TAKS TestTAKS TestCONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION

TAKS TestTAKS TestCONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION

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TRIPLETTRIPLET

What is a triplet?• Triplet… three• Three reading selections linked by

a common theme.• Consists of

– a literary piece– an expository piece– a viewing and representing piece

What is a literary piece?

• A short story or chapter from a novel

• Fiction

Piece #1

What is an expository piece?

• Informational; such as an essay or a magazine article

• Non-fiction

Piece #2

What is a viewing and representing

piece?• Visual Representation• Examples:

– an advertisement– a web page– a cartoon– a chart or a graph Piece #3

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TEXTUAL EVIDENCETEXTUAL EVIDENCE

What is textual evidence?

• Textual– From the text (from your reading)

• Evidence– To support with testimony

• Used for your multiple choice AND short essay answers

Finding textual evidence

• You will not be able to find textual evidence by skimming the reading.

• You will need to read the entire reading selections.

• Sometimes you may have to re-read.• Sometimes you may have to re-

read… again.

Sections of the TestSections of the TestSections of the TestSections of the Test

Easy as 1…2…3…4Easy as 1…2…3…4

Section 1Reading Multiple Choice

Questions

• 28 questions• Basic Understanding• Literary Elements and Techniques• Analysis and Critical Evaluation

Section 2Short Answer Essays

• You will have three short answer essays on the TAKS test.– The three essays cover

• The literary piece• The expository piece• A crossover essay

– Will either compare or contrast the literary and expository pieces

– You must have evidence from both reading pieces

Short Answer Essays (cont.)

• It is the best practice to use embedded direct quotes to answer these essays.

• Possible scores – 0, 1, 2, 3

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EMBEDDED QUOTESEMBEDDED QUOTES

Embedded Quotes• Definition: Using a direct quotation

from the reading piece and incorporating, or embedding, the textual evidence into a sentence containing your own words.

• your words + direct quotation

Embedded Quotes Example

• Example: He is so successful in what he does that “at this point, there aren’t enough seats in Madison Square Garden to contain all the people he has written for.”

• Your words – He is so successful in what he does that

• Direct quotation (from the text) – “at this point, there aren’t enough seats in Madison Square

Garden to contain all the people he has written for.”

Section 3Essay Prompt

• You will have pages to brainstorm what you will write in your essay.– Use them.– Thinking maps, outlines, lists

• You will have pages to write a rough draft of your essay.– Use them.– This seems like more work, but it is worth the effort.

• You will have two pages to write an essay over the prompt. There is nothing that says you have to use them both, but most of you will.

Essay Prompt RubricThe essay written about the prompt is evaluated

by the following:

– Focus and coherence

– Organization

– Development of Ideas

– Voice

– Conventions

Essay Prompt RubricThe essay written about the prompt is evaluated by the following:

– Focus and coherence• Know what the prompt is asking for• Stay on topic• Avoid “fluff”

– Organization• Present ideas clearly and effectively

– Development of Ideas• Thorough and specific development of each idea• Thoughtful and insightful

– Voice• Authentic and original• Clear expression of individuality and unique perspective

– Conventions• Overall command spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, usage, and sentence structure

Essay Prompt Grading• The essay is graded holistically.• Possible scores – 1, 2, 3, 4• You must get at least a 2 on this

essay to pass the English TAKS test.

Section 4Revising and Editing

(Multiple Choice)• 20 questions• 2 peer-editing selections

Revising and Editing (Multiple Choice)

(cont.)• Adding, deleting, or rearranging sentences to

improve organization and development• Adding appropriate transitions• Recognizing correct and effective sentences• Correcting grammar, usage, spelling,

capitalization, and punctuation errors• Replacing vague or informal words or phrases

with more specific or appropriate language

Test Test ObjectivesObjectives

Test Test ObjectivesObjectives

1-61-6

Test Objectives 1-31. The student will demonstrate a basic understanding

of culturally diverse written texts. (Multiple Choice)

2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the effects of literary elements and techniques in culturally diverse written texts. (Multiple Choice and short essay)

3. The student will demonstrate the ability to analyze and critically evaluate culturally diverse written texts and visual representations. (Short essay)

Test Objectives 4-64 & 5. The student will, within a given context,

produce an effective composition for a specific purpose that demonstrates a command of the conventions of spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, usage, and sentence structure. (Essay Prompt)

6. The student will demonstrate the ability to proofread to improve the clarity and effectiveness of a piece of writing. (Multiple Choice)

Review Questions• What is a triplet?• What is textual evidence?• What is an embedded quote?• How many sections are there on

the test?• What must you make on the essay

prompt to pass the entire test?