1. Monday – Writing Tuesday - Reading

2.  Where do I go? Aas-BakerRm. 324 Bang-BriscoeRm. 327 Broden-ChristieRm. 328 Cisneros-DavisRm. 329 Day-FordRm. 330 Fox-GossRm. 331 Gray Fitzgerald-Heindel Rm. 332 Hernandez-JaimeRm. 333 Javed-Zuskov Rubber Gym This will be your room assignment for both days.  What’s the schedule like afterwards? 7:50-12:20Testing 12:10-12:40A lunch 12:46-1:505 th /6 th 12:16-1:205 th /6 th 1:20-1:50B Lunch 1:56-3:007 th /8 th Follow your normal lunch for A and B days.

3.  It’s really important that you’re on time for this test. If you arrive past 8:10, you’ll have to retake the test at a later date.  Remember how this test was supposed to count for 15% of your semester grade? Not this year!  Bring at least two #2 pencils  Bring a paper book to read after the test – there’s no homework, no electronic devices, no writing or drawing after the test. You can read or sleep.  This test is timed. If you’re not done in 4 hours, too bad! There will be many kids who don’t finish, and the state will have to take that into consideration when scoring the test.

4.  Multiple Choice – Scan the questions first to see if you are asked main idea questions or revising and editing questions. For main idea questions, read the entire first paragraph, but with the other paragraphs, read only the first line, skim the paragraph, read the last line as well as the last paragraph. For revising and editing questions, only read the sentence it refers you to (sometimes the one before or after if necessary). Look for errors in the sentence as you read it.  Remember that two answers will be easy to eliminate, and the other two will be possible choices. Pick the best of the two, but always read ALL of the answer choices to make sure you’ve picked the best one.  Pay attention to the structure of the writing. If it’s a letter, is it meant to persuade? If it’s a story, is it meant to entertain or teach a lesson? If it’s an essay, is it meant to inform?

5.  You can use a dictionary the entire time, but DON’T OVERUSE IT for every question and waste time!  You do NOT have time to write a roughdraft, but you MUST prepare an outline so that your writing is organized, focused, and stays on topic.

6.  Each composition should take about 45 minutes start to finish  These compositions are expected to be in Rough Draft Form = not perfect, but pretty good  Use the dictionary to define the words in the prompt  You do NOT have time to write a full rough draft  You may NOT double up on your lines  You need to write within the box lines.  Do not skip a line when you begin – you’re wasting precious space!  A title is not necessary for these compositions  You need to indent to show paragraphs!  Attempt correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation

7.  Expository: to inform or explain  ESSAY  Do NOT persuade! No “So this is why you should…” “Now you know why it’s best to…” No Calls to Action!  You should no more than two different kinds of examples so that you’re being detailed without taking up too many lines (one fully developed example is best)  You need a thesis!  Make an outline! I – Intro – gen statement, elaboration, thesis statement II – Example max 8-10 lines if 1 used III – Example (only if you decide to use two ) 5-8 lines each IV – Conclusion – wrap it up, restate thesis  Brainstorm examples from: Media: celebrities, athletes History: important historical figures or events World: disasters, diseases, etc. Self/Home/School

8.  Literary: involving characters, conflict  STORY!  You must fully develop the character and conflict – must have a beg, mid, and end of some form  Must have an interesting lead – can use flashbacks, description, dialogue, etc.  BRAINSTORM before you write! Characters need  names,  personalities,  lifestyles,  setting Conflict needs  the big event (external)  personal conflict (internal)  an antagonist,  a resolution to be effective.

9.  Stay away from first person (I, me, my) so that your composition sounds like a story and not a personal narrative (personal narratives have a section of reflection that separates from the story – you only want the story in this essay).  Plan your space so that you actually have enough room to finish  You HAVE TO address the prompt!  Can be fiction, but make the story believable  Be creative when it comes to character names, setting (both time and place), and the conflict

10.  Remember, this is just ACE dressed up. A – answer the question in the first sentence C – cite evidence (use a quote or a detailed paraphrase) E – explain why your quote supports your answer and provide an insight ( draw a conclusion that’s not directly stated)  Only use direct quotes with quote incorporation. Do NOT paraphrase.  Do not use the words “this quote explains that”  Your first sentence should completely answer the question, using the words from the question.  Do not combine the answer with the quote.

11.  With short answers, there are many good quotes you can use. Pick one that you can explain and for which you can draw a conclusion or analyze.  Do NOT double up on your lines  Only give the information that’s necessary – don’t feel like you have to fill the space.  You need to attempt correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.

12.  Use a dictionary, but only when you need it  Monitor your time  Go back into the text  Pre-plan, don’t pre- write  Do your very best, and you’ll leave knowing that you did everything you could.  Go to bed early and eat breakfast!  Questions?