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SHORT WRITING TASK:
You will be required to write two (2) short writing
responses.
ONE will be based on your life experience.
TWO will be based on a text from the test.
GRAMMAR:
Select the most correct response
What is a Short Writing Task?
One type of short writing task will be based on
your life experience. There is no correct or
incorrect answer, but be specific when you
explain your answer.
The other type of short writing task is based on
something you have read in the test. Be sure to
include information directly related to the text.
Short Writing Task (not based on a
reading) It will look like this:
Answer Booklet
Writing
Selection
Short Writing Task
Strategies for beginning the short answer responses.
PLAN
Read the question and choose your response. Underline or circle key
words.
Draft a sentence stating your response. Use the test question to help
you draft your response: copy it or reword it to suit your purpose.
Brainstorm and list three reasons to support your response.
Short Writing Task
Strategies for beginning the short answer responses.
WRITE
Write an opening sentence that states your response.
Write 4 sentences to support your response. Give reasons, explanations
and examples.
Write a concluding sentence that connects to the main idea, beginning with
words and phrases like “That is why”, “Therefore”, or “To sum it up”.
REVIEW
Review and correct. Make sure to have capitals at the start of all sentences
and punctuation (periods, exclamation points) at the end.
Grammar Strategies
Answer every question—no blanks
Eliminate wrong answers—if two seem correct, choose the BEST
one
Don’t skim for answers—you MUST read the text carefully—
even if it seems obvious, double check!
Read the questions “aloud” in your head.
Grammar questions will include: punctuation, capitalization,
combining ideas into one sentence, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence
structure, etc.
NOW YOU TRY
Using the strategies and tips discussed here, complete the
practice short writing task.
You will be required to have a lined piece of paper and a pen
or a pencil for this task.
For the writing task you will be required to write a
response that is no longer than 6 lines in length.
Complete the Multiple Choice Grammar Questions by
selecting the most correct answer.
PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL BE ANSWERING THESE
QUESTIONS IN THE ANSWER BOOKEET DURING THE
OSSLT
Exemplar
What is one thing you would do if you had a day off to
do anything you wanted? Explain why. (Please answer
using no more than 6 lines).
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Grammar Questions:
1) Choose the sentence that does not belong in the
following paragraph.
Beavers are natural engineers. (2) Theses mammals
occupy slow-moving streams and build dams of sticks and
mud. (3) Their dams, which average 10 m to 100 m in
length raise water levels to create ponds. (4) They are one
of Canada’s national symbols. (5) Beavers are relentless
in their efforts to shape their environment.
a) Sentence 2
b) Sentence 3
c) Sentence 4
d) Sentence 5
Grammar Questions:
2) Which word best completes the following
sentence?
_________________ Canada became a country in
1867, it did not officially get its own flag until almost
100 years later, in 1965.
a) While
b) Since
c) Firstly
d) Because
Grammar Questions:
3) Which of the following sentences uses a word with
an apostrophe correctly?
a) You’re gym membership expires in three months.
b) Despite it’s name, there is no coffee in coffee cake.
c) They’re only three spots left on the presentation
schedule.
d) The students determine who’s going to be the class
president.
Grammar Questions:
4) Which option tells how to make the following
sentence correct?
The chairperson of the student council, Marta Alton
was proud of her school’s participation in the
fundraising event.
a) Capitalize “fundraising”.
b) Put a comma after “Alton”.
c) Remove the apostrophe in “school’s”.
d) Replace the comma after “council” with a colon.
Read the following selection and answer the short writing response question.
Although the Marshmallow Test was an experiment designed to test self-control in four year- old
nursery school pupils, it has become one possible indicator of future success. At Stanford
University in the 1960s, researchers told children they could have one thing they really wanted
right away—a marshmallow or a candy, for example—but if they could wait 15 minutes, they
could have two. The researchers, led by psychologist Walter Mischel, found only about 30 per
cent of more than 600 children tested could hold out. When Mischel followed up in the 1980s,
he discovered that those who had been able to wait for two marshmallows averaged more
than 10 percent higher on college entrance exams than did those who could wait only 30
seconds. The Marshmallow Test predicted success more accurately than how well the children
were able to read or do math. Their success can be attributed to their ability to control
impulses, sustain attention, and plan and develop strategies to achieve goals. Collectively, these
brain skills are known as “executive function” or “self-regulation.” York University professor
Stuart Shanker says students can learn the ability to self-regulate. Improving executive function
skills involves learning how one’s own brain works, identifying goals and motivations and
learning strategies to accomplish those goals. Shanker stresses that learning executive function
skills is not the same as learning to comply with orders. Exercising self-regulation comes from
within. It is self-directed and it appears to be a key skill in helping kids achieve success.
Open Response Question:
Answer the question below on a separate
piece of paper. Do NOT exceed 6 lines.
Visit YouTube CA LitKit for more tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8TQJh8RloA&index=5&list=PLIhmQG2vtY_b0ssq4H62CsdP
BUriq2Czy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx4-
MvVzAX0&index=8&list=PLIhmQG2vtY_b0ssq4H62CsdPBUriq2Czy
Short Writing Task and Grammar Questions