The TAKS Reading Comprehension Test :The TAKS Reading Comprehension Test Your answers should be clearly written and supported with evidence from the text – which may include: A DIRECT QUOTATION A PARAPHRASE A BRIEF SUMMARY


The Open-Ended response :The Open-Ended response The open-ended question measures the student’s ability to read, comprehend, think through, make connections and extend an idea from the reading. It is informative writing – NO VOICE.


The TAKS scorers expect the answer to contain certain characteristics AND for all the sentences to be compound or better. :The TAKS scorers expect the answer to contain certain characteristics AND for all the sentences to be compound or better. The characteristics that produce high scores when it is a question about a single passage are: 1. A thesis statement (not a topic sentence). Proof (usually quotes) from the text that ties to and proves the thesis sentence. Two proofs would be best – so long as you link them. An evaluation statement where the student gives analysis that goes beyond what is stated in the text and expands the thesis statement to a life lesson. …and you only have 5 lines to do it!!


Slide 4:1. When you write the short answer question, “yes” and “no” are not the answer and one short sentence is never enough. 2. There are three kinds of questions—a “literary selection”, an “expository selection”, and a “literary/expository selection”—the difference in the questions is almost unimportant. They all ask you to use the reading as evidence in quotations, paraphrase, or synopsis. If you don’t know these terms, learn them and understand them. 3. You will be expected to FILL THE SPACE provided for the short answer questions. You will also be expected to ANSWER THE QUESTION (ALL parts of the question).


Slide 5:4. When you write the answers on the test, you will have all the time you need. Use it! Analyze, take notes, organize, and PRE WRITE your answers. 5. Finally, to make it a little easier, practice short answers with this framework. It’s awkward and ugly, but it gives you a lead to begin with and to use as a stimulant for thought. After a while, you won’t need the framework anymore, but it will help at the beginning.


Slide 6:*Start with the Topic Sentence which will probably answer the question, but will not provide evidence or support. If you have trouble with the TS, try answering these questions to generate the material for the sentence. -WHAT is the writer, character, central character, narrator doing? -HOW is the writer, character, central character, narrator doing it? -WHY is the writer doing that in this writing? Use the answers to those questions to create a ONE SENTENCE TOPIC/THESIS SENTENCE. ANSWER THE QUESTION ON THE TEST IN THAT SENTENCE. Then move on the rest of the framework where you will supply evidence according to the SENTENCE TAGS offered.


Slide 7:SENTENCE TWO— Start with “FIRST”, “WHEN”, or “BECAUSE” and continue the sentence from that point. Make this sentence support the opinion you have expressed in the topic and use a short quotation, paraphrase, or incident to make it concrete. SENTENCE THREE— Start with “AS A RESULT” and continue the sentence. Make this sentence a continuation of the support you began in sentence two and use another short quotation, paraphrase, or incident to make it just as concrete as sentence two.


Slide 8:SENTENCE FOUR— If you feel you have done enough, start the fourth sentence with “THEREFORE” and continue the sentence by using a final quotation, paraphrase, or incident and making the sentence a statement of your understanding of the problem the question creates. This may well be the longest sentence in the paragraph. It could also be the shortest. If you feel that you need another sentence of support and evidence to satisfy yourself and the question, you can add a sentence between sentences two and three or sentences three and four almost as many times as you have space to fill and something to say. You can start this sentence with “IN ADDITION” and continue with evidence, explanation, or quotations just as you have in the sentences surrounding it.


Slide 9:A WORD OF WARNING. Four sentences may be enough. Five sentences is GREAT!. Six sentences may be too much and begin to repeat. Finally, when you have practiced with the framework, you will understand what the paragraph is supposed to do much better and you will see how awkward and ugly your sentences are when you use the same SENTENCE TAGS over and over. OK,TAKE THEM OUT!! Take the SENTENCE TAGS out and start your sentence by capitalizing the next word of the sentence. You will create a sophisticated, reasonably well organized paragraph that any of us might be proud to have created and the next time, you won’t need the crutches of the SENTENCE TAGS.


THE DIFFERENCE BETWEENA TOPIC AND A THESIS :THE DIFFERENCE BETWEENA TOPIC AND A THESIS The topic is just that – a topic for discussion that’s up for grabs. It’s a subject without a verb. e.g. Goldilocks visited the home of three bears. The thesis provides the verb. It answers the question, ‘So?” To construct a decent thesis statement, state your opinion, make a point, take a stand, have a slant, and provide perspective …SET OUT TO PROVE SOMETHING. e.g. Goldilocks should be arrested for breaking and entering. A thesis promises the reader at least two things: what is going to be discussed and the angle from which it will be discussed.


THESIS “Don’ts” :THESIS “Don’ts” DON’T start the thesis sentence with “In my opinion I believe and in this essay I will argue that…” or any variation thereof. If it’s a thesis, it’s always the writers take on things. There’s no need to announce it. DON’T just state a fact. A thesis has to be worth arguing about. DON’T tackle two topics at once (even if they seem related). Pick one and stick with it.


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “The Blanket,” how does the reader know that Petey is upset with Dad for planning to send Granddad away? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “The Blanket,” how does the reader know that Petey is upset with Dad for planning to send Granddad away? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Well Petey stays home with Granddad to see if he was leaving because Dad told him to. When he saw the blanket, he knew it was true. So he stayed because he was leaving in the morning. And they talked all night. This student repeats the plot of the story without adding any analysis or text support.


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “The Blanket,” how does the reader know that Petey is upset with Dad for planning to send Granddad away? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Throughout the selection it is apparent that Petey and Granddad are close. In paragraph 7, Petey almost cries and that helps the reader fully comprehend. Toward the end Petey shows his father how he feels and puts the final touch on his argument. This student offers some text support but doesn’t link it to the analysis that is offered. What does the reader comprehend? What is Petey’s argument? 1


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “The Blanket,” how does the reader know that Petey is upset with Dad for planning to send Granddad away? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. You can detect that Petey is upset with his father when Petey angrily yelled at his father and said to cut the blanket in half, and save it for later. When the father asked why, Petey stated furiously, “So I can give it to you when I’m older and send you away.” Then they all cried. This student weaves analysis in with text quotations and paraphrases of the text. 2


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “The Blanket,” how does the reader know that Petey is upset with Dad for planning to send Granddad away? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Petey is very upset with his father for planning to send Granddad away. In paragraph 25 Petey says, “I mean, I’ll give it to you, Dad – when you’re old and I’m sending you away.” Petey here makes a definite point to his father of how agreeable he is to his girlfriend’s wishes without considering how irrational they may be. Petey proves to him the negative result of being passive, and his father realizes the choice he is making is wrong. By Petey making his father realize this, he proves his devotion to Granddad. This student makes interesting, thoughtful points in his analysis and supports them with relevant text. 3


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “Granny Down the Hall,” why is the author’s friendship with his neighbors so important to him? Support your answer with evidence from the selection.


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “Granny Down the Hall,” why is the author’s friendship with his neighbors so important to him? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. The author’s friendship is important because he believes that you should always be a good friend and not let anyone down. He also thinks you should be there when someone needs you. These are general ideas about friendship, but how do we know that they are related to “Granny Down the Hall”?


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “Granny Down the Hall,” why is the author’s friendship with his neighbors so important to him? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. In the story the author says, “she’s a good old gal.” You really know by reading this that he enjoys Pearl. He enjoys her kindness and she is sentimental. He helps her and she helps him. Also they make a family circle that makes them all feel loved because she is their Granny. How does the text support relate to the analysis? Examples of “kindness” and “sentimentality” from the text are needed. How did the author and Pearl help each other? 1


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “Granny Down the Hall,” why is the author’s friendship with his neighbors so important to him? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. In “Granny Down the Hall,” the author’s friendship is important to him for a few reasons. He says, “Each of us has joined together to form a family circle . . . We share a bond of love that brings us comfort, support, security, and fun.” Friends are his family, and he needs them to survive. An example from the text is clearly linked to the ideas in the analysis. 2


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER In “Granny Down the Hall,” why is the author’s friendship with his neighbors so important to him? Support your answer with evidence from the selection. Glenn Plaskin’s friendship with Pearl was deep and loving. First Plaskin’s dog Katie became “part of Pearl’s household” each day while he was at work. Once their friendship develops, Glenn nicknames Pearl Granny. She takes the place of his real grandmother who had died. Glenn and Granny share all the things family members share – great discussions, meals, bad times like illnesses and Arthur’s death, and happy times like Granny’s birthday. Plaskin says, “We share a bond of love that brings us comfort, support, security, and fun.” In-depth analysis is paired with quotations and paraphrased text. 3


Slide 22:Additionally, on TAKS the student must be able to compare two pieces of writing using a thesis and proof from BOTH pieces before concluding giving analysis that goes beyond what is stated in the text. The characteristics are simply expanded. Crossover Questions


Slide 23:What to include in Crossover Question: Thesis Statement (not topic sentence) Proof from one passage Proof from the other passage A concluding sentence where the student gives analysis that goes beyond what is stated in the text and links it to the thesis statement. …and you only have 7 lines to do it in!! Oucho


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER What do Glenn Plaskin and Petey do to show that family relationships are important to them? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections.


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER What do Glenn Plaskin and Petey do to show that family relationships are important to them? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. They both show that family relationships are important by spending time with each other. Also helping each other out in rough times when they really need you the most. Who? Petey and Glenn? What rough times? Where is the text support?


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER What do Glenn Plaskin and Petey do to show that family relationships are important to them? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. Petey shows that his family relationship is important to him by convincing his dad not to send away Granddad. Glenn Plaskin shows how important his family relationship is by standing by Pearl through thick and thin. This student attempts analysis but provides no text support. 1


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER What do Glenn Plaskin and Petey do to show that family relationships are important to them? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. Petey shows that his relationship with his granddad is important to him by crying when he discovers that Granddad is being sent away even though “he wasn’t the kind to cry, and besides, he was too old for that.” Petey loved Granddad so much that he found a way to keep dad from sending him away. Glenn Plaskin shows his family relationship is important to him when he writes that his relationship with Pearl is “a loving friendship nurtured by proximity and mutual chemistry.” the admiration with which he writes about her shows just how much he cares. This student provides clear analysis and text support from both selections. 2


SHORT ANSWER :SHORT ANSWER What do Glenn Plaskin and Petey do to show that family relationships are important to them? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections. Petey and Glenn Plaskin believe family relationships are important and enduring. In “The Blanket,” Petey tells his dad to “cut the blanket in two” and save the other half for when the dad is old and being sent away. Through Petey’s actions, Dad realizes how cruel he’s been acting. Petey teaches his dad that family is too valuable to be compromised. In “Granny Down the Hall,” Glenn Plaskin develops a family relationship with Pearl, who he calls Granny. No matter what, he is there to assist her. When Arthur dies, he mourns with her at the cemetery. When she is hit by a taxi, he picks her up from the ER. Though they aren’t blood kin, Glenn believes they share a bond of love and commitment that makes them a real family. This student’s response shows thoughtful analysis and word choice as well as relevant direct quotations and paraphrasing. 3