OSSLT
Ontario 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
4
GAME TIME
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!
Reading Question
Please turn to page 18 in your
booklet and follow along with the
reading.
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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…
Multiple Choice Questions
Please turn to page 19 in your
booklet and follow along with the
reading.
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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?
Reading: Implicit Information
• #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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Reading: Implicit Information
• #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?
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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?
Written Answer
Please turn to page 20 and follow
along.
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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 Connections
Think Aloud
• How can we answer this question?
Reading: Making Connections
Student 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 Connections
Student 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 Connections
Student 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).
Your Turn!
Please turn to page 27 in your
booklet and...
1) read the article provided
2) complete the written answer on
page 28
21
Multiple Choice
Please turn to page 21 and follow
along.
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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…
Writing: Organizing Information and
Ideas in a clear, understandable 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.
Writing: Organizing Information and
Ideas in a clear, understandable 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?
Writing: Organizing Information and
Ideas in a clear, understandable manner.
• On page 5 in your booklet, there is another
series of multiple choice questions.
• Let’s review one of them together…
Writing: Organizing Information and
Ideas in a clear, understandable 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.
Writing: Organizing Information and
Ideas in a clear, understandable 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).
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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Writing: Short Writing Task
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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Writing: Short Writing Task
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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Writing: Short Writing Task
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.”
36
Newspaper Article Question
Please turn to page 22 in your
booklet and follow along.
37
Writing: News Report
• 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.
38
Writing: News Report
• 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”
39
Writing: News Report
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
Text
Text
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)
Level 2
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Writing: News Report
P
A
S
S
It contains all of the
criteria from the checklist,
limited spelling/grammar
errors, fills the space
provided and the event is
logical.
42
Your turn!
Please turn to page 29 in your
booklet and...
1) Answer the newspaper article
question: “Car Wash a Success”
43
Summary Question
Please turn to page 24 in your
booklet.
44
Writing: Summary
You 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.
46
Writing: Summary
Here’s what an answer given a score of 10 looks like:
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Writing: Summary
Even though this answer appears to be complete because the student
uses all of the lines…
48
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.
49
Writing: Summary
Here’s what an answer given a score of 30 looks like:
50
Writing: Summary
Notice how this response provides both the main idea and
details to support that main idea.
51
Your turn!
Please turn to page 31 in your
booklet and...
1) Read the article
2) Answer the “written answer”
question on page 32.
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A Quick Review!
Helpful hints for tomorrow!
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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
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
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this test!
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…