1. A Deeper Look at TDA Questions Designed by Reading Center IU 3

2. Types of TDAs 0 Giveaways 0 Corrupt 0 List Magnets 0 Strong

3. Giveaways… 0 In "The Marble Champ", Lupe's lack of confidence and skills in sports lead her to practice very hard to become better at the sport of marbles. Write an essay analyzing the story's events to explain how Lupe persevered to prove her worth in the story. Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your analysis. 0 The passage "Little by Little Piece by Piece," is about three brothers, one who works hard everyday and gains wealth through perseverance. Write an essay analyzing how the youngest brother is a role model for his older brothers. Cite evidence form the text to support your answer.

4. Corrupt… 0 The author of "Because of Winn Dixie" uses a dog to introduce two people. Write an essay analyzing how the characters' actions and motivations lead to the author's choice of title. Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your analysis. 0 Skye's emotions change throughout "the Perfect Swim." Write an essaying analyzing how Skye's emotions are revealed through the setting and plot. Cite evidence from the text to support your analysis. 0 Authors choose words carefully to help readers understand the information. Write an essay analyzing how the author used figurative language and foreshadowing to communicate the main idea. Be sure to clearly cite evidence from the text to support your answer. 0 Authors use various techniques when developing and explaining motivations of characters. Write an essay analyzing how the author of "The Raft" reveals Dewey's character and his motivations throughout the passage. Use evidence from the passage to support your response.

5. List Magnets… 0 In the text excerpt from "Because of Winn Dixie", an unlikely friendship emerges. Write an essay analyzing how Opal's actions led to an unlikely friendship. Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your analysis. 0 In the passage "Drawing Horses" Marisa demonstrates a will to improve. Write an essay analyzing how she perseveres to become a better artist. Use evidence from the text to support your analysis. 0 Authors often use figurative language to describe objects, characters, and situations in their stories. Write an essay analyzing figurative language in "Luke's Big Night Out". Use evidence from the text to support your analysis. 0 In "Off and Running" the characters use formal language during their election speeches. Write an essay analyzing how the author uses formal language in the speeches. Use evidence from the text to support your analysis.

6. Strong TDAS… 0 The passage “Little by Little, Piece by Piece.” is about three brothers who each experience a change in life. Write an essay analyzing how the title of the passage conveys the central message of the text. Use evidence from the passage to support your response. 0 Authors use dialogue to convey characters’ motives. Write an essay analyzing how the use of dialogue reveals Paolo’s motives in the passage. Cite evidence from the text to support your answer. 0 Authors use many techniques when developing main characters. Write an essay analyzing how the author's precise word choice effectively developed Miyax in the text excerpt. Be sure to use evidence from the text to support your analysis. 0 The passages discuss the impact that people have had on sea levels. Write an essay analyzing how the changes in sea levels affect humans. Use information from all three passages to support your response. 0 At the end of the passage, ‘Drawing Horses’, Marisa states, “But I already know that when this drawing is finished, I’ll be signing it Marisa.” Write an essay analyzing why she makes this statement. Cite evidence to support your answer.

7. Giveaway, Corrupt, List Magnet, or Strong? PSSA Item Samplers

8. Grade 4 When Shelly tells Marisa about the Mystery Club, she is immediately interested and asks, “Could I join?” In order to join, Marisa first has to solve a mystery. Write an essay analyzing the importance of solving the mystery to both Marisa and the members of the Mystery Club. Use evidence from the passage to support your response. Giveaway “In order to join, Marisa first has to solve a mystery” gives away the importance of solving the mystery to Marisa. It’s important to her because she wants to join the club!

9. Grade 5 The passages discuss the impact that people have had on the bald eagle. Write an essay analyzing how people are helping the bald eagle increase in numbers. Use information from all three passages to support your response. List Magnet The question doesn’t require any inference or analysis. Students can answer it by listing “right there” evidence from the three passages.

10. Grade 6 The passage and the poem address a similar theme. Write an essay analyzing how the passage and the poem develop this theme. Use evidence from both the passage and the poem to support your response. Corrupt Analyzing the development of a theme is an abstraction that is higher developmentally than 6 th graders are expected to do, based on the standards/eligible content. 6 th grade standards require them to identify, not analyze the development. That is likely why this question was released.

11. Grade 8 The plot of “Joe’s Reward” is driven by specific events that take place. Write an essay analyzing how the passage draws on elements commonly found in myths. Use evidence from the passage to support your response. Corrupt A TDA question cannot ask students to draw on instruction that they may or may not have received – “elements commonly found in myths.” The question must be text- dependent and assess the eligible content for that grade level. Mythology is part of curriculum, not standards/eligible content. TDA