TCAP? CSAP? LOL? Reading Preparation

So, we are going to get ready for a test.• TCAP is the name of it, but

it’s almost the exact same test.

• The “T” in TCAP stands for transitional, which means that they are using this test until they develop a new test.

• Reading is the MOST important skill you will be using on any standardized test that you ever take.

• Was that an example of hyperbole?

Reading essentials…• Read the instructions

dorkupine! • Not only read them once, but

read them twice to begin with.

• After you have finished the section read the directions one last time to make sure that you have finished everything that you have been asked to do.

• It’s like flushing after you finish your business.

1. “It’s like flushing after your business” is a …

Read the instructions first…• …then read the questions

so that you know what you are looking to answer in the passage that you read.

• “But, dear teacher, is this not cheating?” asked the lowly sixth grader.

• No, it is not cheating lowly sixth grader, it is a highly regarded test-taking skill.

• Pre-read the questions to make the test easier to take.

Read the following passage then answer the questions below.

• Vesper had a green car and a yellow watch but his favorite thing was playing with his purple poodle. His green car was full of blue tissue paper in case he had an “accident”.

2. What is in Vesper’s car?3. Put your finger on your nose

and hold it there as soon as you read this question.

• Remember! Read the questions first!

Trust me… would I trick you?

Let’s do some practice.• The first time through

you are going to read the passage and then answer some questions.

• Then we will try it the other way around.

From Outer SpaceFoxNews.com reports that

Dr. Richard B. Hoover, an astro-biologist at NASA, believes that he has found the fossils of bacteria in meteorites. In other words, he claims to have found traces of life from outer space.

Not surprisingly, his claim is controversial; many scientists do not accept that Dr. Hoover has come to the correct conclusion from what he has observed. Therefore, he has invited over 5,000 scientists to review his work and to publish their comments.

4. Bacteria are a _______.a. group of scientistsb. place where meteors come fromc. kind of restaurantd. form of life

5. When something is controversial, people _______.a. get sick from itb. believe it is ancient and extremely rarec. have strong disagreements about itd. brush their teeth with it

6. Dr. Hoover seems confident that his research will be proven correct because _______.a. he is named after a vacuum cleanerb. he has invited many scientists to look closely at his workc. he works for NASAd. he gets a rash when he touches meteorites

Tremor Troll and Trouble TrollNow we can try this with the questions

first. 7. Where are Trouble and

Tremor in the story?8. What are the first two

words Trouble is having trouble with in the story?

9. Troubled Troll was doing his best to remain _____.

A. happyB. in control C. calmD. in trouble

10. What ‘s wrong with this picture?

11. What is wrong with the dialogue?

Tremor Troll found Troubled Troll sitting in a corner of his tree fort. A closed book lay by his side as Troubled stared at the wooden floor.“Is something wrong, Troubled?” asked Tremor.Troubled took a deep breath and responded, “In this story I’m reading, it says that a boy is wearing a shirt that’s inside out.”“Is that a problem?” Tremor asked.“Yes,” said Troubled. “You see, I keep wondering why it’s ‘inside out’ instead of ‘outside in’! After all, if the inside is on the outside then the outside must be on the inside! Right?”“That makes sense,” Tremor agreed. “But ‘inside out’ is the way everyone says it.”“But why?” demanded Troubled Troll.“I don’t know,” Tremor confessed. “It’s no big deal.”Troubled was not comforted. “And tell me, what if it is a big deal,” he implored, “and no one knows that it’s a big deal and someday everyone wakes up and realizes that they’ve been saying it wrong? And what if....what if they suddenly understand that it really has been a big deal all along?”

“That won’t happen,” Tremor Troll insisted, “and even if it does, it won’t exactly turn our world upside down.”Troubled Troll was doing his best to remain calm. He gazed at his friend and whispered, “Why didn’t you say ‘downside up’?”

Now answer…7. Where are Trouble and Tremor in the

story?In a tree fort.

8. What are the first two words Trouble is having a problem with in the story?“Inside out”

9. Troubled Troll was doing his best to remain _____.

A. happyB. in control C. calmD. in trouble- Calm

11. What is wrong with the dialogue?

Easier that way – eh?

School PhotographerBy Kristine George

When I am behind my camera lensI can make people stand closer,

wrap their arms around each other,even get them to smile.

(5)When I am behind my camera lensI see things others don’t.

I can record a single momentThat distorts or tells the truth.

When I am behind my camera lens(10) I can see everything

Except my own self, hidingbehind my camera.

Answer the questions in your notes.

Answers12. The poet most likely took the idea for

this poem from —A. a book on photographyB. a volume of poetryC. her camera’s owner’s manualD. her own experience

Answer – D. Her own experience

13. Why does the speaker feel hidden?A. No one can see her.B. She is looking through thecamera.C .There is no one around.D. People are blocking her

Answer – B. She is looking through the camera.

14. In line 6, when the speakersays, “I see things others don’t,”she most likely means —

A. people often overlook what’saround themB. people don’t pay attention when their picture is takenC. cameras are the most accurateform of record keepingD. the camera lens is like aMicroscope

Answer – A. people often overlook what’s around them

Prompts… A prompt is a written direction that

gives you a situation to write about. Reading the prompt carefully is very

important so you want to read it carefully at least 3 times.

You need to read it the first time, obviously, to see what you are being asked to respond to.

Read it a second time to see if you understand everything that is in the prompt. If you do not understand it or it seems weird read it until it makes sense.

Lastly, read it one more time after you finish your writing to see if you have answered everything that it has asked!

15.What category of words are “First”, “Second”, and “Lastly”?

What would you do?

• Read the following prompt…

• Tell about a time that you were really frightened and what you learned from that experience.

16. What are you going to do?

What would you write?

• Technology is very important in our lives. What technology is most important to you? How do you think this technology will change in the future?

17. List the different parts in this prompt.

How is it asked?• The very first test that you will

complete on TCAP is the extended writing response.

• You will be asked to respond to a prompt that probably has two or more parts that will need an extended , or longer, response.

• Extended writing means five or more paragraphs.

• Each paragraph should have a minimum of eight or nine sentences.

• Don’t over think this. Easy as pie, just follow what you have already learned.

Extended or Essay ResponseHow would you set up an

extended/essay response on TCAP?

• If TCAP asks for an extended writing response and you need to plan for that, what would it look like?

• What does a five paragraph essay look like?

• Draw a plan on your paper of what you think a five paragraph response would look like.

Pick either plan…

Introduction

First Body Paragraph

Second Body Paragraph

Third Body Paragraph

Conclusion

Introduction

Idea 1 Idea 2 Idea 3

Conclusion

Don’t over think this - keep it simple.

Draw the basic outline for either plan now on your paper. But don’t write anything in the boxes. Just draw the basic outline… nice and simple.

Fill in the boxes on your plan…

• So, let’s go back to that original prompt.

• Technology is very important in our lives. What technology is most important to you? How do you think this technology will change in the future?

• Choose a technology. • Make a list of at least

five things that support your general idea.

• Choose your three strongest ideas – the ideas you could write the most about – and list them in order from weakest to strongest.

Introduction boxWhat goes in the

introduction? • First – Hook• Next – Thesis/Topic • Next – Ideas (Support-

Details)• Last – concluding

sentence

Simple !

Hook?The hook gets the reader’s attention.

– Ask a question.– Have you ever had an obsession

with technology? I have, my obsession is my iPhone.

– Quote someone.– Shakespeare once said, “to be or

not to be, that is the question”, I really wonder if I could BE without my iPhone.

– Use statistics, interesting facts, or general knowledge to make a good hook.

– The iPhone has changed the way we communicate in the world today.

Thesis or topic sentence…

• What are you trying to say or prove?

• The iPhone is the most important technological advancement over the last decade for three important reasons.

Now do your body paragraphs…• Use a transition word at

the beginning of the paragraph to signal that you are moving onto a new idea.

• Order ideas strongest to weakest.

• Support idea with details and examples.

• Finish each body paragraph with a concluding sentence… duh.

Ideas… support and detail.

• Organize your ideas from weakest to strongest.

• The iPhone is fantastic for texting, accessing e-mail, and surfing the internet.

Reading? Again?

• Make sure that you are staying on track. Somewhere in the middle of your essay response you need to go back and reread the prompt to make sure that you are staying on track.

While I am writing…

• Make sure to use transition words that signal the reader that you are moving onto a new idea.

• Transitions – however, lastly, most important, another, also, then, in addition, and last but not least…

• Last but not least!

Again… keep it simple.

• What happens if I can only come up with two ideas instead of three strong ones?

• What are three times in your life when you were really embarrassed?

• Make it up!

Conclude that!

• Finish with your conclusion.

• Restate your topic sentence or thesis.

• Provide a satisfying ending to your essay.

• Smile and rub your tummy.

Have fun with your writing…

• Imagine that you are one of the graders for this TCAP thing.

• They want to read original thinking, make sure your word choice matches what you really sound like. Use poetic devices, use humor.

All finito Mr. Bandito!• Not so fast rocket pants!• What do you do when you have

done all you can do? • Reread the prompt and make sure

that you have answered everything that needs to be answered.

• Gateway Criteria!• Read out loud – but more in a

whisper to make sure that make sense.

• Use all of your time, do not close your booklet early and daydream when you could be making sure that everything is golden!