Reading

1
Reading Writing for Assessment

• Strategies and Applications

2
Objectives

• Understand apply strategies for reading a test
  selection
• Recognize literary techniques in a test selection
• Understand and apply strategies for answering
  multiple-choice questions about a test selection
• Respond to a writing prompt and to present ideas
  in a logical order
• Understand and apply strategies for revising and
  proofreading a test response

3
Part 1.How to Read a Test Selection

• Before you begin reading, skim the questions that
  follow the passage.
• Use your active reading strategies such as
  analyzing, predicting, and questioning
• Think about the title
• Look for main ideas
• Note the literary elements techniques used by
  the writer
• Unlock word meanings
• Think about the message or theme

4
Strategies in Action

• Begin by previewing the text. Note the title
  identify the subject. Read through the questions
  and prompts at the end.
• Read the passage thinking about the questions you
  will answer.
• Reread each question carefully.
• Choose the response that BEST answers the
  question.

5
Problem Question?

• Go back and reread all or part of the passage.
• Note any possible help in other questions.
• Eliminate absolutely incorrect answers
• Choose the BEST answer

6
How does the introduction provide information
needed to answer test questions?

• What are the main ideas?
• How are they linked to the text?
• What support is suggested?

7
Main Ideas-What other key ideas have been
introduced?

• Note you are more likely to be tested on the
  main ideas rather than specific details
• Other important details?
• What organizational methods are used?
• What do these tell you about their importance or
  effect?

8
Check your understanding as you read

• Make an inference about the selections theme
  based on what you have read so far.
• What larger lesson or theme about life might the
  writer intend to convey?
• What is the writers position?

9
What purpose does each quotation serve?

• Many reading comprehension tests include not only
  questions about a selections main ideas but
  questions about the literary techniques used by
  the writer.
• The quotations provide information, make the
  selection more interesting, and show the sources
  of information the writer used for the article

10
Skim the questions that follow the passage

• Use your word decoding and context skills to
  determine the meaning of the questions including
  any unfamiliar words.
• Note any patterns or trends in the questions.

11
Additional Strategies

• As you read the first sentence or two, try to
  determine what the main subject of the passage
  will be.
• Pay close attention to the first and last
  sentences of paragraphs they often make main
  points.
• Notice transitional words and phrases that signal
  organization.

12
Transitional Words

• Next and then imply time-sequence organization
• In addition and also imply a listing of several
  details for a common purpose.
• However and nonetheless signal contrast or
  disagreement

13
Read Actively

• Most reading comprehension tests assess literal
  comprehension and a students ability to analyze
  and interpret the selection
• Predict
• Visualize
• Connect
• Question
• Clarify
• Evaluate

14
Checking Your understanding

• What were the main ideas in the selection?
• What structure does the writer use for the
  selection?
• Did the selection answer all your questions
  about the subject? If not, what questions remain
  unanswered?

15
Conclusion- Reading a Test Selection

• Skim the questions before reading
• Use your Active Reading Strategies
• Think about the title
• Look for main ideas
• Note literary elements
• Unlock word meanings
• Think about the message or theme

16
(No Transcript)
17
Apply Your Strategies

• You have been given a reading selection with
  questions
• Use your strategies
• You have 10 minutes

18
Part 2. Responding in Writing

• Short Answer Strategies
• Identify key words that tell you ideas to discuss
• State your response directly to the point
• Support your ideas with evidence from the
  selection
• Use correct grammar

19
Responding in Writing-Essay Questions

• 1. Read the entire prompt
• 2. Reread looking for direction words, such as
  analyze, describe, compare and contrast, that
  identify the purpose of and approach to the essay
• 3. Consider your topic, cite examples, synthesize
  or pull together your information

20
Planning your Essay

• Create a diagram or graphic organizer to organize
  your information
• Include any required criteria from the prompt
• Include requested support including examples,
  quotes, or any other required/requested details
• Organize your material

21
Writing your Essay

• Write an interesting and precise thesis statement
  in your introduction. (Rephrasing the original
  prompt may be effective.) This is the purpose of
  your essay and its main idea/point.
• Identify the selections/examples you will be
  using for support

22
Organizing your Essay

• Consider your organizational pattern before
  writing, choosing the most appropriate for your
  topic
• Support each point with a suitable example,
  quotation, or other type of elaboration

23
Concluding your Essay

• Restate the topic and summarize your
  recommendations
• Allow time to review your work.
• Is it CLEAR? WELL-SUPPORTED? FREE FROM MISTAKES?
• Double-check that you have followed all
  directions including heading and format.

24
Check your Understanding

• Have I responded directly to the direction words
  in the prompt?
• Have I supported my ideas with evidence from the
  selection?
• Have I presented my ideas in a logical order?
  Have I included an introduction and a conclusion?
• Have I used correct grammar?

25
Part 4 How to Revise and Edit a Test Selection

• Read the passage carefully
• Note the parts that are confusing or do not make
  sense.
• Look for errors in grammar usage, spelling, and
  capitalization (Conventions).
• Common errors include run-on sentences, sentence
  fragments, lack of subject-verb agreement,
  unclear pronoun antecedents, lack of transition
  words.

26
Reading Writing for Assessment Conclusion

• For reading assessment, understand and apply your
  strategies
• Recognize literary techniques in test
• Understand apply strategies for multiple-choice
  questions
• Respond directly to short answer essays
• Respond to essay questions by applying strategies
  of organization and presentation

27
Reading and Writing for Assessment

• The most important strategies will be those that
  clearly address whatever task assigned to you
• The best responses will be accurate, clearly
  determined, and logical
• The more often you apply these strategies, the
  easier they become, the better your answers, and
  the higher your grades