NJASK Boot Camp
The All-in-One Guide to Conquering the NJASK State Test
The Dreaded Multiple Choice
There are different kinds of questions they will ask, but thankfully, they don’t change from year to year.
Once you understand the type of questions they will ask, you can prepare yourself and be one step ahead.
These types of questions will follow you right into college – so it’s important to master them now.
Multiple Choice Questions
Remember the testers are looking for ONLY ONE right answer for each multiple choice question
As a rule:◦ There is 1 or 2 questions that are far-fetched
Cross these out immediately◦ Focus on the other 2 and select the best of those
50% chance is better than 25% any day of the week
Tips and Tricks
The following are the staples in the standardized testing situations:
Multiple Choice
By the end of the story, ___________ learns that…
Which statement expresses the theme of the story?
In the article, the author attempts to… Which sums up the central idea of “_____”? A central theme in “______” is…
1. Main Idea/Theme
These are meant to be the easiest and most straightforward questions
In paragraph #...◦ GO BACK TO THE PARAGRAPH!!
They are referring you back to the story for a reason
2. Basic Recall
Metaphors, similes, hyperboles, personification, idioms, alliteration, allusions, imagery, etc.
We have been talking about these since the beginning of the year – there is no reason to get these wrong.
3. Literary Devices
The key to these questions is the use of context clues
Read the sentence(s) surrounding the unfamiliar word and come to a conclusion about the definition of the word◦ I am becoming bored of my father constantly
pontificating about how good I have it compared to him at my age.
4. Vocabulary/Unfamiliar Word
They like to ask questions about character traits in the story
“Which word best describes _____?” “As described in the article, _____ is…” “_____ shows him/herself to be…”
5. Character Analysis
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
Climax is the most commonly asked question
Remember that the climax is:◦ The most exciting part of the story◦ When the main conflict is finally resolved
6. Plot Diagramming
We have practiced multiple times throughout our novels, poems, and lyrics in songs
Just to review…◦ What is the tone? Mood?
Sample question:◦ “Which of the following best describes the overall
tone of the story?”
7. Tone/Mood
Inferencing is more than an educated guess◦ It’s using evidence from the story to come to a
conclusion Ms. Kinnean ran to the bathroom holding
her face claiming she had something in her eye.
“Which detail supports the author’s main idea?”
8. Inferencing/Drawing Conclusions
Sometimes the questions will ask you to create an opinion about a character or situation
Be reasonable – they are looking for a certain answer
If it’s a moral question, go along with the societal accepted norm – even if you don’t agree
9. Opinions
This goes along with opinions from the previous slide◦ Be reasonable. Predict something that might
actually be possible.
10. Predictions
Sometimes they will ask you to “rename” the title of a reading selection
If you consider the main idea of the article or story, you should be able to pick out the title they are looking for
11. Title Replacement
Sometimes they will ask you what the turning point in the story is.
We have practiced this earlier in the year; this should be easy for you.
12. Turning Point in Story
If they ask you about the genre of a story, they are simply asking what type of story it falls into◦ Fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, science
fiction, mystery, realistic fiction, fable, mythology, fairy tale, etc.
13. Genre
1st person◦ “I”, “My”
2nd person◦ Very rarely used◦ “You”
3rd person◦ “He”, “She”◦ Limited◦ Omniscient (able to enter into the heads of every
character)
14. Point of View
This is where you will have to jump into the thoughts of the author and try to determine how they felt about the selection (or what their reason for writing the selection was).
15. Author’s Feelings
The testers may want to test you on what the moral of the story is◦ This typically goes hand in hand with the theme
Moral, in case you forgot, is what you were supposed to learn from a reading◦ Don’t bully◦ Respect other peoples’ feelings◦ Treat others the way you would want to be treated
It’s usually some type of universal lesson about life
16. Moral
Read the question before you start the reading selection◦ This will give you the opportunity to see what to
keep an eye out for If you’re a quick reader, you may want to
underline important (quote-worthy) sentences along the way◦ This will make it very easy to place the quote and
incorporate it into your response.
Open-Ended Response
After the reading selection, read the open-ended question (and each bullet)
Try to make a list of possible themes that tie the question (and each bullet) together◦ Respect, responsibility, maturity, friendship,
alienation, depression, coming of age, survival, individuality, sharing…the list goes on and on
Select the most relevant theme and weave it throughout your response
Don’t forget your transitions!
Common Theme
Get to the point fairly quickly – there is very little space provided for open-ended responses
Aim for (2) solid paragraphs◦ Or (1) extended “adult paragraph”
Write as small as you can – the more information the better
Fill up the entire space…it’s really not much Write legibly Don’t use bullets to offset your paragraphs
Limited Space
Details. Details. Details.◦ Use as much elaboration as possible◦ “Point-quote, Point-quote, Point-quote”
Dr. Fitter If the question is tempting you to use a
personal experience – do it.◦ Keep it brief and relevant
Since the space is limited, use ONLY was completely necessary
Writing With Detail
Going beyond the text is the number one way to boost your score off the charts
Keep in mind any connection between a novel, movie, television show◦ These are allusions and they are good
Again…these are great but don’t simply give a recap of everything that happened in your choice◦ Stick to the relevant part of the allusion and prove
your point in relation to the original question
Beyond the Text
I know speed is of the essence when in these situations, but try your best to sound as educated as possible at all times
AVOID TEXT LANGUAGE AT ALL COSTS!!!
Grammar and Spelling
Strong topic sentences Sentence patterns
◦ Participial phrases, semicolon, parallel construction, sentence fragments, dashes
Transitions◦ AVOID First…, Second…, Lastly…
Sentence Patterns
Open-ended Rubric
This is arguably the most important writing prompt of the test◦ It is graded by two people and each gives it a
grade out of 6; the scores are then combined ◦ The highest score on a persuasive is a 12
I will show you the rubric in a couple of slides
Persuasive Prompt
Since none of you are expected to write for a full 45 minutes, it is important to gather your thoughts prior to writing
Suggestions:◦ T-Chart◦ Brainstorming Web◦ Outline◦ Anything that helps organize your thoughts
Prewriting/Brainstorming
Strong topic sentence Lead-in provided
◦ Warm the reader up before bombarding them with facts, statistics and opinions
Thesis statement provided◦ The main point of your paper and the examples
you plan on proving throughout We have practiced this, so there is no reason not to
do it in your essay
Introductory Paragraph
Introduce your best point in this paragraph Support it with details, details, details
◦ This paragraph has the best chance of being read all the way through Put your best foot forward
1st Body Paragraph
Introduce your second best point Details, details, details
2nd Paragraph
Introduce your third best paragraph ◦ If pressed for time or if you’re uncomfortable with
the prompt Turn a negative into a positive
◦ Stronger paragraph if you’re comfortable◦ Use one of your opposing topics to flip around and
find out how you can have it benefit you Details, details, details
3rd Paragraph
Abandon the traditional “conclusion” paragraph where you simply restate the points you have already made
Use the 1-2 punch sentence to leave your reader with something to think about they put your paper down◦ We have practiced these many times; use them.◦ This is considered a compositional risk and they
will be rewarded as such
1-2 Punch
Emotional Appeal: Writers may appeal to fear, anger, or joy to sway their readers. This technique contributes to the essay’s tone and mood. Consider Mr. Illas’s presentation about drugs…very hard hitting material works!
Word Choice: Is a person “slim” or “skinny”? Is an oil spill an “incident” or an “accident”? Is a nineteen-year-old suspect an “adult” or “teen”? Writers tend to reinforce their arguments by choosing words that will influence their reader’s perception of the issue. This is deceptive and tricky but effective.
Make a Negative a Positive: Just to show that you are examining both sides of the issue, try using a con to your point of view and turn it into a positive for you. Example: While bullying is a problem all over the country, the effect of a child standing up to a bully can quickly boost self-esteem and confidence.
Rhetorical Question: Sometimes a writer will ask a question to which no answer is required. The writer implies that the answer is obvious; the reader has no choice but to agree with the writer’s point. Example: How many times do I have to ask you to clean your room?
Analogy: Essay writers often use figures of speech for desired emphasis. Figurative Language: Similes, Extended Metaphors, Alliteration, Hyperboles, Etc. Use these for effect, not for the sake of using
them. Appeal to Authority: A writer may mention an important figure or event in an essay to lend importance and credibility to the
argument. Appeals to Self-Interest: When trying to persuade a reader, sometimes the writer will let the reader know how he/she will
benefit…think “what’s in it for you.” Butter up the reader a bit. A little flattery goes a long way. Evidence/Statistics: Writers often influence their readers by providing evidence that supports their argument. Whenever possible,
give the reader something concrete to consider as it can be “indisputable.” (Required) Anecdote: Draw from your own experiences or those of friends or family as examples to support your position. Don’t be too long-
winded with these. Prove your point and move on! Persuasive Don’ts Do not be too extreme with your argument. Avoid sweeping statements that use “always” or “never.” Do not be overly general. Avoid anchoring an argument with statements that include “everyone” or “no one.” Do fall into the trap of creating and supporting stereotypes. If your reader falls into a certain stereotype, you will lose your argument
immediately. Do not make claims that defy common sense or commonly known facts. Example: School cafeterias should not restrict sugary treats
because everyone knows sugar makes kids happy, and if kids are happy they score high on tests. Do not insult potential readers with derogatory remarks and insults. Example: People who think animal testing is necessary are
idiots who deserve to slowly suffer like lab rats. Do not fabricate outrageous facts. Example: In a recent survey I did yesterday, 97.99% of my participants agreed that locker
searches are ridiculous.
Persuasive Techniques
Sentence patterns Transitions At least 6-7 sentences per paragraph Don’t be wishy-washy Sophisticated word choice Proper grammar Details, details, details Stick to answering the question
Don’t Forget:
Don’t sit there picking your nose; there are more constructive things to do with your time◦ Check word choice
Replace “bad” with “awful” or “atrocious” ◦ Insert different sentence patterns
Some people (like me) like to insert my sentence variety at the revision stage
◦ Check spelling and grammar Don’t risk sounding uneducated because you rushed
along and made careless errors
After You Finish:
Persuasive/Explanatory Rubric