Feature Writing Rubric

Please print a copy of the rubric. It must be handed in with your final published piece. You can find a link to the rubric on Teacherease. It is located in Term 2 assignments. See me if you have any questions.

Day 2: Listening and Editing

Remember the tips we learned in class as you prepare for Day #2 of the NYS ELA test:

• 2 strategies for notetaking; listen plus notes, then listen plus notes OR listen only, then notes.
• Don't attempt to take down every word of the listening section; highlight key points (dates, names, places, etc.), main idea, and themes.
• The short response questions are 2-part questions - answer both parts! answer them completely!
• When the question stem says "give details" use 2 or more text-based pieces of evidence that support your answer.
• The editing passage contains NO SPELLING MISTAKES. You have to find and correct each error (in capitalization, grammar, usage or punctuation) to get the maximum number of points.
• Each error you introduce negates an error you have found.

Testing Mon. April 26 and Tues. April 27

Please note:

• Make sure to get a good night's sleep on Sunday and to eat a good breakfast Monday morning.
• You must bring at least two sharpened #2 pencils and an eraser. You may not use scrap paper or other supplies.
• Leave your cell phones in your lockers. If you bring a cell phone into class with you, it will be collected and brought to the main office.
• If you are done with the test before time is called, you may not do anything but sit quietly. Don't bring books or notebooks - it is against testing rules to let you read or write.
• Good luck!

SEE THE DANCE/SPOKEN WORD TROUPE IN ACTION

GROOVALOOS

http://www.groovaloos.com/

Test Sophistication

Tips for taking the ELA test (April 26-27)...

Multiple-choice questions measure how well you comprehend the text (reading passage) and how well you can locate information, identify and define vocabulary words, and think critically about fiction and nonfiction.

• "on the page" questions can be answered with information that is literally found in the passage (you can point to the info - either in the very same words, or rephrased).
• "off the page" questions require you to think critically to arrive at the answer - to make an inference, come to a conclusion based on what you have read.

TIPS: You have to select the BEST answer, not the first one you see that looks right. Read all answer choices. Eliminate - first the impossible answers then the possible but not totally right answers. Select the choice that most closely answers the question.

Short-response questions measure how well you comprehend the text, can critically think about the text, and are able to find support (text evidence) for your answer.

They are 2-part questions. Part 1 asks you to make an inference; part 2 asks you to support your answer. They are graded on a 2-point rubric. To get the full credit, you have to answer the question (both parts) accurately and clearly.

TIPS: Rephrase the question in your answer. As you answer each part, check the part off in the question stem.

Don't over-generalize or over-specify in your answer. Just simply answer the question that is asked and used text evidence to support your thinking.

ONLY USE INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT. DO NOT USE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THIS TEST.

Works Cited

Use the Son of Citation web site to format your sources in APA Style. The Works Cited page is part of your grade (will be graded in the Factual Support section of the rubric). Please submit the Works Cited page with your final publication.

1. You need to have 3 pages open simultaneously: "Sources" (googledocs), a new page called "Works Cited" (googledocs) and a browser. Please remember that you need a minimum of 3 sources (one must be an interview with an expert).

2. In the browser, follow this link: http://citationmachine.net/

3. Choose "APA" from the left menu.

4. Choose print or non-print format (i.e. web page, electronic book, online media, etc.) from the left menu of the "APA" page. Make sure you are choosing the correct format for the source!

5. Using your "Sources" doc, plug info into the Citation Machine site. If any info, such as author or date is missing, leave the field blank.

6. When all info is plugged in, hit "submit". A grey dialog box with the formatted citation will appear at the top of the page.

7. Copy and paste the info from the gray dialog box into the "Works Cited" doc. Please re-read the citation to make sure there are no errors such as the words "Initials" or "Author" - this means that you did not format it correctly.

8. Once steps #4-#7 are done for each source, put the sources in alphabetical order and number them.

9. Make sure the page is titled, "Works Cited" and share with me via googledocs.

***If you have done any of the steps incorrectly, please go back and revise your work and reshare via googledocs. This is also a classwork grade!***

Will Your Argument Convince Your Audience?

Checklist:
Did you identify your audience?
Did you state your issue and your position clearly?
Did you show the urgency of your issue with facts, historical background, expert quotes (interview), and other support?
Did you offer the audience solutions/a call to action?

Format for presenting your argument:
WHAT : issue/position
WHY: reasons why issue is urgent
HOW: solutions/call to action