Preparing For the N.J. GEPA What Skills Do Students Need?

Tasks on the GEPA Reading – Narrative text (40 min.) Reading – Persuasive text (35 min.) Writing – Persuasive essay (45 min.) Writing – Picture Prompt/Narrative (25 min.)

Who Passes the GEPA Advanced Proficient 250 and up Proficient Partially Proficient Below 200

Types of Reading Questions Literal questions Vocabulary/Context Clues Predicting Outcomes Analyzing Theme Story elements and plot Drawing conclusions Fact vs. opinion Extending meaning

Open-Ended Questions Students must be able to read, think synthesize, and apply understanding Students must be able to read, think synthesize, and apply understanding

Sample Open-Ended Question Ken’s older brother and younger sister are able to accept the family’s move to Boston, but Ken is distressed with the idea. Give TWO or more reasons WHY a Middle School student might not want to move. Describe HOW Ken is able to resolve the problem. Use information from the story to support your response.

How to Answer An Open-Ended Question Read the question carefully Each bullet-point indicates a new paragraph Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence Use details, facts, direct quotes from the text to support your answer Think critically Use strong vocabulary

Open-Ended Question Rubric Points Criteria Open Ended Questions 4 A 4-point response clearly demonstrates understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides an insightful explanation/opinion that links to or extends aspects of the text. 4 A 4-point response clearly demonstrates understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides an insightful explanation/opinion that links to or extends aspects of the text. 3 A 3-point response demonstrates an understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides some explanation/opinion using situations or ideas from the text as support. 3 A 3-point response demonstrates an understanding of the task, completes all requirements, and provides some explanation/opinion using situations or ideas from the text as support. 2 A 2-point response may address all of the requirements, but demonstrates a partial understanding of the task, and uses text incorrectly or with limited success resulting in an inconsistent or flawed explanation. 2 A 2-point response may address all of the requirements, but demonstrates a partial understanding of the task, and uses text incorrectly or with limited success resulting in an inconsistent or flawed explanation. 1 A I-point response demonstrates minimal understanding of the task, does not complete the requirements, and provides only a vague reference to or no use of the text. 1 A I-point response demonstrates minimal understanding of the task, does not complete the requirements, and provides only a vague reference to or no use of the text. 0 A 0-point response is irrelevant or off-topic.

Persuasive Writing A Prompt will create a scenario Students will have to take a stance either for/against the issue They then write an essay defending the position they have chosen

Persuasive Prompt Writing Situation Because of the recent emphasis on career education, your school board is considering removing electives from the schedule and using that time for a full-year course on career training. This proposal has created a controversy in your school district. Because of the recent emphasis on career education, your school board is considering removing electives from the schedule and using that time for a full-year course on career training. This proposal has created a controversy in your school district. You decide to write a letter to your school board expressing your views on this controversial issue. Writing Task Write a letter to your school board either supporting or opposing its proposal to replace electives with career training. Use examples, facts, and other evidence to support your point of view. * This prompt was a previous year’s Persuasive topic on the GEPA

Skills for Writing a Persuasive Essay Organization –Divide the essay logically Introduction Three Body Paragraphs Conclusion –Thesis statement in the Introduction states the writer’s stance on the issue and the three reasons –Topic Sentences for body paragraphs state the reason or argument to be discussed –Details in each paragraph elaborate on the reason or argument

Paragraph Elaboration Use specific details Use personal examples or anecdotes Don’t exaggerate Use facts and statistics Use transitions to move from one idea to the next Take compositional risks (scenarios, rhetorical questions, quotes, etc.)

Writing Style Fluency Sentence Structure Transition Varied sentence beginnings Sophisticated Vocabulary Use of figurative language Compositional Risk

Mechanics SpellingCapitalizationPunctuation Subject/Verb Agreement Pronoun Usage General usage * Essays are scored holistically; however, errors in mechanics however, errors in mechanics will lower the overall score will lower the overall score

Picture Prompt Students are asked to view a picture and speculate as to what is happening. They may choose to write a story or describe what is happening in picture. We encourage students to write a story

Skills for Writing a Picture Prompt Narrative Writing Use people in the picture as characters Use details from the picture for setting Think of a simple plot for your story—don’t make it too complicated Add dialogue Try to have a theme—so the character learns a lesson or comes to some realization.

Writing Style for Picture Prompt Logical progression of events Suspense Realistic dialogue Descriptive writing Sensory details Showing, not telling

Scoring New Jersey State Holistic Scoring Rubric Two readers score the essay Each reader gives a score of 1-6 (six is highest) Two scores are added together for persuasive essay Two scores are averaged for Picture Prompt

How Did Our Students Score? Persuasive Essay (Score 1-6 added) Score 11 1 Score 6 30 Score 10 6 Score 5 7 Score 9 24 Score 4 21 Score 8 79 Score 3 2 Score 7 44 Score 2 2 *Sussex Middle School Sussex, NJ2004 scores

What Do the Scores Mean? Superior Command 12,11,10Persuasive 6, 5.5, 5 Picture Prompt Adequate Command 9, 8, 7 Persuasive 4.5, 4, 3.5 Picture Prompt Partial Command 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Persuasive 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5, 1 Picture Prompt

Web Sites –This is GEPA guide that can be downloaded –Click on “Free Downloads” and then scroll to find the Preparing for the GEPA in Language Arts ample/ ample/ –Sample tests from the state –You can click on which subject you want

More Web Sites ettc.org/top/project%20TOP/preparing_students _for_gepa.htm ettc.org/top/project%20TOP/preparing_students _for_gepa.htm –This site has many links for Math preparation on_map/ on_map/ –Students can use the computer to create a persuasion map graphic organizer for an essay

Software Programs to Teach Writing Inspiration Software – graphic organizer tool – download a 30 day free trial – Draft-Builder – an organizational writing tool – check out the home page – /draft_builder.htm /draft_builder.htmhttp:// /draft_builder.htm

Credits This Power Point Presentation was created by Dorothy Caufield, Language Arts Teacher at Sussex Middle School Sussex, NJ The End