Log on, Peer Planner Evaluation, Prepare for quiz then Response 7 List the many ways in which you prepare for different types of tests (such as cramming, etc) Brainstorm and list situations that make taking test difficult, such as health issues. Write about a positive success story about a time you did your best on a test. How did you do it, how did it feel, what was the test in, why did you do so well, etc. Why is it important to have good writing skills in school, in your career, and in life? What are some of the positive effects of good writing? For example, it improves chances on financial aid applications.
WEbsite Go to http://ttosspon.wikispaces.com
Chapter 7 Test Taking: Showing What You Know Keys to Success, Sixth Edition Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, and Sarah Lyman Kravits
Review for Quiz 6 Form a group of 2-4 (no, you may not do this one alone) Open the class website: http://ttosspon.wikispaces.com/Writing_Research Click on Jeopardyquiz.doc and print it, then click on the Jeopardy link Answer your questions on the paper. Form a group of 2-4 (no, you may not do this one alone) Work together to read directions and answer the questions. Each group member MUST agree on each answer, as only ONE (1) quiz will be accepted from each group.
Big Goal: Today you will learn strategies to prepare and plan for test anxiety and you will learn how to research and write out your findings.
How Can Preparation Improve Test Performance? (overview) Chapter 7: Test Taking Pg 210 How Can Preparation Improve Test Performance? (overview) Identify Test Type and Material Covered (210) Create a Study Schedule and Checklist (213) Prepare Through Careful Review (213) Take a Pretest (213-214) Prepare Physically (214) Make the Most of Last-Minute Cramming (215)
The Best Test Preparation Strategies Attend class, listen actively, and participate. Take good notes and review them regularly. Keep up with reading and other assignments.
Test Question Prediction Use SQ3R to identify what is important Listen for clues at review sessions Make an appointment to see your instructor Talk to people who already took the course and look at comments on teacher evaluation websites Examine old tests, if the instructor makes them available
Predict some Test Questions Look at a textbook (either ours or for another class) In the chapter(s) for this week, determine the Key Terms – write the definitions Write some potential test questions: what will your professor ask you about this material?
How Can You Work Through Test Anxiety? Prepare and Have a Positive Attitude Test Anxiety and the Returning Student
Give one/Get One Fold a paper in half (hot dog style). Joe Smith Negative This teacher wants to torture me! I don’t know anything! Positive This will force me to learn I can study! Fold a paper in half (hot dog style). On the top of ½ of the paper, write “Negative Thinking about Tests” Take 2 minutes to write down some negative thinking Talk to 5 people in the class and write down their negative thoughts on the same side of the paper Take 2 minutes and think of some ways to turn those negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Write those on the opposite side of the paper Talk to 4 DIFFERENT classmates to help fill in the Positive Thinking side of the paper.
Positive Thinking About Testing See tests as opportunities to learn Understand that tests measure performance, not personal value Believe that instructors are on your side Seek study partners who challenge you Get tutored Practice relaxation Shut out negative vibrations Practice positive self-talk Remind yourself of your goals
Test Anxiety and the Returning student (pg 217) Helpful tips for parents Find help. Plan activities Explain the time frame and plan a reward
What General Strategies Can Help You Succeed on Tests? Choose the Right Seat (217) Write Down Key Facts (218) Begin with an Overview Read Test Directions Mark Up the Questions Take Special Care on Machine-Scored Tests Work from Easy to Hard Watch the Clock Take a Strategic Approach to Questions You Cannot Answer Master the Art of Intelligent Guessing Maintain Academic Integrity
Let’s Mark up the test questions! Look at the test sample Highlight the key terms/write them out to the side Define what you need to know about them Answer the question before you read the answers
How Can You Master Different Types of Test Questions? Multiple-Choice Questions True-or-False Questions Matching Questions Fill-in-the-Blank Questions Essay Questions
Multiple Choice Test Questions (pg 221)
True/False Test Questions
Fill-in-the-Blank Test Questions
Essay Test Questions Start by reading the questions Map out your time Focus on action verbs (pg 228): Analyze, Compare, Contrast, Criticize, Define, Describe, Discuss, List, Evaluate, Explain, Illustrate, Interpret, Outline, Prove, Review, State, Summarize, Trace
Chart it! Define each of the exam terms
How Can You Learn From Test Mistakes? Ask yourself questions that may help you identify correctable problems Rework the questions you got wrong After reviewing your mistakes, fill in your knowledge gaps Talk to your instructor Rethink the ways you studied If you fail a test, don’t throw it away
Former Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff “The Five P’s of Success: Prior preparation prevents poor performance.” James A. Baker, III Former Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff
Do you study to learn? Or study to pass the test? What is the learning and the knowledge base behind being a success in each of these professions? What do these people create in our society? How does their job affect the student directly? If these people cut corners in their learning, what would the impact be? If these people develop competency in their learning, what is the impact? How does this analysis change the way you view your own learning and your future options? Emergency room surgeon Civil engineer Business manager President of the United States Do you study to learn? Or study to pass the test?
Chapter 8 Researching and Writing: Gathering and Communicating Ideas Keys to Success, Sixth Edition Carol Carter, Joyce Bishop, and Sarah Lyman Kravits
How Can You Find Reliable Information on the Internet? Start with a Search Engine Use a Search Strategy Use Critical Thinking to Evaluate Every Source
Internet Search Strategy Think carefully about what you want to locate Use a search engine to isolate sites under your desired topic or category Explore these sites to get a general idea of what’s out there Use your keywords in a variety of ways to uncover more possibilities Evaluate the number of links that appear When you think you are done, start over
Evaluating Internet Information: The CARS Test for Information Quality Credibility Accuracy Reasonableness Support Take a Look at Key 8.3, pg 249
Using the CARS method, evaluate the articles given to your group .edu .gov .com .org Group Project Using the CARS method, evaluate the articles given to your group More reliable Less reliable
Know When to Use the Library and When to Use the Internet Choose the library first for: - in-depth research, requiring an historical perspective - use of library’s subscription databases - verifying the authenticity of what you discover on the Internet - personal, face-to-face help from a librarian - more comfortable navigation of an established library system rather than the tangle of Internet sites
Google (Yes, It’s a Verb) (pg 251) Form a group of up to 5 students. Follow the directions on pg 251. Choose a common topic to search. How many hits? How many different topics did your search return other than the topic you intended? Select 2 off-the-topic links and write a thesis statement that would require to use these leads in your research. What does this tell you about using search engines?
What Is the Writing Process? Planning Drafting Revising Editing
The Four Stages of the Writing Process Planning – Brainstorming, Free-writing, Journalists’ Questions, Research, Thesis & Outline Drafting – Introduction, Main Ideas (Body), Supporting Evidence, Conclusion Revising – Step back, take another look, be more objective Editing – Correcting errors - everyone must do this!
Planning your essay Evidence Gathering Sheet Determine topic Determine purpose Combine the two to create THESIS Give REASONS you think that to be true Each reason becomes a topic sentence
Essay planning part 2 Take each one of your “Reasons” from the topic starter Develop each one more fully into a para. With 2 examples
Writing for a Purpose Form into groups Each group will choose a topic (or present one of your own!) Tooth brushing Ice cream Automated teller machines (ATMs) Sleep deprivation ½ of your group members will write a persuasive the other ½ of your group members will write an informative skit/speech about your topic
Brainstorming Write down thoughts related to the topic Organize the ideas into categories
Asking Journalist’s Questions Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
Write a thesis statement This is the CENTRAL MESSAGE you want to communicate! State your subject and your point of view It should reflect your writing purpose: inform or persuade? It should be appropriate for the audience: the readers.
Organizing the Body of a Paper By Time – in order or reverse order By Importance – Most important to least important or reverse By Problem & Solution – Straightforward! By Argument – present both sides; make your own conclusion at the end By Cause & Effect – how events, ideas, or situations caused subsequent events By Comparisons – How events, people, situations, and ideas are the same (hint: find similes and metaphors) For more ideas, take a look at Key 8.5
Avoiding Plagiarism by the way.. We use Turnitin.com here! Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s exact words, figures, unique approach, or specific reasoning without giving credit. Some ways to avoid plagiarism include: Make sources notes as you go. Learn the difference between a quotation and a paraphrase. Use a citation even from an acceptable paraphrase. Understand that lifting material off the Internet is plagiarism. Take a Look at Key 8.6 for an example
Analytical Questions to ask yourself as you revise Does the paper fulfill the requirements of the assignment? (topics, length, style) Will my audience understand my thesis and how I have supported it? Does the introduction prepare the reader and capture attention? Is the body of the paper organized well? Is each idea fully developed, explained, and supported by examples? Are my ideas connected to one another through logical transitions? Do I have a clear, “to the point” writing style? (try to avoid the passive voice!) Does the conclusion provide a natural ending to the paper?