1. PREPARING FOR THE OSSLT Thursday, March 27 Glenforest S. S. (www.eqao.com)

2. Thursday March 27 th, 2013 Breakfast 8:00 to 8:30 Cafeteria (Thank you to School Council) EQAO 8:45students travel to class 9:00 Student Instructions 9:15 Booklet 1 begins 10:30 Booklet 1 ends 10:30 to 10:45BREAK 10:50Booklet 2 begins 12:05Booklet 2 ends 12:05student questionnaire 12:20students dismissed

3. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO FOR THE OSSLT On Thursday, March 27 th at 8:00 a.m., all Grade 10 students in Ontario will write the OSSLT. On Thursday, March 27 th at 8:00 a.m., all Grade 10 students in Ontario will write the OSSLT. BE HERE AND BE READY TO WRITE. BE HERE AND BE READY TO WRITE. Make sure you go to the free breakfast in the cafeteria, compliments of your School Council Make sure you go to the free breakfast in the cafeteria, compliments of your School Council Bring the following: Bring the following: Blue or black pens Blue or black pens pencils pencils a highlighter a highlighter

4. The Basics The test consists of two booklets You have 1 hour and 15 minutes to answer each booklet. Once the time is up, that booklet is sealed and collected. Each booklet will test you on your reading and writing abilities You may not leave early

5. READING -- Four types Informational (225-250 words) paragraph and news report Narrative (225-250 words) dialogue and real-life narrative (about 600 words) Graphic Text (fewer than 150 words) could be a map, pamphlet, schedule etc. News Report which presents information in the form of a news story

6. READING QUESTIONS Questions will be either multiple choice or open-response (short answer of 6 lines each -- a summary of information paragraph and questions on the news report and the dialogue) Only three types of questions that can be asked: –Right there (directly stated) –You and the author (using info provided plus your own ideas -- inference) –On your own/making connections (personal opinion based on knowledge and experience, always the open- response questions)

7. READING SUCCESS Read the questions first so you know what to look for as you are reading the article Highlight points that you will use If you become confused stop and reread the part you don’t understand For the Multiple Choice Questions: - read the question carefully If you are not sure of the answer - rule out any incorrect answers - choose the best or most correct answer -Record your answer on the Student Answer Sheet as instructed For the Open-Response Reading Questions: - read the question carefully - keep your answer within the six lines provided - use specific and relevant details and info from the reading and make sure you proofread

8. Writing questions and tasks Multiple choice questions - organization of ideas - sentence and paragraph structure - language conventions: capitalization & punctuation Short writing tasks - six lines each based on your response to set prompts Long writing tasks - News Report (one page) - Series of Paragraphs expressing an opinion (two pages)

9. WRITING SUCCESS NEWS REPORT (one page) - based on the picture and headline given - students are to write about an event that has already happened using 3rd person - should answer WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW and include a quotation SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS EXPRESSING AN OPINION (two pages) - write a minimum of three paragraphs (intro, development and conclusion) - plan before you begin writing - clearly state your opinion at the beginning - support your opinion with examples and facts - make sure the divisions between paragraphs are clear

10. OSSLT SUCCESS Manage your time Follow the instructions Listen to the teacher in charge Read each question carefully Answer every question Use ALL of the space provided for each answer Don’t write more than the space allows Proofread at the end

11. Frequently Asked Questions FAQs Is the test difficult? The test is designed to reflect the requirements of the Ontario curriculum in reading and writing that you should have acquired by the end of grade 9 The test is designed to reflect the requirements of the Ontario curriculum in reading and writing that you should have acquired by the end of grade 9 Who marks my test? Qualified individuals who have received special training for this purpose Qualified individuals who have received special training for this purpose Does my name appear anywhere? Only on the Student Answer Sheet Only on the Student Answer Sheet When and how will I know my results? By the end of the school year you will receive an Individual Student Report By the end of the school year you will receive an Individual Student Report What if I don’t pass? You can take the test again next year or talk to your parents/teacher/counsellor about taking the OLC course instead You can take the test again next year or talk to your parents/teacher/counsellor about taking the OLC course instead

12. Any Questions? See Mrs. Marsh or Mr. Fink in Room 116 Get a Don’t Panic 2.0 Workbook from Room 116 if your are NOT currently in a gr. 10 English class for only $10 Do some practice questions and answers in the Workbook and check your answers at the back Go to our website and check out the support documents Visit the official EQAO OSSLT website at www.eqao.com to see last year’s test www.eqao.com

13. Good Luck! Remember to get a good night’s sleep for a full week before the test Eat a good breakfast and come to the breakfast provided by the School Council in the cafeteria Bring a snack and some water for the break Don't panic because you are prepared Don't panic because you are prepared