Passing the FCAT 2.0 Writing Assessments 2013: How to help your students pass the FCAT writing assessment.
Passing The FCAT writing test is a responses to a prompt ether persuasive, narrative, or expository. Three areas that needed equal attention on past FCAT writing test and should be mastered to pass the FCAT writing tests in 4th, 8th and 10th grade.
2010 FCAT writing prompts
Grade 4 Writing to Tell a Story (Narrative) 2010 prompts
The Grade 4 narrative prompt directed the student to write a story about a day some 4th grade students made lunch for the school.
Grade 8 Writing to Explain (Expository)
The Grade 8 expository prompt directed the student to explain the biggest change he or she has experienced from elementary to middle school.
Grade 10 Writing to Persuade (Persuasive)
The Grade 10 expository prompt directed the student to explain how being famous would affect someone's life.
2011 FCAT writing prompts
Grade 4 Writing to Explain (Expository) The Grade 4 expository prompt directed the student to explain the kind of weather he or she likes.
Grade 8 Writing to Explain (Expository) The Grade 8 expository prompt directed the student to think about a place he or she likes to go again and again and explain why he or she likes to go to this place.
Grade 10 Writing to Explain (Expository)
The Grade 10 persuasive prompt directed the student to persuade state legislators whether school libraries should provide Internet access for students.
Passing The FCAT writing test is a responses to a prompt ether persuasive, narrative, or expository. Three areas that needed equal attention on past FCAT writing test and should be mastered to pass the FCAT writing tests in 4th, 8th and 10th grade.
2013 FCAT 2.0 Writing
Prompts and Sample Essays
Grade 4
Writing to Tell a Story (Narrative)
Suppose you won something special.
Think about winning something special.
Now write a story about what happened when you won something special.
Think about winning something special.
Now write a story about what happened when you won something special.
Grade 8
Writing to Persuade (Persuasive)
Writing Situation:
Suppose you could convince a famous person to visit your town.
Suppose you could convince a famous person to visit your town.
Directions for Writing:
Think about why this person should visit your town.
Now write to convince this person to visit your town.
Think about why this person should visit your town.
Now write to convince this person to visit your town.
Grade 10
Writing to Explain (Expository)
Writing Situation:
Suppose you are a reporter and have been assigned to interview a fascinating person of your choice.
Suppose you are a reporter and have been assigned to interview a fascinating person of your choice.
Directions for
Writing:
Think about a person you would choose to interview.
Now write to explain why you would choose to interview this person.
Think about a person you would choose to interview.
Now write to explain why you would choose to interview this person.
Additional Resources
2010 FCAT writing prompts
Grade 4 Writing to Tell a Story (Narrative) 2010 prompts
The Grade 4 narrative prompt directed the student to write a story about a day some 4th grade students made lunch for the school.
Grade 8 Writing to Explain (Expository)
The Grade 8 expository prompt directed the student to explain the biggest change he or she has experienced from elementary to middle school.
Grade 10 Writing to Persuade (Persuasive)
The Grade 10 expository prompt directed the student to explain how being famous would affect someone's life.
2011 FCAT writing prompts
Grade 4 Writing to Explain (Expository) The Grade 4 expository prompt directed the student to explain the kind of weather he or she likes.
Grade 8 Writing to Explain (Expository) The Grade 8 expository prompt directed the student to think about a place he or she likes to go again and again and explain why he or she likes to go to this place.
Grade 10 Writing to Explain (Expository)
The Grade 10 persuasive prompt directed the student to persuade state legislators whether school libraries should provide Internet access for students.
How to Pass any State Writing Test: Tips on Passing Writing Test Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
State standardized writing test are divided into two parts: Writing test part one, response to a prompt, writing test part two multiple choice English Language Arts test.
Doing your Best on The Multiple Choice Part!
Students mast have time to prepare for state writing test, so if you are studying the night before your test, you need to study the ELA tier 3 academic testing vocabulary.
The fastest way to prepare for the multiple choice English Language Arts portion of the test is playing games.
Reading / ELA Vocabulary Games
Doing your Best on The Written Response Part!
I use a STEAL Characterization chart to enhance the students understanding of the structures of writing whenever possible and to prepare students for state testing. My students have to take three normed writing assessment every year. Teaching them to use a systematic graphic organizer and sorry to say formulaic writing process has gained my students some of the highest writing scores in the state! Our class has the highest number of students that exceed and meets compared to other Title one schools. The past 4 years my students have had an amazing passing rate of 94% on state writing test. I also expose my students daily to the academic writing vocabulary.
Best Practices in the Teaching of Writing
A Prezi on Expository writing 4th Grade Expository Benchmark Model
Six Traits Writers Work Shop Handbook
Types of Writing Test
Narrative writing is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events in a story. The word "story" may be used as a synonym of "narrative", but can also be used to refer to the sequence of events described in a narrative. A narrative can also be told by a character within a larger narrative.
Expository writing is a type of writing where the purpose is to inform, describe, explain, or define the author's subject to the reader. Expository text is meant to deposit information and is the most frequently used type of writing by students in colleges, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools and universities. A well-written exposition remains focused on its topic and lists events in chronological order. Examples of expository writing include driving directions and instructions on performing a task. Key words such as first, after, next, then, last, before that, and usually signal sequential writing. Second-person instructions with "you" are acceptable.However, the use of first-person pronouns should be avoided ( For example, I, I think etc...). Expository essays should not reveal the opinion of the writer.
Persuasive writing, also referred to as a creative writing or an argument, is a piece of writing in which the writer uses words to convince the reader of his/her view regarding an issue. Persuasive writing sometimes involves convincing the reader to perform an action, or it may simply consist of an argument(s) convincing the reader of the writer’s point of view. Persuasive writing is one of the most used writing types in the world. Persuasive writers employ many techniques to improve their argument and show support for their claim. Simply put, persuasive writing is "an essay that offers and supports an opinion".
State standardized writing test are divided into two parts: Writing test part one, response to a prompt, writing test part two multiple choice English Language Arts test.
Doing your Best on The Multiple Choice Part!
Students mast have time to prepare for state writing test, so if you are studying the night before your test, you need to study the ELA tier 3 academic testing vocabulary.
The fastest way to prepare for the multiple choice English Language Arts portion of the test is playing games.
Reading / ELA Vocabulary Games
Doing your Best on The Written Response Part!
The
real secret to passing ALL State writing test is thinking like the Fins (people
of Finland),
formative practice, formative practice, formative practice test with a
well thought-out graphic organizer, using a similar or previously released
testing instrument if possible. School districts that administer High Stakes
Test usually administer some form of summative assessments looking at the final
scores, skipping all the writing steps that students need to know when writing
competently. Formative writing test gives students and the teachers more ways
to evaluate the entire writing process. My students practice and rehearse
“writing success” with tools designed to make the writing process kid friendly.
Sit down with your team and design a graphic organizer that the kids can use. Start out with a simplified version and gradually make it more structured and competent.
The students in my class use a simple STEAL chart with pictures of lips for the S in speech, a picture of a brain for the T in thoughts and so on. Again the secret is formative assessment with lots of feedback and a graphic organizer to match the assessment.
In Short! Students must practice using a systematic graphic organizer that
covers expository, persuasive, and or narrative writing depending on the test
they take. Students must also learn the critical tier 3 vocabulary that they
will find on the multiple choice section of the writing test. Students must be
given the tools to succeed! Sit down with your team and design a graphic organizer that the kids can use. Start out with a simplified version and gradually make it more structured and competent.
The students in my class use a simple STEAL chart with pictures of lips for the S in speech, a picture of a brain for the T in thoughts and so on. Again the secret is formative assessment with lots of feedback and a graphic organizer to match the assessment.
I use a STEAL Characterization chart to enhance the students understanding of the structures of writing whenever possible and to prepare students for state testing. My students have to take three normed writing assessment every year. Teaching them to use a systematic graphic organizer and sorry to say formulaic writing process has gained my students some of the highest writing scores in the state! Our class has the highest number of students that exceed and meets compared to other Title one schools. The past 4 years my students have had an amazing passing rate of 94% on state writing test. I also expose my students daily to the academic writing vocabulary.
Best Practices in the Teaching of Writing
A Prezi on Expository writing 4th Grade Expository Benchmark Model
Six Traits Writers Work Shop Handbook
Types of Writing Test
Narrative writing is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events in a story. The word "story" may be used as a synonym of "narrative", but can also be used to refer to the sequence of events described in a narrative. A narrative can also be told by a character within a larger narrative.
Expository writing is a type of writing where the purpose is to inform, describe, explain, or define the author's subject to the reader. Expository text is meant to deposit information and is the most frequently used type of writing by students in colleges, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools and universities. A well-written exposition remains focused on its topic and lists events in chronological order. Examples of expository writing include driving directions and instructions on performing a task. Key words such as first, after, next, then, last, before that, and usually signal sequential writing. Second-person instructions with "you" are acceptable.However, the use of first-person pronouns should be avoided ( For example, I, I think etc...). Expository essays should not reveal the opinion of the writer.
Persuasive writing, also referred to as a creative writing or an argument, is a piece of writing in which the writer uses words to convince the reader of his/her view regarding an issue. Persuasive writing sometimes involves convincing the reader to perform an action, or it may simply consist of an argument(s) convincing the reader of the writer’s point of view. Persuasive writing is one of the most used writing types in the world. Persuasive writers employ many techniques to improve their argument and show support for their claim. Simply put, persuasive writing is "an essay that offers and supports an opinion".
Please
use the sample STEAL chart below or design your own to start getting
your students ready to pass the FCAT, CRCT, MCAS, PASS, CRT, AIMS,
STAAR, TAKS, PAWS, STA 10, CSAP, CMT, ISTEP, SOL, NJ ASK, NC EOG, OAA,
... Writing Test this spring.
Academic ELA Vocabulary Tier 3 Writing Glossary
PDF
Word
Sample of a few of my Graphic Organizers that students train on.
Develop your own graphic organizers that helps your students master expository, personal narrative, and or persuasive writing.
“The Silver Bullet” STEAL Graphic Organizer | Characterization Chart
Word
Sample of a few of my Graphic Organizers that students train on.
Develop your own graphic organizers that helps your students master expository, personal narrative, and or persuasive writing.
“The Silver Bullet” STEAL Graphic Organizer | Characterization Chart
96% Meets or Exceeds on State Writing Test | 25% Exceeding on State Writing Test
EXPOSITION| RISING ACTION| CLIMAX| FALLING ACTION| RESOLUTION
Narrative and a bit of Expressive writing
Narrative and a bit of Expressive writing
WORD CHOICE
Verbs and Adverbs
|
EXPOSITION Topic Sentence W.W.W. Who, What, and WHY! What: My first roller coaster ride Who: I am Alone Why: My parents are afraid to ride the Matterhorn
Topic Sentence It introduces the main idea of the paragraph
|
WORD CHOICE
Nouns and Adjectives
|
Debated decided dedicated valued chose cleaned
|
S – Speech/ Speaking / Dialogue
Speech What does the character say (YOU, FRIENDS, FAMILY)?
|
swift ancient modern bitter sweet alert sane
|
vaulted viewed visualized volunteered Captured cared for carried caught categorized challenged
|
T – thoughts/feelings/attitudes
Thoughts What is important about the character’s thoughts and feelings (YOU, FRIENDS, FAMILY)?
|
attractive sticky fuzzy giant fresh graceful harsh whispering puny harsh noisy quiet shrill
|
championed changed checked cleared closed coached commanded commended
|
E – emotions/effects on others
Effect How do other characters feel or behave or react to the characters?
|
teeny massive careful cheap expensive rainy crystal sore dangerous combative
|
concentrated confronted constructed consulted continued controlled convinced cooperated copied corrected counseled
|
A – actions
Actions What does the character do? How does the character behave?
|
weary dull drab dim aggressive mellow fancy excited scared filthy superior lazy excited hungry crazy
|
created customized joined judged observed tackled talked targeted tasted taught obtained offered translated
|
L – looks/ settings/ imagery/ what
Looks What do you see? What do the characters look like? How does the character dress?
|
poor
rich busy anxious steep skinny petite tiny miniscule salty delicious
terrible dead alive huge tremendous elderly handsome ugly beautiful
shiny
|
WORD CHOICE
Verbs and Adverbs
|
RISING ACTION Topic Sentence W.W.W. Who, What, and WHY!
|
WORD CHOICE
Nouns and Adjectives
|
S – Speech/ Speaking / Dialogue
| ||
T – thoughts/feelings
| ||
E – effects/emotions on others
| ||
A – actions
| ||
L – looks/ settings
| ||
WORD CHOICE
Verbs and Adverbs
|
RISING ACTION Topic Sentence W.W.W. Who, What, and WHY!
|
WORD CHOICE
Nouns and Adjectives
|
S – Speech/ Speaking / Dialogue
| ||
T – thoughts/feelings
| ||
E – effects/emotions on others
| ||
A – actions
| ||
L – looks/ settings
|
“The Silver Bullet II” STEAL Students Graphic Organizer
96% Meets or Exceeds on State Writing Test | 25% Exceeding on State Writing Test
Expository Writing with a bit of Narrative to meet the Six Traits of Writing
Expository Writing with a bit of Narrative to meet the Six Traits of Writing
Narrative with a bit of Expository Structures
WORD CHOICE
|
INTRODUCTION Topic Sentence It introduces the main idea of the paragraph
|
Ideas
|
POINT #1 (SUPPORTING DETAIL)
S – Speech/ Speaking / Dialogue
elaboration (mini-story)Speech What are people saying (YOU, FRIENDS, FAMILY)?
| ||
POINT #2 (SUPPORTING DETAIL)
T – thoughts/feelings/attitudes
elaboration (mini-story)
Thoughts What is important about the thoughts and feelings (YOU, FRIENDS, FAMILY)?
| ||
POINT #3 (SUPPORTING DETAIL)
E –effects on others / emotions/
elaboration (mini-story)
Effect How do other characters feel or behave or react to the characters?
| ||
POINT #4 (SUPPORTING DETAIL)
A – actions
Actions What are people doing? What are their actions? How does the character behave?
| ||
POINT #5 (SUPPORTING DETAIL)
L – looks/ settings/ imagery/
Looks What do you see? What do the events and action look like?
| ||
CONCLUSION / Transitions
|
Persuasive Essay Graphic Organizer
HOTEL Chart
| |
Prompt Topic
|
Should all kids go to academic summer camp?
|
Hook |
pester / persuade / plea
|
Academic summer camps increases academic performance, resiliency, critical thinking, and problem solving skills.
|
Opinion |
judgment / attitude / belief
|
Giving all students a leg up is critical if we want to remain a first world nation not slide into a third world nation.
|
Thoughts | thoughts/feelings/attitudes
|
We
need to find a way that all students have the opportunity to attend
summer camp or “SuperCamp” not just a very small percentage of rich
children.
|
Emotions | emotions/effects on others
Effect
|
If
we are going to sentence our children to 16 years of school we should
have the decency to make it a truly amazing 16 years not just testing
factories.
|
Logic | deduce/convince/ reason
|
The
new Common Core Standards are designed to help bridge the academic
achievement gap and prepare US students for the increasingly complex
information age but they are just words if students are not exposed to
many academic opportunities.
|
Reading fcat practice test 4th grade
Grade 4
Test Book (2MB)
Test Book with Answers (2MB)
This is a list of all the FCAT Released Tests
Reading
Grade 5
Test Book (1MB)
Test Book with Answers (1MB)
Grade 6
Test Book (2MB)
Test Book with Answers (2MB)
Math
Grade 5
Test Book (2MB)
Test Book with Answers (2MB)
Grade 6
Test Book (1MB)
Test Book with Answers (1MB)
2006 FCAT Released Tests
Reading
Grade 3
Test Book (1MB)
Test Book with Answers (2MB)
Grade 7
Test Book (947KB)
Test Book with Answers (1022KB)
Grade 9
Test Book (1MB)
Test Book with Answers (1MB)
Grade 10
Test Book (2MB)
Test Book with Answers (1MB)
Math
Grade 3
Test Book (865KB)
Test Book with Answers (914KB)
Grade 7
Test Book (628KB)
Test Book with Answers (685KB)
Grade 9
Test Book (784KB)
Test Book with Answers (831KB)
Grade 10
Test Book (851KB)
Test Book with Answers (928KB)
2005 FCAT Released Tests
Reading
Grade 4
Test Book (2MB)
Test Book with Answers (2MB)
Grade 8
Test Book (2MB)
Test Book with Answers (2MB)
Grade 10
Test Book (713KB)
Test Book with Answers (803KB)
Math
Grade 4
Test Book (977KB)
Test Book with Answers (1MB)
Grade 8
Test Book (1MB)
Test Book with Answers (1MB)
Grade 10
Test Book (846KB)
Test Book with Answers (905KB)
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