Countdown to
STAAR Writing
Adapted from JoAnn Angelini
Countdown to
STAAR Writing
STAAR Writing Test Design - For the Teacher
Students can work through the test in any order each day: composition first or
multiple-choice first.
Students may use dictionaries for the entire test (multiple-choice section and the
written compositions).
Students will write three one-page compositions (26 lines maximum) in response to
prompts from the eligible modes for the grade level.
Grade 7 Compositions: Personal Narrative (with extension) and Expository
Compositions will be weighted evenly.
No “gatekeeper” (no automatic fail of the Writing Test for a 1 on a composition)
Information taken from STAAR Overview: Grade 4 and Grade 7 Writing, presented by
Barbara Tutt and Marsha Peters, TEA
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STAAR Writing
STAAR Standards
In this lesson, students will
Category 1: The student will demonstrate
an ability to compose a variety of written
texts with a clear, controlling idea, coherent
organization; sufficient development; and
effective use of language and conventions.
Analyze the different components
of the STAAR Writing Task.
Learn to read prompts and clarify
expectations for the task, and
purpose
Read written texts with an eye for
what needs to be revised or edited
as appropriate for the task.
Category 2: The student will demonstrate
an ability to revise a variety of written texts.
Category 3: The student will demonstrate
an ability to edit a variety of texts.
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STAAR Writing
Writing Test Blueprint
Writing
Time Limit: 4 hours
Category 1:Composition
2 compositions
Category 2: Revision
16 multiple-choice
Category 3: Editing
24 multiple-choice
40 multiple-choice
2 compositions
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STAAR Writing
The Writing Test: Day 1
Compositions
Revision
Editing
1 composition
1 page each-26 lines
3-4 passages
16 mc items
3-4 passages
24 mc items
mc = multiple choice
The Writing Test: Day 2
Compositions
2 compositions
1 page each-26 lines
Revision
Editing
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STAAR Writing
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STAAR Writing
What makes a Good Personal Narrative?
The personal narrative on STAAR
must have two components:
•Tells a story related to the
prompt.
•Communicates the importance of
the event.
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STAAR Writing
What makes a Good Personal Narrative?
The Structure of a Story
Choices
Beginning: Stories begin with an exposition which
includes
Setting (time and place)
Introducing characters
An initiating event
A mood
A clear narrator (Since this a personal narrative, first
person (I) must be used.
You can start with
a question and talk directly to the reader.
dialogue and action (the initiating event)
personal reflection (about what you
learned)
describing the setting
Middle: A series of events
outlining the conflict
identifying and describing characters
using dialogue and narration
explaining the turning point/decision
You should
Combine dialogue and narration
Stick to the exciting parts of the story
Add details to help readers see and feel
your experience
Explain your thinking or reactions to the
events (Remember you are the narrator)
use transitions to show strong sentence-tosentence connections
Ending
Describe the results of the story (resolution)
Explain the significance of the event
You should
Explain if and how the conflict was
resolved
Tie up loose ends
You can
Flash forward and reflect about how you
changed as a result of the action
Tell what you learned from the experience
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STAAR Writing
What makes a Good Expository Narrative?
The expository on STAAR must have :
•A clear controlling idea or thesis*
•Organized and well-developed
explanations
•Factual information
*A thesis statement is an opinion-based sentence that
names the topic of your paper. It should clearly state
what you plan to support, discuss, or prove.
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STAAR Writing
What Makes a Good Expository Composition ?
The Structure of an Essay
Choices
The introduction: A paragraph that includes
information to gain the reader’s attention
A thesis statement or controlling idea
You can begin with
a quotation or proverb
an anecdote (short personal story)
a startling or interesting fact
a question to your readers
You must
write your thesis in at least one complete
sentence.
Body: Two or Three paragraphs to present your
explanation. Each paragraph should
focus on one single idea
state the topic of the paragraph in a sentence
support your topic sentence with different
kinds of evidence
oPersonal experience
oFacts or details
oExamples
explain what your example (evidence) means
and why it matters
You should
use transitions at the beginning of and within
the paragraphs
use details and precise language
use figurative language such as similes or
metaphors
write at least three sentences for each
paragraph
Conclusion: Write one a paragraph to
restate your thesis
draw a conclusion based on the information
you presented
give your reader a satisfying ending
You can
start with a transition
summarize your main ideas
tell your reader why it’s important to his or her
life
suggest that your reader take some action
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What Makes a Good Expository Composition ?
Develop a SEE outline for your best two reasons.
Statement
Evidence
Explain
Write your first reason in a sentence.
Back up your reason with a personal
example or something you have read or
heard about. (It may take up to three or
four sentences to fully write out your
evidence.)
Explain how the example supports your
statement.
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Prompt Analysis-Narrative
Prompt for Personal Narrative
The prompt may or may be not be
identified.
Look at the picture below.
Ask students to jot two
or three words or phrases
that the picture brings to
mind.
Explain that picture is
there to stimulate
thinking about topic.
This is not the prompt!
Friendships are important to middle school students.
Write a personal narrative about a time when you learned
the meaning of true friendship. Be sure to write in detail
about the events that lead to your understanding of what
friendship is and what you learned from the experience.
A statement like this may
(or may not) be included
to help stimulate about the
topic. This is not the
prompt!
Circle the task. (Write a
personal narrative). Discuss
potential topics.
Underline the elements or critical
features.
-Personal experience
-Relate events (your story)
-Explain what you learned
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Prompt Analysis-Expository
Prompt for Expository Writing
The prompt may or may be not be
identified.
READ the information in the box below.
Fifty-eight percent of kids say that someone has
been mean or hurtful to them online. Fifty-three
percent of kids say that have been mean or hurtful
to another person online.
THINK carefully about the following statement.
The Read
information is not
the prompt!
Students should
incorporate the quote
in the paper.
The Think statement is
provided to stimulate
thinking and does not
need to be directly
addressed in the essay.
Experts say online communication can bring out your mean side.
WRITE an essay explaining whether you think that online
communication encourages mean behavior or if being
online has nothing to do with mean or hurtful behavior.
This is the prompt. Notice
that the task is to explain.
Although you will need to
clearly state an opinion, the
goal is to help your reader
understand what has lead
you to that opinion.