Do Immediately: Quick Quiz

• Nothing should be on your desk!

Timed Writing!

• 1. What types of things does a good test-taker do?

• 2. What types of tests do you know you’ll have to take in the future?

• 3. What are these tests going to be like?

Welcome to your MSA Prep Course: Brought to You by the Welsh Review

32 days until the MSA reading exam

Why is the MSA important?

• Measurement - The MSA is how you are measured as a student. This is how the state of Maryland decides what kind of student you are.

• Pride – you should have pride in how you are measured and ranked, and you deserve to be as well prepared for this process as possible. You are the one being tested; it is your name by that score, but I want to help you be ready to make yourself proud.

• Your future - Colleges look at what type of test-taker you are to determine what type of student you are.

What is being tested?What is being tested on MSA reading?

Your aptitude as a reading student. This consists of two parts:

1. Knowledge/skills – this is measured by your ability to answer questions correctly

2. Reading ability and endurance – this is measured by your ability to motivate yourself through passages that are not interesting. There are certain questions put on the MSA specifically designed to test this ability.

How will we prepare?

• We will drill.• We will practice. • We will learn to effectively utilize comprehension

strategies. • We will practice. • We will learn and utilize test-taking techniques.• We will practice. • We will practice. • We will practice.

Our Mantra of the Day

“I have pride in myself and pride in my work. In March, will have pride in the score attached

to my name.”

Audience

• Audience is the person or group of people who are supposed to read the piece of writing.

Author’s Purpose/Text’s Purpose • There six purposes for a text to be written• 1. To entertain – to give someone pleasure; look for things that

make you laugh• 2. To inform – to give someone new information, to tell people

about an event or occurrence, to let someone know something• 3. To persuade – to convince someone to take a side (look for

SHOULD)• 4. To explain – to expand on a topic, give more information, to

explain how something happens • 5. To advise – to give a person advice on what to do• 6. To instruct – to tell someone how to do something

What is a(n)…

1. Autobiography? – Life story written by the person2. Biography? – Life story written by another person3. Encyclopedia? – Volumized works with information

about subjects, alphabetically4. Essay? – Analyzes a topic 5. Feature story? – Magazine article6. Interview?7. Newspaper article? – Reports on news8. Textbook ? – Tells about a subject

Determining Purpose

• Ask – who is the audience? • Ask – what is the reason the author wrote this

piece?

Scenario One

• You just bought a new X-Box and have always been more of a Play Station fan. Because of that, you have no idea how to set it up! Have no fear, child, the X-Box came with a nice, thick set of instructions.

• Who is the intended audience? • Which, of the six, is the purpose of this text?

Scenario Two

• You have a five-paragraph essay due in Reading class, and your mean, old teacher is making you type it! The problem is, you don’t know how to type! Mom is on it, though, she goes to Barnes and Noble and picks up a copy of Typing for Dummies…

• Who is the intended audience? • What is the purpose of this text?

Scenario Three

• You have been living under a rock for the past week, and pick up a copy of last Tuesday’s newspaper. There is an article breaking the news about the earthquake in Haiti…

• Who is the intended audience? • What is the purpose of the article?

Scenario Four

• You pick up a copy of CosmoGirl and decide to read an article and do an accompanying quiz called “Which Gossip Girl Guy Would You Date?”

• Who is the intended audience? • What is the purpose of this article?

Scenario Five

• You decide to do some early window shopping for a car, and get an issue of “Consumer Reports.” In it is an article reviewing every type of hybrid car under $20,000.00. It tells you information about crash test ratings, fuel efficiency, and airbag safety. It ranks each car based on several categories.

• Who is the intended audience? • What is the purpose of this article?

Scenario Six

• You’re bored in class while you are supposed to be doing Study Island, and the teacher is working with another student. You that you are going to make better use of your time and work on your Reading class extra credit. You want to write about Women’s Rights, but there is one problem – you do not really know what women’s rights is! So, you go onto Wikipedia, and look it up. You are in luck! There is an entire article telling all about the Women’s Rights movement: the history, the background, all of the important events, people, places, and things involved.

• Who is the intended audience?• What is the purpose of this article?

Scenario Seven

• You read an article in the school newspaper called, “Why We Should Start Recycling in School.” The article gives a bunch of reasons, hoping to convince you to want to recycle at school.

• Who is the intended audience? • What is the purpose of this article?

1/20/10 – DO NOW: • What is audience?• What is purpose? • What are the six purposes for text? • What are the two questions you must ask yourself to

determine audience and purpose?

• Complete a Frayer model of the following word:

Utilize (Verb)To use

Independent Reading

Read silently

MSA Prep Course: Day 1

31 Days until the MSA reading exam!

Today’s lesson:TEST-TAKING

POSITION

What in the world is TEST-TAKING POSITION

• GOOD TEST-TAKERS ALL LOOK THE SAME WHEN THEY ARE TAKING A TEST!

STUFF THEY DO NOT DO:• THEY DO NOT SLOUCH• THE DO NOT LEAN BACK• THEY DO NOT LIE DOWN ON THE DESK• THEY NEVER PUT THEIR PENCILS DOWN

Stuff they do…• They sit up straight• They keep a pencil in hand, ready to

mark up the test booklet• Their eyes stay focused on the test

the entire time

3 Student Models Needed!

• Show us how we should look and how we should not look!

Dear Commissioners:

I have enjoyed for many years the privilege of living in one of the safest neighborhoods in the country. Today, a large majority of this community feels that our security is compromised by a serious threat. You alone can help us to remove this danger from our lives. There have been a number of serious accidents at the crossroads and crossings along Main Street due to increased traffic through our town. We beg you to place effective street lamps along all the crossroads and crossings as soon as possible. By doing this, you will save many lives and earn our gratitude.

Sincerely,

Debbie Green

Audience Purpose How I Know

Commissioners To persuade “We beg you to place effective street lamps”

Dear Commissioners:

I have enjoyed for many years the privilege of living in one of the safest neighborhoods in the country. Today, a large majority of this community feels that our security is compromised by a serious threat. You alone can help us to remove this danger from our lives. There have been a number of serious accidents at the crossroads and crossings along Main Street due to increased traffic through our town. We beg you to place effective street lamps along all the crossroads and crossings as soon as possible. By doing this, you will save many lives and earn our gratitude.

Sincerely,

Debbie Green

The author's purpose for writing this letter is to

A persuade the commissioners to place street lamps along the road.B inform the commissioners about the safety in the neighborhood.C thank the commissioners for providing such a safe neighborhood.D describe to the commissioners the accidents along the crossroads.

Jim,

I just wanted to let you know that Sally and I will be having lunch at Izzy's today at 1:00. You are welcome to join us.

TedAudience Purpose How I Know

Jim,

I just wanted to let you know that Sally and I will be having lunch at Izzy's today at 1:00. You are welcome to join us.

Ted

What was Ted's purpose in writing this note to Jim?

A . Ted was trying to persuade Jim to join him for lunch.B . Ted was trying to inform Jim about a lunch outing.C . Ted was trying to entertain Jim with a story about lunch.D . Ted was trying to criticize Jim for not going to lunch.

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Bottom Line: An excellent bag for warmer temps.

Product Description

The Kelty Le Tour sleeping bag has been improved! Kelty has added some of the mummy bags' best features to this rectangular sleeping bag: a zipper edge that is sewn into the seam, not just top-stitched on the insulation. They've also upgraded the fabric to a lighter and tighter 240T nylon taffeta. Enjoy this bag for summer camping and backpacking.

Bottom Line: An excellent bag for warmer temps.

The author's purpose in writing this selection is to

A . to inform the reader about the improved Kelty Le Tour sleeping bag.B . to express an opinion about the joys of camping and backpacking.C . to entertain the reader with details about the Kelty Le Tour sleeping bag.D . to narrate to the reader events that usually happen on a camping trip.

Carryall Shoulder Bag

Goes to work while you travel. Made from durable 12 oz. pack cloth. Solid construction from torque-free handles to lock stitched seams ensures years of trouble-free use. Features a bungee cord key strap, hideaway padded backpack straps, and expandable pocket. Office organizer panel. Handle loop for one-handed carrying. External side pockets for umbrella and water bottle.

Carryall Shoulder Bag

Goes to work while you travel. Made from durable 12 oz. pack cloth. Solid construction from torque-free handles to lock stitched seams ensures years of trouble-free use. Features a bungee cord key strap, hideaway padded backpack straps, and expandable pocket. Office organizer panel. Handle loop for one-handed carrying. External side pockets for umbrella and water bottle.

What was the author's purpose in writing this paragraph?

A to entertain with a story of the Carryall BagB to persuade the reader to buy the Carryall BagC to describe the features of the Carryall BagD to warn the reader not to buy the Carryall Bag

VOTE NOW!

NIM ISLANDER

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE

Veteran, Vegetarian, Animal lover, Family Man

Paid for by the Candidate

What is the purpose of this political ad?

A to narrate an interesting story about the candidateB to entertain the audience with a funny advertisementC to persuade the audience to vote for the candidateD to provide the audience with an unbiased viewpoint