Unpacking PARCC Prompts Author: Cailtin Parker

Review: 3 Different Writing Tasks Narrative Literary Analysis Research Simulation

Narrative Asks you to: write a story detail a scientific process write a historical account of important figures describe an account of events, scenes or objects

Literary Analysis Asks you to carefully consider literary elements Asks you to compose an analytical essay

Research Simulation Asks you to analyze an informational topic presented through several articles. Asks you to synthesize (put together) information from multiple sources in order to write an analytical essay.

First Things First Before you can write your essay, you have to be able to: Identify the task type (narrative, literary analysis, or research simulation) Flip the prompt into an understandable question or simplified directions If you don’t have a clear understanding of what you’re supposed to do, you won’t score well on the rubric.

Example Test http://epat-parcc.testnav.com/client/index.html#getitem/7718

3rd Grade Task Today, you will read two stories titled “Johnny Chuck Finds the Best Thing in the World” and “Me First.” As you read, think about the actions of the characters and the events of the stories. Answer the questions to help you write an essay…. THEN: Old Mother West Wind and the Sandwitch both try to teach important lessons to characters in the stories. Write an essay that explains how Old Mother West Wind’s and the Sandwitch’s words and actions are important to the plots of the stories. Use what you learned about the characters to support your essay.

What type of task is this? Literary Analysis What clues led you to that conclusion?

3rd Grade Task Today, you will read two stories titled “Johnny Chuck Finds the Best Thing in the World” and “Me First.” As you read, think about the actions of the characters and the events of the stories. Answer the questions to help you write an essay…. THEN: Old Mother West Wind and the Sandwitch both try to teach important lessons to characters in the stories. Write an essay that explains how Old Mother West Wind’s and the Sandwitch’s words and actions are important to the plots of the stories. Use what you learned about the characters to support your essay.

Unpacked Prompt How are Old Mother West Wind’s and the Sandwitch’s words and actions important to the plot of the stories? Explain with details from the stories.

4th Grade Task Today you will read two articles and watch a video about the survival of wild horses on Assateague Island in Maryland and Chincoteague Island in Virginia. As you review these sources, you will gather information and answer questions so that you can write an essay…. THEN: Your class has been studying about the survival of the ponies on Assateague Island. Using information from the articles and the video, describe the roles that both the horses and humans play in the horses’ survival. Use evidence from the articles and the video to support your answer.

What type of task is this? Research Simulation What clues led you to that conclusion?

4th Grade Task Today you will read two articles and watch a video about the survival of wild horses on Assateague Island in Maryland and Chincoteague Island in Virginia. As you review these sources, you will gather information and answer questions so that you can write an essay…. THEN: Your class has been studying about the survival of the ponies on Assateague Island. Using information from the articles and the video, describe the roles that both the horses and humans play in the horses’ survival. Use evidence from the articles and the video to support your answer.

Unpacked Prompt How do the horses and humans help the horses survive? Explain using evidence from the articles and the video to support your answer.

5th Grade Task Today you will analyze a passage from the novel Ida B and a passage from the novel Moon Over Manifest. As you read these texts, you will gather information and answer questions about the influence of the narrator’s point of view so you can write an essay…. THEN: The stories titled Ida B and Moon Over Manifest both include events that did not happen exactly how the narrators expected them to happen. Write an essay describing how each narrator’s point of view influenced how these events are described. Be sure to use details from both stories.

What type of task is this? Literary Analysis What clues led you to that conclusion?

5th Grade Task Today you will analyze a passage from the novel Ida B and a passage from the novel Moon Over Manifest. As you read these texts, you will gather information and answer questions about the influence of the narrator’s point of view so you can write an essay…. THEN: The stories titled Ida B and Moon Over Manifest both include events that did not happen exactly how the narrators expected them to happen. Write an essay describing how each narrator’s point of view influenced how these events are described. Be sure to use details from both stories.

Unpacked Prompt In both stories, things happen that the narrators did not anticipate. How does each narrator’s point of view influence how the events are described?

6th Grade Task Today you will read a passage from a story titled Magic Elizabeth. As you read and answer the questions, pay close attention to the characters to help prepare you to write a narrative story… THEN: In the passage from Magic Elizabeth, the author creates a vivid setting and two distinct characters, Mrs. Chipley and Sally. Think about the details the author uses to establish the setting and the characters. Write an original story about what happens when Sally arrives at Aunt Sarah’s house. In your story, be sure to use what you have learned about the setting and the characters as you tell what happens next.

What type of task is this? Narrative What clues led you to that conclusion?

6th Grade Task Today you will read a passage from a story titled Magic Elizabeth. As you read and answer the questions, pay close attention to the characters to help prepare you to write a narrative story. THEN: In the passage from Magic Elizabeth, the author creates a vivid setting and two distinct characters, Mrs. Chipley and Sally. Think about the details the author uses to establish the setting and the characters. Write an original story about what happens when Sally arrives at Aunt Sarah’s house. In your story, be sure to use what you have learned about the setting and the characters as you tell what happens next.

Unpacked Prompt Write a story about what happens when Sally arrives at Aunt Sarah’s house. Remain true to the setting and the characters as you tell what happens next.

7th Grade Task Today you will research electricity and consider some of the methods used in science texts and videos to support different purposes. First you will read a passage that explains some general principles of electricity. Next, you will watch a video about fun ways to learn about electricity circuits. Finally, you will read an article that explains how different materials conduct electricity. As you review these sources, think about the purpose of each and the role that explanations, demonstrations, and/or descriptions of experiments play in communicating that purpose. At the end of the task, you will be asked to write an essay…. THEN: You have learned about electricity by reading two articles, “Energy Story” and “Conducting Solutions,” and viewing a video clip titled “Hands-on Science with Squishy Circuits.” In an essay, compare the purposes of the three sources. Then analyze how each source uses explanations, demonstrations, or descriptions of experiments to help accomplish its purpose. Be sure to discuss important differences and similarities between the information gained from the video and the information provided in the articles. Support your response with evidence from each source.

What type of task is this? Research Simulation What clues led you to that conclusion?

7th Grade Task Today you will research electricity and consider some of the methods used in science texts and videos to support different purposes. First, you will read a passage that explains some general principles of electricity. Next, you will watch a video about fun ways to learn about electricity circuits. Finally, you will read an article that explains how different materials conduct electricity. As you review these sources, think about the purpose of each and the role that explanations, demonstrations, and/or descriptions of experiments play in communicating that purpose. At the end of the task, you will be asked to write an essay…. THEN: You have learned about electricity by reading two articles, “Energy Story” and “Conducting Solutions,” and viewing a video clip titled “Hands-on Science with Squishy Circuits.” In an essay, compare the purposes of the three sources. Then analyze how each source uses explanations, demonstrations, or descriptions of experiments to help accomplish its purpose. Be sure to discuss important differences and similarities between the information gained from the video and the information provided in the articles. Support your response with evidence from each source.

Unpacked Prompt In these three sources about electricity, what purpose does each source serve? What message does each convey? How does each source use explanations, demonstrations, or descriptions of experiments to convey its message? Write an essay, providing evidence from each source to support your assertions.

8th Grade Task Today you will analyze passages from two novels. As you read these texts, you will gather information and answer questions about the characters and points of view so you can write an analytical essay…. THEN: In Confetti Girl and Tortilla Sun, the narrators have points of view different from those of their parents. Write an essay analyzing how these differences in points of view create tension in both stories. Remember to use details from both texts to support your ideas.

What type of task is this? Literary Analysis What clues led you to that conclusion?

8th Grade Task Today you will analyze passages from two novels. As you read these texts, you will gather information and answer questions about the characters and points of view so you can write an analytical essay…. THEN: In Confetti Girl and Tortilla Sun, the narrators have points of view different from those of their parents. Write an essay analyzing how these differences in points of view create tension in both stories. Remember to use details from both texts to support your ideas.

Unpacked Prompt In these two passages, how do the differences in point of view between the narrators and their parents cause tension? Write an essay using details from both texts to support your explanations.

9th Grade Task Today you will read the passage from the novel Bleak House, set in the nineteenth century, in which Mr. Skimpole has a conversation with some friends. Pay close attention to the conversation as you answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story… THEN: This passage is written as a first-person narrative told from Miss Summerson’s point of view. Write a narrative story that describes the major events in the passage from the point of view of the stranger, emphasizing his thoughts and feelings about Mr. Skimpole, Miss Summerson, and Richard.

What type of task is this? Narrative What clues led you to that conclusion?

9th Grade Task Today you will read the passage from the novel Bleak House, set in the nineteenth century, in which Mr. Skimpole has a conversation with some friends. Pay close attention to the conversation as you answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story… THEN: This passage is written as a first-person narrative told from Miss Summerson’s point of view. Write a narrative story that describes the major events in the passage from the point of view of the stranger, emphasizing his thoughts and feelings about Mr. Skimpole, Miss Summerson, and Richard.

Unpacked Prompt Describe the major events in the story from the point of view of the stranger. Focus on his thoughts and feelings about Mr. Skimpole, Miss Summerson, and Richard.