OSSLT Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

OSSLTOntario Secondary School

Literacy Test

Preparation and Review Session

Welcome and Hello!

• Thank you so much for coming to today’s session!

• You have the chance to write the Literacy Test this year on Thursday, March 27th at 8:15am!

• We are here to help you achieve success on this year’s Literacy Test!

Our Goals for Today

• We are going to help you to get ready for the test.

• We will look at examples of successful and unsuccessful student work from last year’s test.

• We will help you to become comfortable with the practice booklets so that you can prepare for the test.

Boo and Andie

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GAME TIME

https://jeopardylabs.com/play/osslt-literacy-jeopardy

Think Aloud and Exemplars• There are a few parts of the test that

we are going to review together as a group and then we will give you time to work on the questions, independently! We’re still here to help!

• For each of these sections, we will review the question, think aloud together about possible responses, look at examples of student work from last year’s test and then give you a chance to try the question, yourself!

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Reading Question

Please turn to page 18 in your booklet and follow along with

the reading.

Reading: Implicit Information & Making Connections

• First, let’s read the article entitled: “Teen’s Recycling Recipe Bags Award.”

• Following this article, there are a series of multiple choice questions and a written answer that focus on the information provided in the article.

• Let’s review a few of them together…

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Multiple Choice Questions

Please turn to page 19 in your booklet and follow along with

the reading.

Reading: Implicit Information

• #1: Which paragraph describes the event that happened first?– A) paragraph 2– B) paragraph 3– C) paragraph 4– D) paragraph 5

–The answer is: B) PARAGRAPH 3–WHY?

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• #2: What is the meaning of “hypothesis” as used in paragraph 5?– A) a recipe– B) a problem– C) a prediction– D) an experiment

•The answer is: C) A prediction•WHY?

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• #3: Who is responsible for the decomposition of plastic bags?– A) bacteria– B) polyethylene– C) additional water– D) large composters

•The answer is: A) bacteria• WHY?

Reading: Implicit Information• #4: What is the purpose of the information

inside the parentheses in paragraph 6?– A) It provides an explanation– B) It refers to another experiment– C) It presents a step in the experiment– D) It emphasizes the importance of the

problem

• The answer is: A) It provides an explanation.

• WHY?

Reading: Making Connections

• #5: Why did Burd’s experiment win the top prize?– A) It could solve a significant problem.– B) Burd plans to study science in university.– C) It encourages people to reduce their use of

plastic bags.– D) Burd discovered the bacteria that break

down plastic bags.

• The answer is: A) It could solve a significant problem.

• WHY?

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Written Answer

Please turn to page 20 and follow along.

Reading: Making Connections

• #6: Explain how Burd’s project demonstrates the work of a scientist. Use specific details from the selection and your own ideas to support your answer.

Reading: Making ConnectionsThink Aloud

• How can we answer this question?

Reading: Making ConnectionsStudent Exemplars: LEVEL ONE

THIS IS A LEVEL ONE RESPONSE BECAUSE:The response provides an example of the work of a scientist while retelling the events in the selection (e.g., noticed a problem, figure out a solution, did research).There are no details from the selection

used to support the response.

Reading: Making ConnectionsStudent Exemplars: LEVEL

TWO/THREE

THIS IS A LEVEL TWO / THREE RESPONSE BECAUSE:The response identifies an example of how Burd/Burd’s

project demonstrates the work of a scientist (collect samples) and supports it with details from the selection

(went to the landfill). The reader must make the connection between the detail and the work of a scientist.

Reading: Making ConnectionsStudent Exemplars: LEVEL FOUR

THIS IS A LEVEL FOUR RESPONSE BECAUSE:The response identifies an example of how

Burd/Burd’s project demonstrates the work of a scientist (discovered and isolated) and clearly

explains it with specific and relevant support from the selection (micro-organism that is responsible for

breaking down Plastic bags).

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Your Turn!

Please turn to page 27 in your booklet and...

1) read the article provided2) complete the written answer on page 28

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Multiple Choice

Please turn to page 21 and follow along.

Writing: Organizing Information and Ideas in a clear, understandable

manner. • On page 21 in your booklet, there is a

series of multiple choice questions.• Let’s review one of them together…


manner. • #1) Choose the option that best combines all

the information in the following sentences.

• I love basketball.• The Bears are my favourite team.• I hope they win the championship this

year.


manner. • Which option best combines all the

information in the sentences?A) I love basketball, and I hope the Bears win the championship this year.B) I love basketball and the Bears because I hope they win the championship this year.C) I love basketball and hope the Bears, my favourite team, win the championship this year.D) I love basketball, I love the Bears, my favourite team, I hope they win the championship this year.

• The answer is: C!• WHY?


manner. • On page 5 in your booklet, there is

another series of multiple choice questions.

• Let’s review one of them together…


manner. • #2) Choose the option that best combines all

the information in the following sentences.

• Mikko and Paige were friends.• Mikko and Paige had known each

other since Grade 3.• Mikko and Paige attended the

same college.


manner. • #2) Which option best combines all the

information in the sentences?a) Mikko and Paige, who were friends, attended the same

college since Grade 3.

b) Mikko and Paige were friends known since Grade 3 and attended the same college.

c) Mikko and Paige, friends who had known each other since Grade 3, attended the same college.

d) Mikko and Paige attended the same college and had known each other and their friends since Grade 3.

• The answer is: C!• WHY?

Writing: Short Writing Task

• To begin, let’s consider this question: “What is the best advice you have ever given someone? Use specific details to explain your answer.”

• Following this question, there are 6 lines indicating the amount of space you should fill, therefore plan on writing a solid paragraph (4-6 sentences).

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Brainstorm: How would you begin to answer this question?

• Consider what advice you have given ... do you consider it to be “mature, appropriate and solid” advice? If so, talk about it!

• If not, brainstorm a situation that would require you to give advice ... any ideas?

• What University should I attend?• How should I tell a friend that I am

frustrated with something that they did?

• Should I change the way I dress in order to fit in with my friends?

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Brainstorm: How would you begin to answer this question?

(Continued)• After you have your idea, think about the

structure of your response... it should include:

•Topic sentence, •Specific details (who was the

advice for, what did you say? why?),

•Concluding sentence.

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THIS IS A LEVEL ONE RESPONSE BECAUSE:The response identifies an example of advice (tell

the truth in bad situations), but does not include specific details and it does not

provide an explanation for why it was the best.


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THIS IS A LEVEL TWO/THREE RESPONSE BECAUSE:This response provides an example of advice given (never give up on your dreams), but there is not enough support provided to explain the advice. To improve, provide specific examples about when you have encouraged someone to not give up.

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THIS IS A LEVEL FOUR RESPONSE BECAUSE:This response provides an example of advice given (telling my sister to apply for a job she didn’t think she would be good at). The answer is clearly supported with specific and relevant details (She is still working at this job, constantly telling me how much she loves it, the friends she has made and the satisfaction of working.

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•A MINI-BREAK :)

• Take a breath ...

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Your turn!Please turn to page 13 in your booklet and...

1) answer question 1 - “Suggest one improvement that could be made to your school building or its grounds.”

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Newspaper Article Question

Please turn to page 22 in your booklet and follow along.

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• The task states: “Write a news report based on the headline and picture below.”

• Following this instruction you will find both a headline and a picture. Begin to think about how these two items could be linked in a specific event.

Writing: News Report

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• What do I need to consider?» 5 W’s: Who, What, When, Where and Why and How» Supporting Quotations (witness and expert)» Small Paragraphs» Full names (human names)» Specific Facts (locations, streets, etc.)» Write as if the event has already occurred (past

tense)» Write in third person (do not use “I” unless it is in a

quotation) • Fill in checklist from the ideas above• A checklist may be helpful ... use “rough notes area”


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THIS IS A LEVEL ONE RESPONSE BECAUSE:The response does not provide sufficient detail. The news report is missing several components from the

checklist.

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Writing: News Report 5 W’s: Who, What,

When, Where and Why

Supporting Quotations (witness and expert)

Small Paragraphs

Full names (human

names)

Specific Facts (locations, streets, etc.)

Write as if the event has already occurred (past tense)

Write in third person (do not use “I” unless it is in a quotation)

TextText

Level 2

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PASS

It contains all of the criteria from the checklist, limited spelling/grammar errors, fills the space provided and the event is logical.

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Your turn!


1) Answer the newspaper article question: “Car Wash a Success”

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Summary Question

Please turn to page 24 in your booklet.

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Writing: SummaryYou will be asked to answer a summary question that looks like this:

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Writing: Summary

This question is awarded a mark of 0, 10, 20 or 30.

If the answer space is blank, your writing is illegible or the response is off topic, the answer will receive a mark of 0.

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Here’s what an answer given a score of 10 looks like:

Writing: Summary

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Writing: Summary

Even though this answer appears to be complete because the student uses all of the lines…

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Writing: Summary…the response only states the main idea. The response does not prove detail to support the main idea. The response restates the main idea in the final sentence.

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Here’s what an answer given a score of 30 looks like:

Writing: Summary

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Notice how this response provides both the main idea and details to support that main idea.

Writing: Summary

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Your turn!


1) Read the article 2) Answer the “written answer” question on page 32.

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A Quick Review!

Helpful hints for tomorrow!

Quick Review • In order to be successful, please

remember:» focus on big ideas» support your ideas with evidence» use a broad selection of vocabulary» take note of the audience you are writing

for» incorporate a variety of skills - show them

what you can do!» be creative, appropriate and relevant in

your writing» proof read your work - make sure it is

legible!» transfer skills and prior knowledge to new

situations

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Quick Review (continued)• The day before the test:

» look over your booklets» review checklists» think about the process behind the question» focus on the areas that make you anxious» look up the spelling of words that you are unsure

of and think you would like to use» get a good sleep!

• The day of the test:» wake up in good time - avoid rushing around and

being stressed out about getting to school on time

» eat breakfast! (even if you are nervous, have something small)

» be confident that you have done your best to prepare for this test!

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Important Reminders…

• The Literacy Test is on Thursday, March 27th at 8:15am!!

• The test begins at 8:15am and ends at 11:20am.

• There is a 15 minute break scheduled in the middle of the test.

• It is a good idea to bring: pens, pencils, an eraser, some water and a snack.

• Be sure to answer all questions—don’t leave blanks!

Thank you and GOOD LUCK!

• If you are interested in more help or if you have more questions, please come to the after school review session in…

Documents

OSSLT Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test