STAAR

Improving Composition

Understanding the Parts

• Reading 50% 34 Multiple-Choice Items

• Writing 50% 18 Multiple-Choice Items and 1 Composition

Zooming in... What is tested??

• Reading: Literary Texts and Informational

• Analysis Across Genres

Zooming in... What is tested??

• Revision

• Editing

• Composition

Let's start with the composition

Examine the following thesis statements.

• Idealistic people are better at pursuing big goals, while practical people are better at completing smaller tasks.

• The ability to dream big is the most important quality a person needs to live a remarkable life and help others.

Multiple Choice

Which one is better?

• Idealistic people are better at pursuing big goals, while practical people are better at completing smaller tasks.

• The ability to dream big is the most important quality a person needs to live a remarkable life and help others.

Let's understand the response...

• Choice A: this position statement (thesis) does not stay on topic

• no clear claim

• the writer summarizes the quotation

• Idealistic people are better at pursuing big goals, while practical people are better at completing smaller tasks.

Let's understand the response...

• Choice B: more specific

• makes a claim or argument

• The ability to dream big is the most important quality a person needs to live a remarkable life and help others.

Now let's develop supporting ideas and evidence

• ideas are thoughts related to your position

• examples and evidence are details from your own experience or from what you know

• bottom line: they should elaborate on the position you made in the thesis statement

What was the assignment again??

Write an essay stating your opinion on whether it's better to dream big or to be realistic.

The ability to dream big is the most important quality a person needs to live a remarkable life and help others.

• Idea 1: Idealists are more likely to create big changes in the world. (1st sentence of body paragraph 1-The first WHY/REASON)

• Idea 2: If someone is motivated to pursue a big dream that person can learn the practical skills needed to get there. (1st sentence of body paragraph 2- The second WHY/REASON)

• 
  

Multiple Choice

Examine the following: When I was growing up, role models like Amelia Earhart and Maya Angelou inspired me to dream big. What kind of evidence is this statement?

• personal experience

• historical example

Multiple Choice

Examine the following: The Wright Brothers worked very hard to turn their grand idea of an airplane into an everyday reality. What kind of evidence is this statement?

• personal experience

• historical example

Multiple Choice

The Wright Brothers worked very hard to turn their grand idea of an airplane into an everyday reality.

This statement supports which idea the best?

• Idea 1: Idealists are more likely to create big changes in the world

• Idea 2: If someone is motivated to pursue a big dream that person can learn the practical skills needed to get there.

Now let's pretend you developed the following position statement:

You must embrace change if you want to be successful.

You must embrace change if you want to be successful.

• to support this position statement I need...

• that welcoming change leads to success

• my evidence can include personal, historical, logical, and so on

Multiple Choice

When President Kennedy was assassinated, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson had to be ready to step up and lead the country.

What kind of evidence is this statement?

• personal

• historical

• logical

Multiple Choice

When President Kennedy was assassinated, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson had to be ready to step up and lead the country. Is this an example of welcoming change to be successful?

• yes

• no

So let's work on organizing ideas

• What does that mean?

• place related sentences near each other

• use transition to connect them or show their relationship to one another

Let's examine this idea again.

• Idea 2: If someone is motivated to pursue a big dream that person can learn the practical skills needed to get there. (1st sentence of body paragraph 2)

• I need an example for this idea.

I grew up listening to my parents' music, and I dreamed of being in a band one day.

example

Multiple Choice

I grew up listening to my parents' music, and I dreamed of being in a band one day. My example is personal?

• true

• false

okay, I need to remember this when I organize my ideas

• 1 Begin with a clear idea that connects to my position (thesis)

• 2 an example for my idea

• 3 explaining my example

• so let's try that

IDEA: If someone is motivated to pursue a big dream that person can learn the practical skills needed to get there.

• EXAMPLE: I grew up listening to my parents' music, and I dreamed of being in a band one day.

• EXPLANATION OF THE EXAMPLE

EXPLANATION OF THE EXAMPLE:

When I got old enough, my father said I should learn to play guitar. At first I couldn't play a single note. I had to practice every day. Soon I could play scales. Then I could play a few chords. After that, I started making my own songs and eventually joined a band. It was only by learning a practical skill, however, that I made my dream a reality.

All together you have a body paragraph that supports your position (thesis)

If someone is motivated to pursue a big dream that person can learn the practical skills needed to get there. For example, I grew up listening to my parents' music, and I dreamed of being in a band one day. When I got old enough, my father said I should learn to play guitar. At first I couldn't play a single note. I had to practice every day. Soon I could play scales. Then I could play a few chords. After that, I started making my own songs and eventually joined a band. It was only by learning a practical skill, however, that I made my dream a reality.

The ability to dream big is the most important quality a person needs to live a remarkable life and help others.

If someone is motivated to pursue a big dream that person can learn the practical skills needed to get there. For example, I grew up listening to my parents' music, and I dreamed of being in a band one day. When I got old enough, my father said I should learn to play guitar. At first I couldn't play a single note. I had to practice every day. Soon I could play scales. Then I could play a few chords. After that, I started making my own songs and eventually joined a band. It was only by learning a practical skill, however, that I made my dream a reality.