SARsTEST INFO LITERARY TERMS

Testing Vocab The Essay

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Topic 1 – 10 Points

QUESTION:

•How much time do you have to complete the whole test?

ANSWER:

•5 hours (the whole school day if you’re an ESL student)

Topic 1 – 20 Points

QUESTION:

•Why is this test important? (Answers may vary)

ANSWER:•Because you must pass it to graduate•Because colleges will see your scores when you are applying•Because it’s better to pass the first time than to have to keep retesting in subsequent years when you have other tests to worry about.•Because it shows us if you’re prepared for the next grade level

Topic 1 – 30 Points

QUESTION:

Which sections of the test are you allowed to use a dictionary on?

ANSWER:

ALL OF THEM! If you aren’t given a dictionary at the beginning of the test, please ask for one.

Topic 1 – 40 Points

QUESTION:What are the 4 sections of the STAAR test (the

4 different skills we have been working on)?ANSWER:1. The essay (Expository for 9th grade, persuasive for 10th). You will write two.2.The reading multiple choice section (at least 4 reading passages in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama)3.The short answer response sections (SARs). 3 SARs—1 connecting, one single, one of either. 4.The revising and editing multiple choice section

Topic 1 – 50 Points

QUESTION:

What is each section of the test worth (in percentages)?

ANSWER:Essays: 26%SARs 20%Reading MC 30%Revising and Editing MC 24%

Topic 2 – 10 Points

QUESTION:

Explain what THEME is:

ANSWER:

Theme is a universal message. Some examples: good always wins, it is better to try and fail than to not try, love leads to heartbreak

Theme is NOT the same as topic (what the story is about) or summary (what happened in the story).

Topic 2 – 20 Points

QUESTION:

•What is a Thesis (9th grade)?•What is a position statement (10th grade)?

ANSWER:•A thesis is a sentence that tells your reader what your paper will be about. It usually comes at the beginning of your essay. •A position statement is a sentence that tells your reader which side of the issue you support. It is your side of an argument and often includes absolute language.

Topic 2 – 30 Points

QUESTION:Explain the difference between tone and mood

ANSWER:

•Tone is how the how author or narrator feel about the text/topic•Mood is how the reader feels when reading the text

Topic 2 – 40 Points

QUESTION:Explain the difference between narrator, speaker, and author. Bonus points if you can tell me the different types of narrative point of viewANSWER:•Author- the person who wrote the text. Always use this when talking about nonfiction•Speaker- The “voice” in a poem. •Narrator- the “voice” in a fiction text•1st person (I, me)•3rd person limited (he, she--just one person)•3rd Person Omniscient (narrator knows everyone’s point of view)

Topic 2 – 50 Points

QUESTION:

Figurative language is often found in poetry and fiction. Name at least two types of figurative language and explain what they are:

ANSWER:•Simile•Metaphor•Personification•Hyperbole•Onomatopoeia

Topic 3 – 10 Points

QUESTION:Explain the underlined word in the question below:

Which statement best expresses the main theme of the excerpt?

ANSWER:

•Says, explains, etc…

Topic 3 – 20 Points

QUESTION:Explain the underlined word in the question below:

•What can the reader conclude about the author’s opinion of _______?

ANSWER:

•Figure out, understand, etc.

Topic 3 – 30 Points

QUESTION:Explain the underlined word in the question below:

What is one message the author conveys in the story?

ANSWER:Tells, expresses, shows, etc.

Topic 3 – 40 Points

QUESTION:

Explain the underlined word in the question below:

What is the primary purpose of paragraph____?

ANSWER:

Most important

Topic 3 – 50 Points

QUESTION:

Explain the underlined words in the question below:

•The new stanza indicates the shift from ___

ANSWER:•Stanza- a paragraph in a poem•Indicates- Hints, shows, etc•Shift- change

Topic 4 – 10 Points

QUESTION:

Where in your essay is the best place for your thesis or position statement?

ANSWER:

•The first paragraph

Topic 4 – 20 Points

QUESTION:

•What part of the prompt is the MOST important?

ANSWER:

•The “write about” part (the third part of the prompt)

Topic 4 – 30 Points

QUESTION:

•Your essay must contain supporting evidence. Where can you draw evidence from? Bonus points for more than one.

ANSWER:•Personal experience•Current events/news•Pop culture (celebrities, music, movies)•History •Society (your neighborhood/community/country)

Topic 4 – 40 Points

QUESTION:

What are the three sections of the essay called?ANSWER:

•Introduction•Body•Conclusion

Topic 4 – 50 Points

QUESTION:

•What are the three rubric criteria that you will be scored on?

ANSWER:

•Organization/Progression•Development of ideas•Use of language and conventions

Topic 5 – 10 Points

QUESTION:

•What does SAR stand for?

ANSWER:

•Short Answer Response

Topic 5 – 20 Points

QUESTION:There are three parts to a successful SAR. You’ve probably learned one of these acronyms: APE, ACE, or ABC. What are the three parts of the SAR?

ANSWER:

•Answer, prove, explain•Answer, cite, explain•Answer, back-it-up, conclude

Topic 5 – 30 Points

QUESTION:It is possible to score a zero on an SAR. What are the two reasons you would get no credit?

ANSWER:

If you leave it blank, or if the answer is wrong

Topic 5 – 40 Points

QUESTION:Why is it important to use text evidence in your SAR?

ANSWER:

•So you can prove that your answer is correct

Topic 5 – 50 Points

QUESTION:

•What are some tips to remember when answering the question?

ANSWER:

•Answer in a complete sentence•Don’t start with a pronoun or “yes”, “no”, or “because”•Use the same literary terms that are in the question (ex: if the question asks about theme, make sure the word “theme” is in)