Are you READY????

*OSSLT

*Reading

*Don’t skim for answers—you MUST read the text carefully—even if it seems obvious, double check!

*Read the questions “aloud” in your head

*Use a highlighter or underline important words or sections

*Look at the multiple choice questions and re-read section with them in mind

*Reading Part A

*Multiple Choice

*Answer every question—no blanks

*Eliminate wrong answers

*If two seem correct, choose the BEST one

Question #1

#1

#2

The selection answers this question in TWO sections:

The reader must put together both pieces of information to get the correct response.

Question #2

EQAO has inserted key words such as: Growing up, and tree planter, so that at a glance you may think that b or d would be correct. This is why it is important to read all of the information carefully.

Question #3

You must read this question carefully. At a glance, you can agree that the vegetable oil reduced fuel costs. However, the question is asking what the ENVIRONMENTAL benefit is. Here the reader again has to make the connection that by using the USED OIL from restaurants they are reducing carbon emissions and recycling a waste product.

Question #4

EQAO has labelled the paragraphs in all of the reading responses.

If you are unsure of what the correct answer is, read the sentence using each word to see what makes the most sense. E.g., when deciding COMMUNICATE is the correct response, you can re-read the sentence saying, “We want to communicate the idea that people have a choice.”

Question #5

This is kind of a trick question. All of the answers have happened and appear in the story. The first thing that the reader reads is A- The road trip began in British Columbia, however, 2 years ago A German car using alternative fuel set a world record.

*Short Writing Tasks

* Give your opinion ~ Be serious

* If you’re stuck, make it up

* Use SEEEC structure

* statement, examples and conclusion*

* Summary

* Use the words directly from the question

* The main idea of the story is ….

* One detail that supports this is ….

* Take your answers from the sheet - main ideas at the top & details from middle

* Two-Part Questions

* Read questions carefully & answer BOTH parts. Use the text AND your own ideas when it asks for them

*Short Answer : How they are marked

*Each short answer question on the EQAO test is marked out of 50.

*30 marks are given for CONTENT

*20 marks are giving for CONVENTIONS

Writing Prompt:

Did Whittaker and Jerry choose an effective way to promote their message? Use specific details from the selection to support your answer.

Code Description

Blank • nothing written or drawn in the lined space provided

Illegible • response is illegible An illegible response cannot be read (erased, crossed out, not in English, impossible to read). The response comments on the task (e.g., I don’t know.).

Off topic • response is off-topic or irrelevant to the prompt A typical off-topic response is not related to the topic of how Whittaker and Jerry promoted their message A typical irrelevant response comments on the topic or simply restates the question.

Code 10 • response is not developed or is developed with irrelevant ideas and information The response • identifies or describes a way they promoted their message but does not provide an explanation of why it is important  OR • provides a general comment about the task that Jerry and Whittaker completed  

Code 20 • response is developed with vague ideas and information; it may contain some irrelevant ideas and information  The response identifies or describes an a way in which they promote their message and provides a vague explanation of why it is effective or uses vague details in the explanation. The response often requires the reader to make the connection between the support provided and what it is intended to prove.

Code 30 • response is developed with clear, specific and relevant ideas and information  The response identifies or describes an effective way Jerry and Whittaker promoted their message and provides specific and relevant details to clearly explain why it is important.

Writing Prompt: Did Whittaker and Jerry choose an effective way to promote their message? Use specific details from the selection to support your answer.

Code Use of Conventions

Code 10  • errors in conventions distract from communication  

Code 20  • errors in conventions do not distract from communication 

All of the underlined points are specific details that can be used to support your answer. Be SPECIFIC!

*Code 10

I think that Jerry and Whittaker did choose an effective way to promote their message because they sound like they have a good

plan. Also they have explaned how they are going to travel and beat

the reccord. Jerry and Whittaker are so excited to travel all of Canada,USE, and Mexico. They also stop often to fill up their truck

on vegetable oil.

*Code 10

No they did not. They were not looking to become famous, they just wanted to show people there was a difference and people had

a choice.

*Code 20

Whittaker and Jerry chose an effective way to promote their message.

They used a van that works on vegetable oil to help the environment.The van traveled 8km with vegetable il and in 6 months 45,000km so vegetable oil is less of a polution to the environment.

*Code 30

Yes, I do think that Whittaker and Jerry driving 45000km on vegetable oil instead of gas is an effective way to promote their message. I think it is an effective way to promote their message because they are driving a very large distance yet they are causing no harm to the environment. They are trying to promote alternative ideas on how to get from place to place without harming the environment, and they are giving a very good example of how you could do so.

*Reading Part C

These types of reading questions are very difficult for students. Often there are two answers that seem correct, and EQAO is looking for the student to read carefully and use higher level thinking skills, including INFERENCE.

With this question, it references the school that has been closed, and in paragraph 4 talks about the school becoming the community centre. The student must decide that since it is not A, C or D, they must be speaking about the parking lot.

EQAO has used 3 words that at a glance would all seem to be appropriate to many student. A- Built, is not applicable, at they are looking at the broken building. RESTORED implies that the building is being brought back to its original condition, and since the school has been closed for two years it is not being REPLACED. They are taking the current building and MODIFYING it into a Community Arts Centre.

This question very clearly references why the picture of the skateboard park was shared. The only connection the student must make is between the word ‘popularity’ and ‘busy’.

In paragraph 6 and 7, there is a clear question regarding money, which Eric provides a solution to.

EQAO is looking to see if the students understand the meaning of PERSUASIVE. There is not a direct line from the story for this answer, however, we know that Mr Hanson is concerned about the community’s reaction to the skateboard park, so a letter of support would be the most persuasive.

*Short Writing Task #2

*Code 30

*The question is VERY CLEARLY asking you to identify a SKILL. Being nice, showing a picture and speaking to Mr Hanson are NOT skills.

Eric is very persuasive when he speaks to Mr Hanson. Mr Hanson has some doubts about the skate park, but is able to persuade him and demonstrate that it’s a good idea. Eric uses a picture to try and convince Mr Hanson, saying, “Here’s a picture of a skateboard park in another town. Look at how busy it is.”

*Short Writing Task #3

*This question is clearly asking HOW Mr Hanson represents his community. You can respond by telling us that he is a Town Councillor, but EQAO also wants you to be specific with how this role helps to represent the community.

Mr Hanson is a Town Councillor. He asks questions on behald of his community that everyone would ask. He is concerned that “the neighbours will not like late night noise. They might worry about vandalism”. These concerns are not his own, but those of the community he represents.

*Reading: Part D

Students have to make the connection between the water freezing, and the picture of the vehicles going over the pavement being responsible for the pothole. Water expands, cracking the pavement and the weight from the vehicles forms the pothole.

Using the picture as a reference, you can see that there is a space between the sub-base and pavement. This space is the VOID

Looking at the evolution of pictures, it is clear that the soil is the only thing that remains unchanged throughout the evolution of the pothole.

While the pictures help to illustrate the problem, it is the subtitles that truly explain the problem and its solution.

As outlined with the various coloured underlines, the writer has outlined a step by step process of how the potholes are fixed.

This question was unclear for a lot of students because the photocopy was unclear. During the actual assessment you will have a clear copy of any pictures.

*Random Acts of Writing

*The random acts of writing usually follow a reading piece. They are opinion based. You MUST concretely choose a side and give specific details to support your response. Do not waiver back and forth.

I do not think that every teenager should join a team or a club. I believe the choice should be of the person. If they are looking for the benefits of meeting new people, it would be an advantage, but if the person is an introvert, or has a part time job outside of school it would not be good for them to be forced to join.

*News Report

*Stick to facts only—no opinions

*Use MUST use both the headline and the picture to create your details

*Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

*Include a quote relating to your article: The principal said, “I am so proud...”

*Start with the basics: On March 29, 2012 the students at Pickering High School won new computers for the library.

*EQAO is looking for SPECIFICS– include a date, location and people’s names. Needs to be at least 12 lines

*News Report: How it is marked

*The News Report is marked out of 100

*60 marks are for content

*40 marks are for conventions

Code Descriptor Blank The page is blank with nothing written or drawn in the space

provided. Illegible The response is illegible or irrelevant to the prompt.

Off topic The response is off topic. Code 10 The response is a news report related to the headline and/or photo.

It identifies an event, but provides no supporting details, or provides details that are unrelated to the event. There is no evidence of organization.

Code 20 The response is a news report related to the headline and/or photo, but the focus on an event is unclear or inconsistent. There are insufficient supporting details: too few or repetitious. There is limited evidence of organization.

Code 30 The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear focus on an event. There are insufficient and/or vague supporting details or the connection of the details to the event is not always clear. There is evidence of organization, but lapses distract from the overall communication.

Code 40 The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an event. There are sufficient supporting details, however, only some are specific. The organization is mechanical and any lapses do not distract from the overall communication.

Code 50 The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an event. There are sufficient specific supporting details to develop the news report. The organization is logical.

Code 60 The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an event. There are sufficient specific supporting details, which are thoughtfully chosen to develop the news report. The organization is coherent demonstrating a thoughtful progression of ideas.

Code Descriptor

Code 10 There is insufficient evidence to assess the use of conventions. OR Errors in conventions interfere with communication.

Code 20 Errors in conventions distract from communication.

Code 30 Errors in conventions do not distract from communication.

Code 40 Control of conventions is evident in written work.

*News Report

*Example 1

In a small town at on the edge of tornado alley nearly escaped a tornado, unscathed. No casualties were suffered but three houses were destroyed. In response to this the whole town is pitching in to build new houses for the family’s whose homes were erased by the tornado. “it’s really lucky that no one died, and the homes were generally new. It’s truly no memories were lost or lives,” says one home owner who will be helping in the rebuild project. The completion of the houses is estimated to be finished in just a month and a half. When asked why they were helping, everyone said it was just right thing to do, there is just a sense of co-opertation you can’t find in cities, one that can only be found in small towns like this.

*Example #2

Sunday, October 27 there was an eventheld at the community centre of ajaxwhere many volunteers come out withthe community project.

Surprisingly, there were many teen volunteers at the event initiating to help out big time, giving out suggestions and physically helping out the adults. Shown in the image above, the adults warmly welcomed and supervised the teens assisting to paint the wall for a community project.

Leader of the community mentions how unexpected it was for him to see dozens of teens coming out to help on a Sunday. Not only was the event carried out on a relaxing Sunday, the event was also unadvertised. “I cannot believe how the teens came to support our community! I am delighted and speechless”.

*Series of Paragraphs

*Give your opinion—pick a side and stick to it: YES or NO...not both

*Fill the space—2 pages- EQAO expects no less than 20 lines

*Have a plan—plan your paragraphs before writing your good copy

*Use transition words—first, second, third, next, also, clearly, In conclusion

*Think BURGER...add an introduction & conclusion to keep it all together, use the SEEC method

*Multiple Choice and Grammar

*Answer every question—no blanks

*Eliminate wrong answers—if two seem correct, choose the BEST one

*Grammar questions will include: punctuation, capitalization, combining ideas into one sentence, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence structure, etc.