SMARTER BALANCED STUDENT OVERVIEW Smarter Balanced KEY ELEMENTS

SMARTER BALANCED STUDENT OVERVIEW

Smarter Balanced KEY ELEMENTS FOR ELA q Reading: 3 -5 1 15 -16 CAT qstns Informational Texts (11 -12 qstns) Literary Text (4 questions) q Listening q Writing: (informational): 8 -9 qstns 10 CAT qstns, 1 PT essay q Research: 6 CAT qstns, 2 -3 short constructed response

Smarter Balanced SMARTER BALANCED SUMMATIVE COMPONENTS q Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) § Item Types: Selected Response (Multiple Choice) § Technology-Enhanced/Enabled Items § Short Constructed Response Ø q Performance Task (PT) Ø Ø Ø Two-day event in ELA; recommended single-day in Mathematics ELA will access multiple resources Short answer questions build understanding of the longer essay task

Smarter Balanced READING: TYPES OF INFORMATIONAL TEXT QUESTIONS What is the central idea of the entire text or paragraph? Which statement best describes a claim? What conclusion (inference) can be drawn? Which evidence or details supports a conclusion? How does one paragraph affect the structure of the text as a whole? (What is the purpose of that paragraph? ) What is a word’s meaning?

Smarter Balanced READING INFORMATIONAL TEXTS Scan to get an overview 1. Read the title to find the topic. 2. Read the first paragraph, then find and highlight thesis. 3. Read and highlight the first topic sentence of each paragraph. 4. Read and highlight the main ideas in the conclusion. Read the entire article Ø Highlight key details Ø Annotate the main idea or purpose of each paragraph.

Smarter Balanced HINTS: INFORMATIONAL TEXT QUESTIONS Key Details – Evidence Read the conclusion given: The fashion industry has started to become more sustainable. Click on the sentence that best supports this conclusion. Choose 1 sentence from several paragraphs. HINT: Be careful to select a specific supporting detail. Avoid looking for key words (e. g. , sustainable).

Smarter Balanced HINTS: INFORMATIONAL TEXT QUESTIONS Part A: Reasoning Example Click on the statement that best describes what the use of the cotton t-shirt example shows about the fashion industry’s attempt at becoming a sustainable industry. Choose from 4 MC options. Part B: Details Click on the sentences that best support your answer in part A. HINT: Note that it’s asking for more than one sentence. In this case, always choose TWO.

Smarter Balanced HINTS: INFORMATIONAL TEXT QUESTIONS Text STRUCTURE Example How does the third paragraph affect the structure of the text as a whole? (Choose from 4 MC options. ) HINT: Look for the statement that sums up the main idea and purpose of the paragraph.

Smarter Balanced AUDIO-VISUAL QUESTION TYPES Tone & Purpose What is the presenter's overall agenda? (purpose) What is the presenter's overall tone? Claims What point does the author emphasize with the details that are included? (What claim or conclusion do the details support? )

Smarter Balanced AUDIO-VISUAL QUESTION TYPES Evidence & Reasoning How does the information best influence the audience's understanding of the presentation? What does a specific fact demonstrate? (What conclusion or inference can be drawn? ) Which detail supports a conclusion or inference?

Smarter Balanced AUDIO-VISUAL QUESTION TYPES Rhetorical Techniques Why does the author use the rhetorical technique of (comparison, repetition, etc. )? (What is the purpose or effect of this rhetorical technique? ) COMPARISON – to identify similarities (and differences) ANALOGY – make comparisons to help an audience to understand REPETITION – to emphasize HYPERBOLE – exaggerate to make a point or emphasize

Smarter Balanced AUDIO-VISUAL QUESTION HINTS Listen/Interpret audio visual presentations. Language Based on information in the presentation, what does a specific term or concept mean? Central Idea - Example Based on the information in the presentation, what does the term “mass produced” mean in pop culture? (MC) HINT: Review the presentation to understand the main idea or key point made about mass production in pop culture.

Smarter Balanced AUDIO-VISUAL QUESTION HINTS Listen/Interpret audio visual presentations. Key Point Which point does the author emphasize by including details about performances? (MC) HINT: A point is an argument or claim. In other words, what does the detail (example) prove?

Smarter Balanced AUDIO-VISUAL QUESTION HINTS Listen/Interpret audio visual presentations. Analysis: Which of the following terms best describes the Carter Center’s overall agenda? (MC) � HINT: Agenda = Purpose, Goal, or Motivation The presentation describes the conditions of the countries where the Carter Center helps with elections. How does this information best influence the listener’s understanding of the presentation? (MC)

Smarter Balanced AUDIO-VISUAL QUESTION HINTS Listen/Interpret audio visual presentations and analyze the central idea, key points, purpose, point of view, or rhetorical techniques. Rhetorical Devices: Why does the author use the rhetorical technique of comparison to show popular culture is mass produced? (MC) HINT: What is the purpose and/or effect of a specific rhetorical technique? For example, comparison is used to emphasize similarities.

Smarter Balanced READING: TYPES OF LITERARY TEXT QUESTIONS What central idea is expressed in the entire excerpt Which sentence reveals the central idea in a paragraph?

Smarter Balanced READING: TYPES OF LITERARY TEXT QUESTIONS Inferences: What inference can be drawn? How does one paragraph add to the characterization of the narrator or character? What statement best describes what the metaphor in the sentences adds to the meaning to the text? What does the text reveal about the narrator, character, or author? (What is the purpose of the details in the text? )

Smarter Balanced READING: TYPES OF LITERARY TEXT QUESTIONS Which detail (or sentence) best supports an inference or central idea? How does one paragraph affect the structure of the text as a whole? (What is the main idea and purpose of that paragraph? ) What is the meaning of the underlined word?

Smarter Balanced LITERARY TEXT QUESTION HINTS Reasoning & Evaluation What do the stories of survival in the last paragraph suggest to the reader about the narrator? Your short constructed response should include: CLAIM: Infer meaning about the narrator’s traits, motivation, conflicts, development, attitude / tone. EVIDENCE: Support your inferences with specific examples. REASONING: Explain your reasoning – What do the examples prove?

Smarter Balanced LITERARY TEXT QUESTION HINTS Text Structure Why did the author structure elements within the text in a certain manner? How does the order (of paragraphs or sentences) affect meaning? HINT 1: Identify this type of question Look for mention of a paragraph number. Look for wording such as “adds to” or “develops. ” Look for “how” questions.

Smarter Balanced LITERARY TEXT QUESTION HINTS Text Structure HINT 2 - How to approach this question: Re-read the suggested passage or paragraph. Analyze the purpose of placing the information in that specific order. � Example: How does this order affect plot or character development? Look for the statement that sums up the main idea of the passage. Or, in a short constructed response, explain the main idea and purpose of the passage or paragraph.

Smarter Balanced LITERARY TEXT QUESTION HINTS Text Structure – Example How does the second paragraph about the solar stills add to the characterization of the narrator? Select all that apply. (Often this means TWO). The solar stills demonstrate the narrator’s ingenuity. The solar stills prove that the narrator’s concern for his material belongings. The solar show important fresh water is to the character’s survival. The solar stills show hard the narrator works to be free from responsibility.

Smarter Balanced WRITING &REVISION QUESTION TYPES Order & Coherence: Move the underlined sentence to another place in the text that would best maintain coherence. Punctuation: commas, semicolons, colons Grammar: parallelism, subject verb agreement Other Mechanics: capitalization, spelling

Smarter Balanced WRITING: ARGUMENT STRUCTURE Intro: Thesis Body: � Claims, Evidence, Reasoning � Counterclaim � Rebuttal, Evidence, Reasoning Conclusion And don’t forget to consider: Diction & Tone – Precise Language Transitions

Smarter Balanced WRITING: EXPOSITORY STRUCTURE Intro: Thesis Body: � Claims – topic sentences � Evidence � Reasoning – What conclusion best explains the significance of the information? Conclusion And don’t forget to consider: Diction & Tone – Precise Language Transitions

Smarter Balanced PAUSE RULES q Tests can be paused at any time; students get a warning message to verify they want to pause. q If a CAT test is paused less than 20 minutes, students may review questions already answered. q If a CAT test is paused more than 20 minutes, students may not review or change questions already answered.

Smarter Balanced PAUSE RULES q When resuming after a pause, the student sees the first page that has unanswered questions. q If a test is idle for over 20 minutes, the system will automatically pause the test and log the student out. q There are no pause limits for the performance task portion of Smarter Balanced tests.

Smarter Balanced SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS Neither portions of the test are timed; students will be allowed to continue working as long as they are making progress.