What does the NJASK look for?

1. What does the NJASK look for?

2. Language Arts • Multiple choice items • Open-ended questions

3. Reading • Informational passages is text is nonfiction. Its purpose is to provide the reader with information about a particular topic. Examples of informational text include your science textbook, your geography textbook, and your agenda books. • Narrative text tells a story. On the NJ ASK, the narrative texts are usually fictional, but a biography is also considered a narrative text. • Good readers know what type of texts they are reading on the NJ ASK and use a strategy to help them find the answers for the multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions.

4. STRATEGY #1: Use the multiple choice questions to guide your reading. • Read over the multiple choice questions at the end of the passage. • Then read the passage, looking for the answers to the questions. • Underline answers in the passage when you find them. • Refer back to the multiple choice questions as needed.

5. Strategy #2: Strategically read the passage first • The first time you read the passage, stop at section headings (if included). Think about what kinds of information you will find in each of those sections. • In this first reading, also underline the first sentence of each paragraph, which is typically the topic sentence. • Then go back and reread the topic sentences you underlined. • Then go back and read the entire passage slowly and carefully. • Underline key supporting details, bolded vocabulary words, and information presented in bullets or lists.

6. Narrative Reading • Begin by reading the first and last paragraph to become familiar with how the story starts and ends. • Then go back and read the entire story slowly and carefully. Look for and underline details about the setting, characters, problem, key plot events, and solution. • Also look for and underline bolded vocabulary words, uses of figurative language, symbols, and references to themes.

7. RESPONDING TO A LITERATURE OPEN-ENDED QUESTION • Using R.A.C.E. the student should: • Restate the question • Answerall parts of the question • Citedetails and support from the text • Extendto themselves, another text, or to the world

8. Tips for Speculative Writing Remember it's a narrative or story! • Hook your reader with action, dialogue, thoughts or sound. • You can have as many paragraphs as you need. • You create new paragraphs when there:is a new character introduced • new event or idea • new setting • dialogue/conversation - when a new person speaks • time moves forward or backward significantly • Give the reader an interesting ending: memory, feeling, hope or wish or defining action or lesson

9. Speculative writing • Setting • Characters • Problem: • Rising Action: • Climax: • Solution • You must use vivid description for every part!

10. Speculative • All the boy could think of afterward was that the library book must have slipped out of his backpack as he rushed from his last-period class to soccer practice yesterday. • In your story, add interesting details. • Be sure to answer these questions.Who? What? When? Where? Why? Ho

11. Persuasive • Format (Essay, letter, editorial)A: Audience (public, president, principal, students, peers, ect…)T: Topic (what your essay is about)P: Purpose (To persuade audience to agree/disagree with the topic.)

12. Persuasive Essay Format • P: Point of view (Thesis statement)P: Proof #1    Evidence 1    Evidence 2    Evidence 3P: Proof #2 Evidence 1 Evidence 2 Evidence 3P: Proof #3 Evidence 1    Evidence 2    Evidence 3

13. Explanatory How I feel about the Topic 2 ExamplesOverall this is what I learned

14. Expository Essay Format • Introduction(3-5 sentences)   1. Thesis statement (Re-state the topic)   2. Express your POV (or how you feel) about this topic   3. List (but do not explain) the two examples you are going to useBody Paragraph #1(6-8 sentences)   1. Re-state your POV in DIFFERENT words   2. Explain example number one with details, personal knowledge, and experience      *NOT with statistics, studies, etc.   3. Explain how this example relates to the promptBody Paragraph #2(6-8 sentences)   1. Re-state your POV in DIFFERENT words   2. Explain example number 2 with details, personal knowledge, and experience      *NOT with statistics, studies, etc.   3. Explain how this example relates to the promptConclusion(3-5 Sentences)   1. Thesis statement (Re-state the topic)   2. Re-state point of view in different words   3. End with a statement about what you learned from the experience or from the quotation you are discussing      *You can begin your last sentence by saying, "Through my experience, I have learned......"

15. Explanatory Writing Prompt Revising & Proofreading Checklist INTRODUCTION: Did I remember to … • begin with a grabbing lead? • include background information from the question? • state the quote for quotation prompts? • end the paragraph with a thesis statement expressing the main idea of my essay?

16. BODY Did I remember to ... • begin each paragraph with a topic sentence? • focus each body paragraph on one idea (one idea, one paragraph)? • include facts, examples, descriptions, and anecdotes (personal stories) to explain the idea in each body paragraph? • make sure each body paragraph relates to the thesis statement?

17. CONCLUSION Did I remember to ... • restate the main idea of my essay? • restate some of the key points I made about this main idea? • end the essay with a relevant text-to-self, text-to-text, or text-to-world connection?

18. How will I be graded?

19. Choose the letter that best evaluates the essay • Inadequate command • Limited command • Partial command • Adequate command • Superior command