Overview of the English Language Arts NY State Exam Grades 6-8 May 3 & 4 (Tuesday and Wednesday) Vinh Nguyen February 10, 2011

Question Formats for the NY English Language Arts Tests Multiple-choice Questions select the correct response from four answer choices Short-response Questions write an answer to an open-ended question Extended-response Questions scored for writing and for reading comprehension …………………………………………………………………… Graphic Organizers Grammar, Punctuation, & Word Usage (was Editing) Editing paragraph & extended responses will no longer be used to assess writing mechanics Instead, multiple-choice questions will be included to assess the students’ knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and word usage.

English Language Arts GRADEBOOK TEST TIME (IN MINUTES) PREP TIME (IN MINUTES) DAY ADMINISTERED * * *2 * Includes time allotted for reading aloud the listening selection to the students.

NY ELA Test Sections Day 1 Reading (ONLY Multiple Choice!) Day 2 Listening Grammar, Punctuation, Word Usage Reading & Writing

Total Number of Passages on 2011 NY ELA grade 34-5 passagesgrade 67-8 passages 9-10 passages grade 47-8 passagesgrade 75-6 passages passages9-10 passages grade 54-5 passagesgrade 87-8 passages 9-10 passages10-11 passages 2005 specs vs. NEW 2011 specs

English Language Arts Test Design GRADE 6 Book 1Book 2Total 6-7 Passages (literary and informational) 41 questions 1 listening selection (literary) 5 multiple-choice questions 3 short-response questions 3–5 multiple-choice (writing mechanics) questions 2 paired passages (literary and informational) 4 short-response questions 1 extended-response question 9–10 passages 49–51 multiple-choice questions 7 short-response questions 1 extended-response question 80 minutes 90 minutes (excluding reading listening selection aloud) 170 minutes

English Language Arts Test Design GRADE 7 Book 1Book 2Total 6–7 passages (literary and informational) 41 multiple-choice questions 1 listening selection (informational) 5 multiple-choice questions 3 short-response questions 3–5 multiple-choice (writing mechanics) questions 2 paired passages (literary and informational) 4 short-response questions 1 extended-response question 9–10 passages 46–48 multiple-choice questions 7 short-response questions 1 extended-response question 80 minutes90 minutes (excluding reading listening selection aloud) 170 minutes

English Language Arts Test Design GRADE 8 Book 1Book 2Total 7–8 passages (literary and informational) 41 multiple-choice questions 1 listening selection (informational) 5 multiple-choice questions 3 short-response questions 3–5 multiple-choice (writing mechanics) questions 2 paired passages (literary and informational) 4 short-response questions 1 extended-response question 10–11 passages 49–51 multiple-choice questions 7 short-response questions 1 extended-response question 80 minutes 90 minutes (excluding reading listening selection aloud) 170 minutes

Reading Section of the ELA Test Students read several passages representing a variety of genres (A minimum of 4 genres will be used on each test) o Each passage will give the students all of the information that is need to successfully answer the associated questions. o Questions are PASSAGE DEPENDENT! Reading passages will carefully selected for grade-level appropriate vocabulary and content. Focus on Higher Order Thinking Skills: Analyzing Inferring Interpreting Predicting Evaluating Summarizing

Higher Order Thinking Skills and Their Corresponding Reading Comprehension Skills Summarizing Main Idea& Supporting Details, Cause & Effect, Compare and Contrast Analyzing Cause & Effect, Compare and Contrast, Fact & Opinion Inferring Conclusions, Inferences, Predictions Interpreting Conclusions, Inferences, Predictions, Character-Plot-Setting Predicting Cause & Effect, Prediction, Sequencing Evaluating Author’s Point of View, Author’s Purpose, Fact/Opinion, Compare and Contrast, Vocabulary in Context.

Literary and Informational Passages Genres for reading passages may include: Folktales Reports Letters Stories Informative pieces Poems Literary pieces Interviews How-to-pieces Classical works Plays

Day 2 Listening/Writing Mechanics Grades multiple-choice questions 3-5 multiple choice (writing mechanics )questions 3 short-response questions Time=30 minutes (excluding reading listening selection aloud)

Day 2 Listening Sections Grades 6-8 Grade 6: Literary listening selection (fiction) Grade 7 & 8: Informational listening selection (Non-Fiction) Teacher will read the listening selection twice to the students aloud. Students will NOT see the questions prior to hearing the listening selection. In Grades 6-8, students may take notes during the first reading. Students will take notes in order to answer 5 multiple choice questions and 3 short response questions.

Day 2 Writing Mechanics Grades 6-8 This year, the editing paragraph and two extended responses will NO LONGER be used to assess writing mechanics. Instead, 3-5 multiple choice (writing mechanics) questions will be included to assess the students’ knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and word usage.

Day 2- Sample Multiple-Choice Questions Assessing Writing Mechanics Writing mechanics questions may test any of the skills found in the Core Curriculum including the following: the elements of a complete sentence subject-verb agreement capitalization and punctuation combining of sentences separation of sentences The length and complexity of test questions and answer choices will vary with the grade.

Sample Questions For Writing Mechanics GRADE 6 Which of these is not a complete sentence? A. Pat hit the ball as hard as she could. B. No one could catch the ball. C. Into the outfield while the crowd cheered. D. Pat kept running until she reached home plate. GRADE 7 Choose the answer that shows the correct capitalization and punctuation. A. John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath” begins in the dust bowl of Oklahoma. B. Her poem, titled “Autumn Leaves,” won first prize in the poetry contest. C. These “today’s Life” magazines are full of valuable articles for teenagers. D. The Open Boat, a short story by Stephen Crane, is based on the author’s experiences.

GRADE 8 Which sentence contains two complete thoughts and should be written as two sentences? A. Of all the months in the year, July is my favorite. B. My sister went to a fun camp in the city this summer, I want to go next summer. C. This summer, we traveled to several different cities to visit family. D. We tried to go to the beach last weekend, but it was closed because a storm was expected.

Day 2- Continuation- Reading/Writing Grades 6-8 will read 2 linked passages, same theme paired passages (literary and informational). Grades 6-8 will answer 4 short-response questions and 1 extended response question based on the passages read. Students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of three types of writing: narrative, persuasive, and informative. Students will write from a variety of prompts and for many different audiences. Student responses will be evaluated on how well the writing addresses the task and demonstrates understanding of the passages. NOTE: NO multiple-choice questions Students in Grades 6-8 will have 60 minutes for this section.

NY ELA SCORING Open-Ended Questions are Scored Individually—NO Cluster Score Scores for all of the constructed responses: Meaning—the extent to which the response exhibits sound understanding, interpretation, and analysis of the task and text Development—the extent to which ideas are supported through the use of specific, accurate, and relevant evidence from the text Scores for the extended responses also includes: Organization—the extent to which the response exhibits direction, shape, and coherence Language Use—the extent to which the response exhibits clear and effective use of vocabulary

Sample Short-Response Questions 1.The harmonica requires a lot of lung power to make the beautiful sounds played by folk and blues musicians. Describe how this instrument might help people to exercise their lungs. Use details from the article to support your answer. 2.What lesson does Annika learn in this story? Is she happy she went to the party in the end? Use details from the story in your answer. 3.Why is it more difficult for firefighters to put out wildfires than regular fires? Use details from the article in your answer. 4.The narrator can be described as both brave and determined. Circle the word you think best describes the narrator. bravedetermined Explain your choice using details from the passage.

Sample Extended-Response Questions 1.Think about how the article and the story both describe brave people. Write an essay in which you tell how reading these passages might encourage a reader to try something new and different. Use details from both passages to support your answer. In your answer, be sure to Tell how reading the passages might encourage a reader to try something new and different Use details from both the story and the article to support your answer. 2.To cut costs, your school has decided to eliminate its track and field program. Do you think track and field is good for students in a school? Would your school suffer if this was taken away? Write an argument either for or against eliminating track and field at your school. Use details from both passages to support your answer. In your answer, be sure to Explain whether or not you think track and field should be eliminated Include evidence to support your argument Include details from both passages to support your answer

How to Prepare for ELA Exam Day 1- Multiple Choice Shared Reading- teacher reads the text aloud as students follow along. Text can be anthologies, Scholastic News, or any examples of literary or informational text. After reading, teacher places (1-2) multiple choice questions on the smart board, overhead, or blackboard. Teacher models strategies for answering multiple choice questions. Teacher demonstrates how to find the answer in the text. Strategies on how to answer multiple choice questions- process of elimination, distracters, literal or inferential type questions. Independent Reading- students must increase stamina to be able to read 6-8 passages in 60 minutes Daily Reading for Homework (book log)- builds stamina, have students create 2 multiple choice questions based on their nightly reading Building stamina: With a timer, challenge students to see how long they can read passages and answer multiple choice questions. (Slowly increase to 6-8 passages and 40 questions)

How to Prepare for ELA Exam- Day 2 Listening Writing Workshop and Note-Taking- teacher models during mini-lessons note- taking strategies (abbreviate, spelling, bullets, key words, etc) Read Aloud, Note-Taking- teacher reads a short literary or informational piece aloud as students practice taking notes. Read Aloud, Note-Taking and Multiple Choice Questions Read Aloud, Note-Taking and Short-Response Questions Listening Center (Special Education/CTT/Inclusion)- Students listen to a short story on tape twice. Students take notes and answer multiple-choice or short response questions the teacher created based on the story listened to. Since students do not need to see the text, the teacher can choose passages or previous years’ listening passages to record on blank tapes.

How to Prepare for ELA Exam Day 2 (Grades 6-8) Reading and Writing Shared Reading/Model Writing: teacher reads two short paired reading passages. Students then answer a short response and/or extended response question based on both texts. Teacher must first model how to extract information and write the extended response using both passages. Independent Reading (Reading Response Books): students read and answer generic short or extended response questions. Teachers can use previous ELA exams for sample prompts. ELA Center (Special Education/CTT/Inclusion)- Students read 2 short paired passages (literary and informational) and answer short/extended responses questions created by the teacher. Strategies for answering a short/extended response question- teacher models on a SmartBoard, overhead, blackboard or chart paper how to address the task and demonstrate understanding of both passages. Writing Process- unit of study on narrative, persuasive, and informative writing.

Summary In 2011, the ELA Tests in all grades will have more reading passages and more multiple-choice questions in Book 1. There will still be a listening section containing multiple-choice and constructed-response questions, and a paired-passage section containing constructed- response questions. However, each constructed-response question will be scored individually; there will be holistic scoring, but no cluster scoring.

For Additional Testing Information: New York State Education Department: