Preparing our students for the EAP English Prompt

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Preparing our students forthe EAP English Prompt
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Why is this Important??

• 1. Introduce students to reading they will do
• in college.
• 2. Many students lack successful reading
  strategies are not prepared for the demands of
  college reading.
• 3. Students need help learning to read difficult
  texts
• 4. Do not know how to adjust reading strategies
  for different purposes (different subjects)
• -have difficulty understanding the structure of
  argument
• and do not understand rhetorical
  context

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What are we trying to teach??

• stop relying on authority
• -rely on themselves.
• learn to ask questions
• look to writing to aid understanding
• must understand how analysis works
• -take apart the whole explore the individual
  pieces

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What is the EPT Requirement??

• We must clear the confusion among parents
  students regarding the EPT Requirement
• -begin with fellow teachers
• ?working as a team
• ?working across the curriculum

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Meeting the EPT requirement

• Testing Out
• SAT I score of 550 or more
• ACT score of 24 or more
• AP Lit Composition score of 3 or higher
• AP Language Composition score of 3 or higher
• Passing the EAP English test
• Unless a student meets one of the above
  criteria, the must take the EPT
• (English Placement Test)

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Purpose of the EAP Assessment

• Provides an early signal to students, parents
  and teachers about a students preparedness for
  college
• Alerts students to what they can can not do
• Encourages 12th grade intervention
• Prevents students from being required to take
  remedial courses in college

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Writing and Reading Connection

• Writing Reading
• must go hand in hand!

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Collegiate Writing Expectations

• I. Amount of Writing
• Quarter classes
• -2 short 1000-1500 word essays OR one short essay
  and one long research paper
• -A midterm exam with short answer essay questions
  and a longer final exam with longer questions
• Semester Courses
• -Two midterm exams
• -Final exam
• -Long analytical, research paper of at least 8
  pages

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What students can not do

• Only 1/3 of students are prepared for the two
  most frequently assigned writing tasks
• Analyzing information or arguments
• Synthesizing information from several sources

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What is an EAP English Prompt?

• An EAP English prompt is a prompt that tests a
  students READING WRITING ability.
• these skills are intertwined in this
• assignment

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Attacking an EAP Prompt!
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What is the EAP?

• EAP
• -CSU Program
• -Math AND English
• EPT
• -Different tests/Different colleges
• Expository Reading Writing
• -Nonfiction, preparation

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What is the point of the EAP Prompt?

• Measures the student's reading skills.
• -can you understand the point that the author
  is
• Measures the students ability to respond or take
  a stand on the authors opinion.
• -can you develop that point of view (using
  reasoning
• and evidence based on our class
  readings, or your
• observations to support your ideas.
• Measures the students ability to convey their
  response to the author in writing
• -can you put whats in your mind in a clear,
  cohesive
• statement a reader can easily
  understand

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What does an EAP question look like?

• The essay asks students to write in response to
  a prompt. The prompt will typically present
  complex ideas requiring the student to read it
  more than once!
• The prompt is usually free of figurative,
  technical, or specific literary references.
• What does this mean?

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Example Question
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• Directions You are to plan and write an essay on
  the topic assigned below. Before you begin
  writing, read the passage carefully and plan what
  you will say. Your essay should be as well
  organized and carefully written as you can make
  it.
• In 1815, John Adams wrote to Thomas Jefferson
  the warwas no part of the Revolution. It was
  only an effect and consequence of it. The
  Revolution was in the minds of the people, and
  this was effectedyears before a drop of blood
  was drawn at Lexington.
• Explain Adamss argument and discuss the
  extent to which you agree or disagree with his
  analysis. Support your position, providing
  reasons and examples from our readings from this
  unit.

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How should I answer the question?

• Dont panic!
• Brainstorm / outline answer (5 minutes)
• reword prompt (to ensure understanding)
• think about answers
• organize thoughts into a quick outline
• Begin writing
• stick to your outline!
• write simply its better to be grammatically
  correct
• than to try to throw in large vocabulary
  words!
• FOCUS on your objectives!

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Tips for constructing your response

• 1. Break down the prompt
• -YOU MUST Reread and Annotate the prompt
• -YOU MUST identify the authors main point
• -YOU MUST determine whether you agree or
  disagree
• w/the authors points
• writing notes on prompt is critical!!!
• 2. Begin your outline
• -take your notes from the article organize
  into form
• ? organize your outline by paragraphs
• ?incorp. evidence and commentary into outline

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• 3. Start Writing
• Use the KISS method
• (Keep it Simple Stupid!)
• ?dont worry about impressive grammar structure
• and vocabulary words
• -use what you know follow rules of
• Academic English
• Use your outline!!!!!

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Remember You have only 3 objectives

• 1. develop a point of view on the issue presented
  in an excerpt
• 2. support your point of view using reasoning and
  examples from your reading, studies, experience,
  or observations
• 3. Write clearly!!
• -follow the conventions of standard written
• English

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Grading the Prompt

• Score is based on a 6 point scale
• (see Focus on English)
• Score of 6
• -An essay in this category demonstrates clear
  and consistent mastery, although it may have a
  few minor errors.
• Score of 4
• -An essay in this category demonstrates adequate
  mastery, although it will have lapses in quality.
  
• Score of 1
• -An essay in this category demonstrates very
  little or no
• mastery, and is severely flawed.

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Questions??????