in the white space questions, key words, thoughts you have Highlight or underline facts, details, or ideas Use the text features to help you understand Italics Bold Quotation marks Headlines Numbering Read the selection again, if you have time

“After Reading”, you should: Identify the key words in the questions The key words will help you to decide if you will need to read On the lines Between the lines Beyond the lines in order to answer the multiple choice questions

Tips for answering multiple choice questions

Read the title. - What is this story about? - What is the main idea?

Observe and reflect on the image to obtain additional information.

Read the entire selection and highlight or underline important details: names, places, dates Using the 5 w’s (who, what, where, when and why) could be helpful. quotations specific examples or comparisons to similar issues

OSSLT Reading: An Animator from Scarborough Read the entire selection now and highlight/underline important details that identify and support the main idea. You have 4 minutes to read and highlight.

What did you highlight and why? Don’t highlight too much.

REMEMBER: THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUESTIONS Read ALL the questions carefully. REMEMBER: THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUESTIONS Teachers please handout the multiple choice question page now.

Read ALL the questions NOW. You have 2 minutes to read all the questions.

Re-read the selection for better understanding.

Re-read the selection NOW. You have 2 minutes

Are you ready to answer the multiple choice questions? ALMOST!

Be sure to answer all the questions. Don’t leave any answer blank Guess if you have to Don’t rely on your memory . Re-read the text

Answer the multiple choice questions now. You have 4 minutes

Are you ready to check your answers? When you are ready your teacher will think aloud the answers using the slides that follow.

... I HIGHLIGHT KEY WORDS FIRST Multiple choice questions are often ordered sequentially. Since this is the first question, I’ll reread from the beginning until I find something relevant to his internship. This quotation indicates that the answer is c) video games – but I’ll double check all choices in order to be sure of my choice. I HIGHLIGHT KEY WORDS FIRST ...

... I HIGHLIGHT KEY WORDS FIRST I will re-read paragraph 2 to locate the word “confidential”: I can make an inference using the inferencing strategy. It says: “I don’t know what we’re working on.” I say: If he doesn’t know what they are working on, then it must be a secret. And so: The answer must be A) Secret ... I HIGHLIGHT KEY WORDS FIRST

I HIGHLIGHT KEY WORDS FIRST Scan the selection for Quesnelle’s name and what he says (paragraphs 6-7). Quesnelle doesn’t explicitly use the words “most important”, so I will make an inference. I HIGHLIGHT KEY WORDS FIRST It says: He was also comical… anyone can make a picture move but to make it entertaining, that’s the craft of the animator I say: When something is entertaining, it is fun to watch. Choices A, C and D don’t say this. And so: The answer must be B) pleasing an audience

The answer is not directly stated in the reading The answer is not directly stated in the reading. I will make an inference by using his quotes: It says: “excellent student… but to make it entertaining, that’s the craft of an animator”. I say: Quesnelle is an expert himself and he knows what to look for in an animator. And so: The answer must be C) He recognizes skill and creativity in his students.

It says: Chronological order I say: Chronological order means the information is presented from oldest to most recent. I can find the answer by skimming each of the paragraphs and making a decision about which one fits. a) Paragraph 2 – doesn’t seem to fit criteria b) Paragraph 4 – talks about his interest from an early age and how it progressed c) Paragraph 5 – is about what he wants to do one day d) Paragraph 7 – does not fit criteria I say: The Answer is B because it is the only one that presents oldest to most recent information.

Debrief What did I do well? What did I find challenging? What do I need to pay attention to? Record your responses to these questions on the multiple choice answer sheet to this test. Use this information to help you with the multiple choice tasks you complete in the literacy lessons over the next few weeks and on the OSSLT in March 2016.

OSSLT Prep Resources: A link to OSSLT prep resources will be placed on our school website. Here are some resources you may look for in the upcoming weeks. Many of them provide practice, Think Alouds and suggestions to help you be successful.

1. EQAO website Go to: EQAO.com Student resources OSSLT You will see released items (previous tests and answers)

2. Instructional videos created by a Cawthra Park Secondary School teacher and posted on U tube Click on the images to access these videos and more.

3. Read Write Rock Created by a team of 5 English teachers at Westmount Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario Click on the picture to open the hyperlink

4. Don’t Panic books.com Click on picture to open the hyperlink. Scroll down to view the list on the right hand side. Click on the hyperlink “Making Inferences” and read what EQAO notices about your inferencing skills.