You are more than a score. NYS ELA 8 Exam You are more than a score.

The Basics 3 Days Periods 2,3,4 Reading & Writing CCSS aligned

Types of Reading / Texts Literary 3-8 passages Examples: Memoirs Short stories Poetry Excerpts from novels Informational 4-10 passages Examples: Textbooks Reports Tourism guides Legal documents Magazine articles Training manuals Recipes speeches

Day 1 : Tuesday

Day 1: Book 1 ALL READING 6 passages 42 m/c No writing 70 -90 minutes testing Bring your independent reading with you.

Day 2 : Wednesday

Day 2: Book 2 1 reading passage 7 m/c 2 linked passages: writing 3 short response questions 1 extended response 60 minutes – 90 minutes Bring your independent reading book with you.

Day 3 : Thursday

Day 3: Book 3 LOTS OF WRITING 3 passages No m/c 5 short responses 1 extended response 50 minutes – 90 minutes

Test Blueprint

What are they looking for? Area of Focus Percentage of Points Reading Standards (RL & RI) Language & Writing standards 100 % of points require close reading <45% require writing & command of language

% of reading points Key ideas & details: <60% Craft & structure: <40% Integration of knowledge & ideas: <40%

Writing Rubrics

2-Point SHORT RESPONSE Make a claim, take a position, or draw a conclusion Support it with details You are graded on inference & evidence 2 Points: You got it! 1 Point: You kind of got it 0: nope. Off task, irrelevant, or unreadable.

2-Point SHORT RESPONSE To Schaeffer or Not to Schaeffer… Timing is everything. More important to answer correctly than in a full paragraph. Write in FULL sentences Maybe ONE commentary instead of two : HOW does this detail answer the question?

2-Point SHORT RESPONSE 2 Points: Valid inference Relevant concrete details for support Sufficient number of facts, definitions, concrete details, and / or other information from the text as required by the prompt Complete sentences Spelling and grammatical errors don’t interfere with the reader’s ability to understand If the prompt asks you for details from two texts, you MUST give details from BOTH.

2-Point SHORT RESPONSE 1 Point: Very literal Some relevant facts Incomplete sentences or bullets You gave details from only one text when asked to compare TWO texts.

4-Point EXTENDED RESPONSE Create a clear thesis claim Compose at least two body paragraphs Each body paragraph should follow the JS model. A short conclusion / concluding sentence as paragraph 4 to bringing everything together

Jane Schaeffer ESSAY: THESIS (end of introduction OR its own paragrpah) BODY Paragraph: TS: Topic Sentence Concrete Detail 1 from text Commentary 1: WHY is this detail important? Commentary 2: HOW does this detail address the topic sentence / task Concrete Detail 2: REPEAT CD 1 CS: Concluding sentence: brings details together and reasserts TS. Short Conclusion or FINAL statement A summary statement

Jane Schaeffer ESSAY: THESIS (end of introduction OR its own paragrpah) BODY Paragraph: TS: Topic Sentence Concrete Detail 1 from text Commentary 1: WHY is this detail important? Commentary 2: HOW does this detail address the topic sentence / task Concrete Detail 2: REPEAT CD 1 CS: Concluding sentence: brings details together and reasserts TS. Short Conclusion or FINAL statement A summary statement

Tackling NYS ELA Jargon They do NOT expect you to know Jane Schaeffer. Make an EVIDENCE-BASED CLAIM: fancy phrase for write a thesis and prove it CLAIM: how well you select and use evidence to support your inference / claim. Find details from the text: your concrete details (CDs); they will expect 2 per paragraph The missing piece: You need to explain (CMs) HOW OR WHY the CDs you selected were important; how do they prove your topic sentence/claim? The instructions will not tell you to do this!

Extended Response: 4 point rubric BEWARE OF THESE DANGERS: If you only write about one text when asked to discuss two, you will not score higher than a 2/4 points. If you write a personal response with very little reference to the text, you will not score higher than a 1 /4 If you are off topic, you will get 0 points. If you only copy quotes from the text (CD) but do not analyze them (Thesis; TS, CM, CS) , you will get 0 points. If the reader cannot understand your Writing, you will get 0 points. WRITE NEATLY.

What to Bring With You:

What to bring to the test Number 2 pencils (sharpened and more than one) Good eraser Highlighter, if you prefer to use one (Just make sure you aren’t WRITING answers in a highlighter or covering answers) Your independent reading book Water.

What NOT to bring to the test Pens. Not allowed. At all. ANY and ALL electronic devices are BANNED from the testing room. Leave them in your lockers. If you do bring your phone, leave it on the desk with the proctor. You may NOT use them during a break or if you go to the restroom.

One more warning Until you are told otherwise, you are NOT allowed to discuss the test. Not the authors, the passages, the writing assignments…not anything. Absolutely no discussion on social media.

Finally…..

Remember one last thing: …you are more than a number. …and I am proud of all you have done so far this year!