StrategicallyUSING PRECISE

LANGUAGE

•Copyright 2014 by Write Score, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Begin by reading a complex text. Respond in writing about the central idea of the text.

Make sure to include precise language (Tier II and Tier III words) from the text in your written response.

TODAY’S LESSON

Tier I Words – everyday speech, learned in early grades.

Examples: house, baby, tree, etc.

What other examples can you think of?

*descripti on of Tiers provided by Common Core, Appendix A.

QUICK REVIEW – TIERED WORDS

Tier II Words – general academic words, appear in written texts more than speech.

Examples: argue, classify, determine, etc.

What other examples of Tier II words can you think of?

*descripti on of Tiers provided by Common Core, Appendix A

QUICK REVIEW – TIERED WORDS

Tier III Words – specific to a field of study; more common to informati onal text than literature.

Examples: isotope, foundry, miti gate, etc.

What other examples of Tier III words can you think of?

*descripti on of Tiers provided by Common Core, Appendix A

QUICK REVIEW – TIERED WORDS

READ THE WEA EXCERPT, THEN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT

FOLLOW.

1. Why are Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) important to me?

Alerts received at the right ti me can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, warnings can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm’s way, without need to download an app or subscribe to a service.

2. What are WEA messages?

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government alerti ng authoriti es through your mobile carrier.

3. What types of alerts will I receive? - Extreme weather, and other threatening emergencies in your area

- AMBER Alerts - Presidenti al Alerts during a nati onal emergency

WEA EXCERPT

4. What does a WEA message look l ike?

WEA will look l ike a text message. The WEA message will show the type and ti me of the alert, any acti on you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. The message will be no more than 90 characters.

5. How will I know the diff erence between WEA and a regular text message? WEA messages include a special tone and vibrati on, both repeated twice.

6. What types of WEA messages wil l the Nati onal Weather Service send? -Tsunami Warnings

-Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings -Hurricane, Typhoon, Dust Storm and Extreme Wind Warnings -Blizzard, Ice Storm, and Lake Eff ect Snow Warnings

WEA EXCERPT

7. What are AMBER Alerts? AMBER Alerts are urgent bulleti ns issued in the most serious

child-abducti on cases. The America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alert Program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportati on agencies, and the wireless industry.

8. Who will send WEAs to issue AMBER Alerts? The Nati onal Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC),

in coordinati on with State and Local public safety offi cials, sends out AMBER Wireless Emergency Alerts through IPAWS.

WEA EXCERPT

9. What should I do when I receive a WEA message? Follow any acti on advised by the message. Seek more details from

local media or authoriti es.

10. Will I receive a WEA message if I ’m visiti ng an area where I don’t live, or outside the area where my phone is registered?

Yes, if you have a WEA-capable phone and your wireless carrier parti cipates in the program. (More than 100 carriers, including all of the largest carriers, do.)

11. What if I travel into a threat area aft er a WEA message is already sent?

If you travel into a threat area aft er an alert is fi rst sent, your WEA-capable device will receive the message when you enter the area.

WEA EXCERPT

12. When will I start receiving WEA messages? It depends. WEA capabiliti es were available beginning in April

2012, but many mobile devices, especially older ones, are not WEA-capable. When you buy a new mobile device, it probably will be able to receive WEA messages.

13. Is this the same service public safety agencies have asked the public to register for?

No, but they are complementary. Local agencies may have asked you to sign up to receive telephone calls, text messages, or emails. Those messages oft en include specifi c details about a criti cal event. WEAs are very short messages designed to get your att enti on in a criti cal situati on. They may not give all the details you receive from other noti fi cati on services.

WEA EXCERPT

WEA EXCERPT

14. Will I be charged for receiving WEA messages? No. This service is offered for free by wireless carriers. WEA messages will

not count towards texting limits on your wireless plan.

15. Does WEA know where I am? Is it tracking me? No. Just like emergency weather alerts you see on local TV, WEAs are

broadcast from area cell towers to mobile devices in the area. Every WEA-capable phone within range receives the message, just like TV that shows the emergency weather alert if it is turned on. But, the TV stations, like WEA, don’t know exactly who is tuned in.

16. Will a WEA message interrupt my phone conversations? No, the alert will be delayed until you finish your call.

WEA EXCERPT

17. How often will I receive WEA messages? You may get very few WEA messages, or you may receive frequent messages

when conditions change during an emergency. The number of messages depends on the number of imminent threats to life or property in your area.

18. If, during an emergency, I can’t make or receive calls or text messages due to network congestion, will I still be able to receive a WEA message?

Yes, WEA messages are not affected by network congestion.

19. What if I don’t want to receive WEA messages? You can opt-out of receiving WEA messages for imminent threats and AMBER

alerts, but not for Presidential messages. To opt out, adjust settings on your mobile device.

20. How will I receive alerts if I don’t have a WEA-capable device?

WEA is only one of the ways you receive emergency alerts. Other sources include NOAA Weather Radio, news broadcasts, the Emergency Alert System on radio and TV programs, outdoor sirens, and other alerti ng methods off ered by local and state public safety agencies.

WEA EXCERPT

IDENTIFY THE PRECISE LANGUAGE IN THE PASSAGE.

EXAMPLE: Why are Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) important to me?Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, warnings can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm’s way, without need to download an app or subscribe to a service.

WHICH WORDS DID YOU SELECT?

Why did the author format the document in this manner?

What is WEA?

What types of alerts are sent?

How are WEA messages different from other messages?

Who is responsible for sending WEA-fl ood warnings?

ANSWER THE GUIDING QUESTIONS

WRITTEN RESPONSE

Determine the central idea of the text and analyze its development, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

Be sure to use PRECISE language.

WRITTEN RESPONSE - HINT

Begin with the following sentence starter:

“The central idea of the text Wireless Emergency Alerts is…”

Then, in your response, include the central idea followed by evidence from the text.

After writing, review a peer’s response.

Check for the use of PRECISE language.

Check for a clearly defined topic sentence that states the central idea of the text.

Be sure the response uses key evidence from the text.

AFTER WRITING: PAIR UP

Did you use precise language in your response?

How can you edit your paper to reflect more PRECISE words?

How would you score your response – using the rubric provided on the following slides?

REFLECTION:

RUBRIC

Precise Word Choice refers to how vocabulary is used within writing. One important element is the use of vocabulary that is specific, concrete, vivid, and expressive. This type of word choice strongly contributes to the quality and clarity of the writing. Writers should express their ideas naturally and clearly. However, they should also keep in mind that writing overpowered by “superfluous” words can be difficult to read. 4 - Effective Precise Language – The writing maintains an effective style and

includes the use of precise vocabulary that is specific, concrete, vivid, and expressive. Vocabulary used is appropriate for the response, and includes a variety of descriptive words and phrases, sensory details, words to indicate tone, and domain-specific vocabulary. The writing displays a mature command of the English language. Creativity in the writing is balanced with control.

RUBRIC

3 - Adequate Precise Language – The writing maintains an effective style and includes mostly precise language, including descriptive words and phrases, sensory details, words to indicate tone, and domain-specific vocabulary.

2, 1, or 0 - Limited Precise Language – The majority of the vocabulary chosen falls into one of more of the following categories: simple, ordinary, incorrect, vague, limited, or confusing. Writing with this characteristic of language will receive a 2, 1, or 0 based on the quality of the word choice.