1. MCAS 2.0
Dates of the Test ELA – April 24th and 25th Math – May 8th and 9th Science – May 22nd and 23rd

2. This test is designed to find out…
If you can comprehend what you read
If you can critically analyze a text
If you can write an essay using text-based evidence

3. The test assesses your reading comprehension, so…
CLOSE READING IS ESSENTIAL
Preview the questions for this reading
Read the text all the way through for KEY IDEAS & DETAILS
Read the text again and examine the STRUCTURE and author’s CRAFT
Read the text a third time go even deeper, requiring students to synthesize and analyze information.
Track your thoughts and observations:
Highlight key information (make a note why you highlighted that section of text)
Take notes (annotate) as you read on the paper provided.

4. The test assess your ability to write for different purposes, such as…
Literary Analysis  Reading and analyzing a text for literary significance.
5+ paragraph essay
Introduction
Conclusion =
Hook (2-3 sentences)
Restate your thesis statement in a clever way (title, author, answer the prompt)
DO NOT USE A QUESTION HOOK!
information about the topic (theme, point of view, similar/differ)
summarize your main ideas (claims)
leave the reader with a final thought (“so what?”)
thesis statement (Title, author, answer the prompt)
Body paragraphs (3 claims) =
Formal tone (NO: I, me, my, you, contractions, slang, etc.)
topic sentence
main idea of paragraph (claim)
Verbs should be used in the literary present
introduce the evidence (quote) with a speech tag
Imagine that the reader has already read the text, but you are just arguing your points with evidence and not summarizing the text!
evidence (quote)
explain the significance of the quote (elaborate, explain how this evidence supports your claim
concluding statement that ties your idea back to the thesis statement.

5. Text Evidence
By properly integrating a quote(s) or paraphrasing the text to prove your point, you are demonstrating that you can:
Write effectively
Comprehend the reading material

6. REMEMBER THE QUOTE BURGER!
Introduce the quote
Give context (what’s going on in the text where you found your evidence?)
Introduce the speaker with a speech tag
Who is saying the evidence? (The author says,)
Place the “quote”
Check your punctuation!
Cite the quote
(Paragraph 4) NO COMMAS INSIDE THE CITATION
Discuss the quote
Through this (statement, dialogue, description, excerpt, passage)…

7. Quote Burger in Action…
According to the article, “Teens are losing sleep due to extra curricular activities, technology obsession, and excessive consumption of caffeinated beverages,” (Paragraph 4). This statement illustrates how teenagers have a very complicated life these days, and they face many obstacles in trying to get enough sleep.

8. The test assess your ability to write for different purposes, such as…
Narrative Writing  continuing the story using descriptive techniques.
Maintain the same point of view throughout the story
Maintain the same verb tense throughout the story
Narrative (Story) Writing Essentials
Describe the setting with sensory language that shows and does not tell the story (adverbs)
Use Figurative Language (Similes, Personification, Alliteration, Metaphors, Onomatopoeia)
Add VIVID description – strong adjectives and verbs
Create a logical plot sequence with suspense and conflict
Develop memorable characters through point of view, motive, dialogue (properly punctuated)

9. Dialogue Show a character’s personality through dialogue
If using dialogue
Skip lines between speakers
Always use a speech tag to let the reader know who is speaking:
Tyler said defiantly, “No! I won’t go to my room!”
“Yes, you will, his father sternly warned. Then, he walked out of the living room to grab a cup of coffee.
Tyler, furious with his father, stomped up the stairs, slammed the door, and jumped onto his bed in utter disgust.
Down below, his father rolled his eyes and thought, “The teenage years can be so challenging!”
PUNCTUATE DIALOGUE PROPERLY!