English I STAAREnglish I STAAR

What to ExpectWhat to Expect

I. STAAR FormatI. STAAR Format

Reading Test – Tuesday, March 27, 2012Reading Test – Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Fiction selections with multiple choiceFiction selections with multiple choice Nonfiction selections with multiple choiceNonfiction selections with multiple choice Drama selections with multiple choiceDrama selections with multiple choice Poetry selections with multiple choicePoetry selections with multiple choice 2-3 Short Answers (at least one of which 2-3 Short Answers (at least one of which

will ask you to make a connection between will ask you to make a connection between two of the reading selections at an two of the reading selections at an analytical level)analytical level)

I. STAAR FormatI. STAAR Format

Writing Test – Monday, March 26, 2012Writing Test – Monday, March 26, 2012 Revising SectionRevising Section Editing SectionEditing Section THREE 26-line essays, including at least THREE 26-line essays, including at least

one of each of the following:one of each of the following: Literary Essay (Short Story)Literary Essay (Short Story) Expository EssayExpository Essay

II. Important NotesII. Important Notes

STAAR is a TIMED test. You STAAR is a TIMED test. You will have a maximum of four will have a maximum of four hours for the reading test and hours for the reading test and four hours for the writing test. four hours for the writing test. This means you need to get This means you need to get used to timed reading and used to timed reading and timed writing!timed writing!

You will have access to a You will have access to a dictionary and thesaurus for dictionary and thesaurus for the entire test.the entire test.

III. The EssaysIII. The Essays

You will write two kinds of essays, but you You will write two kinds of essays, but you will write three essays total (one of one kind, will write three essays total (one of one kind, two of the other)two of the other)

You will do this IN ADDITION to the revising You will do this IN ADDITION to the revising and editing sections, so you will have four and editing sections, so you will have four hours to complete the multiple choice and hours to complete the multiple choice and write three essays.write three essays.

You will ONLY have twenty-six lines on You will ONLY have twenty-six lines on which to write your essay.which to write your essay.

IV. The Literary EssayIV. The Literary Essay

You will write a short story that You will write a short story that MUST contain the following MUST contain the following elements:elements: A well-developed conflict and A well-developed conflict and

resolutionresolution Interesting and believable charactersInteresting and believable characters Other literary devices to enhance plot Other literary devices to enhance plot

(like dialogue or suspense) – There (like dialogue or suspense) – There are no specifications as to what else are no specifications as to what else you use, but you you use, but you dodo have to use have to use something else.something else.

IV. Literary Essay STAAR PromptIV. Literary Essay STAAR Prompt

Look at the photograph.Look at the photograph.

Write a story about the power of Write a story about the power of imagination. Be sure that your story imagination. Be sure that your story is focused and complete and that it is focused and complete and that it

has an interesting plot and engaging has an interesting plot and engaging characters.characters.

V. The Expository EssayV. The Expository Essay

The expository essay will ask The expository essay will ask that you explain something.that you explain something.

You will need to haveYou will need to have A clear thesis A clear thesis Supporting details that directly Supporting details that directly

relate to thesisrelate to thesis Clear organizationClear organization Effective development of ideasEffective development of ideas

Organization/ProgressionOrganization/Progression The organizing The organizing structurestructure of the essay is of the essay is

clearlyclearly appropriateappropriate to the purpose and to the purpose and responsiveresponsive to the specific demands of the to the specific demands of the prompt. prompt.

The writer establishes a The writer establishes a clear thesis clear thesis statementstatement. All . All ideasideas are are strongly relatedstrongly related to to the thesis and are the thesis and are focusedfocused on the topic on the topic specified in the prompt. The writer’s essay is specified in the prompt. The writer’s essay is unifiedunified and and coherentcoherent. .

The writer’s The writer’s progressionprogression of ideas is of ideas is logicallogical and and well-controlledwell-controlled. Meaningful. Meaningful transitions transitions and strong and strong sentence-to-sentence sentence-to-sentence connectionsconnections enhance the flow of the essay. enhance the flow of the essay.

Development of IdeasDevelopment of Ideas

The The developmentdevelopment of ideas is effective of ideas is effective because the writer uses because the writer uses specificspecific detailsdetails and and examplesexamples. .

The essay is The essay is thoughtfulthoughtful and and engagingengaging. . The writer may choose to use his/her The writer may choose to use his/her uniqueunique experiences or view of the world as experiences or view of the world as a basis for writing or to a basis for writing or to connectconnect ideas in ideas in interestinginteresting ways. ways.

Use of Language/ConventionsUse of Language/Conventions The writer’s The writer’s word choice word choice is is purposefulpurposeful

and and preciseprecise. It reflects a . It reflects a keenkeen awarenessawareness of the expository of the expository purposepurpose and maintains and maintains an an appropriateappropriate tonetone. .

SentencesSentences are are purposefulpurposeful, , variedvaried, and , and well-controlledwell-controlled. .

The writer’s The writer’s sentencessentences include include correctcorrect spelling, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammargrammar, and , and usage conventionsusage conventions. .

V. Expository Essay STAAR V. Expository Essay STAAR PromptPrompt

Read the information belowRead the information below

In 1955 medical researcher Jonas Salk introduced an effective In 1955 medical researcher Jonas Salk introduced an effective polio vaccine. At the time polio was considered the biggest threat polio vaccine. At the time polio was considered the biggest threat to public health, yet Salk refused to profit by patenting the vaccine to public health, yet Salk refused to profit by patenting the vaccine because he was more concerned with preventing disease than because he was more concerned with preventing disease than with personal gain. with personal gain.

Although many people work to benefit themselves, some people Although many people work to benefit themselves, some people choose to put others first. Think carefully about this statement.choose to put others first. Think carefully about this statement.

Write an essay explaining whether people should be more Write an essay explaining whether people should be more concerned about others than about themselves.concerned about others than about themselves.

Be sure to –Be sure to –Clearly state your thesis.Clearly state your thesis.Organize and develop your ideas effectively.Organize and develop your ideas effectively.Choose your words carefully.Choose your words carefully.Edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling.Edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling.

VI. Timed Writing Friday!!!VI. Timed Writing Friday!!!

Take a few minutes to plan!Take a few minutes to plan! On a separate sheet of paper, write out your On a separate sheet of paper, write out your

thesis, your topic sentence ideas, and a few thesis, your topic sentence ideas, and a few brief notes as to what evidence you will use.brief notes as to what evidence you will use.

Use your time wisely, and monitor the Use your time wisely, and monitor the clock!clock!

Remember to fully develop your ideas.Remember to fully develop your ideas.

VI. Timed Writing Friday!!!VI. Timed Writing Friday!!!

Four total paragraphsFour total paragraphs IntroductionIntroduction Two body paragraphsTwo body paragraphs ConclusionConclusion

Two pieces of evidence per body Two pieces of evidence per body paragraphparagraph Examples from personal experience Examples from personal experience

(WITHOUT using “I”)(WITHOUT using “I”) Historical examplesHistorical examples Examples from current events and Examples from current events and

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