TDA Review

EOC Writing Review for TDA (Text Dependent Analysis Essay)

The EOC is a mandatory test used to gage your learning throughout a semester class.

Poll

As of right now, how do you feel about writing the TDA?

• I feel nervous, but think I can do well.

• I feel confident that I will do great.

• I am nervous because I don't think I can do well.

• I am dreading writing the essay.

The TDA is an essay in which you answer a prompt using text evidence. Your goal is to provide an IN-DEPTH response, not just as short response.

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Your TDA will be based on a passage that you read. Passages can be any type (fiction/literary like poems or short stories, or they could be informational). You may be given 2 passages to read.

TDA (Text Dependent Analysis)

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a TDA?

• To read a passage and answer a question using text evidence in an essay

• To read a passage and then write about it telling your opinion on the topic

• To read a passage and answer in a short response a prompt that relates to the passage

• To write a summary about the passage that is read

Writing a TDA

REMINDER: A prompt is the question or task that you must answer.

• First, determine what you will need to write about.

• Reading the prompt first will help you to know what to look for as you read and helps you to understand why you are reading the passage.

Step 1: Read the prompt

Theme is the central idea of a literary text. Analyze the development of a common theme in “The Atoms of Sound.” Write a well-organized response using specific evidence from the poem to support your answer.

Example prompt 1:

​As the student reads, they will determine a theme that they see in the passage.

In “Labels for Life,” the author states, “Learning how to read a nutrition label is not only a great lesson in the key elements of nutrition, but it’s also a great way to learn about making better choices.” Analyze how the author supports this statement throughout the passage. Write a well-organized response using evidence from the passage to support your answer.

Example prompt 2:

​As the student reads, they will find evidence that supports how learning to read a label helps to teach making better choices.

An internal conflict is the struggle that takes place in a character’s mind while an external conflict is a struggle between a character and some outside force. Analyze how “The Eclipse” effectively depicts both internal and external conflicts. Write a well-organized response using specific evidence from the story to support your answer.

Example prompt 3:

As the student reads, they will look for examples of both types of conflict.

Multiple Choice

Read this prompt, then determine what will the student need to look for while they are reading.

“Margaret Knight: Paper Bag Machine Inventor,” tells about a female inventor in the 1800s. Explain how Margaret Knight’s actions helped lead the way for women today. Write a well-organized response using specific evidence from the passage to support your answer.

• The student will look for information about Margaret Knight's life in the passage.

• The student will look for details about Margaret Knight's interactions with other women.

• The student will look for details that support how Margaret Knight was influential for women.

• The student will look for details about Margaret Knight's inventions.

Writing a TDA

REMINDER: Don't just skim through the passage, read the whole passage.

• As you read the passage, look for evidence that may help you to answer the prompt

• Highlight details

• Read the whole passage

Step 2: Read the passage

Here are some reading strategies:

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not a reading strategy that will help you on the TDA?

• Skimming the passage

• Connect the topic of the passage to something you already know

• Using context clues to determine the definition to unknown words

• Reading the whole passage

• Make inferences using details from the passage

Writing a TDA

REMINDER: Don't just skim through the passage, read the whole passage.

• Determine what you will say in your essay

• Create an outline on a piece of paper

• Add your text evidence, or highlight in the passage

• Your essay should be broken down into three parts: introduction, body, conclusion

Step 3: Plan your essay

​Ways to plan your essay:

​Outlines: Lists information and details that will be included in your essay.

​Ways to plan your essay:

Brainstorms: Connects ideas through a mind map

Chart: Create a chart to help you to organize your thinking

​Ways to plan your essay:

Open Ended

Which of the three types of essay planning do you think would help you the most? Why do you think this?

Writing a TDA

REMINDER: Don't submit your essay once you are done writing! You're not done yet.

• Use your essay planning to help you write your essay

• Your essay will include:

  • Introduction

  • Body

  • Conclusion

Step 4: Write your essay

​Introduction Paragraph

• What was the text? Who is it written by?

• What was the text about? include a short summary with information that is important to answer the prompt

• Thesis statement; answer the prompt in one sentence

Body Paragraph(s)

• Support your answer the that you wrote in the introduction with text evidence

• Use at least two supporting details/evidence from the text

• Explain WHY the evidence supports your answer

Conclusion Paragraph

• Restate your answer to the prompt

• Restate your reasons/supporting details as to why you answered this way

Multiple Choice

In what part of the essay will you include text evidence to support your answer to the prompt?

• In the introduction

• In the body paragraph(s)

• In the conclusion

Multiple Choice

In what part of the essay will you answer the prompt?

• In the introduction

• In the body paragraph(s)

• In the conclusion

Writing a TDA

REMINDER: Don't submit your essay until you have fix errors.

• Reread your essay for errors

• Check spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.

Step 4: Fix Errors

​Read your essay as a whole, decide if it actually makes sense.

​Read your essay as a whole, decide if it actually makes sense.

Did you answer the prompt? Did you include enough text evidence?

Look for spelling answers. Do you have run-on sentences? Did you capitalize names/proper nouns? Did you use quotation marks for your evidence?

Multiple Choice

True or False: After writing your TDA, you can submit the essay you have written.

• True, as long as I am done I will submit it!

• False, I can fix easy mistakes by rereading my essay before submitting it.

Poll

After this slide presentation, do you feel better prepared to write the TDA essay?

• Yes!

• Somewhat

• I don't feel any different.

• Not at all, I feel more stressed.

• No, I have no idea what I am doing.