Reading by STAAR-light
Kaye Price-Hawkins
kayepricehawkins@aol.com
www.pricelessliteracy.homestead.com
Edgewood ISD – August 2013
PERSUASIVE BAKER’S DOZEN (13)
1. Address Objections/Opposition
2. Anecdote (Story, imagery)
3. Appeals to Associations, Emotion, Values
4. Analogy/Comparison
5. Call to Action
6. Dialogue (quotations)
7. Exaggeration (Hyperbole)
8. Explanation of Arguments
9. Facts and statistics
10. Hypothetical Words and Situations
11. Language/Word choice
12. Repetition
13. Rhetorical Question
PERSUASIVE POWER:
Embrace Life – Seat Belt Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnXH_P9SVAk
STAAR 2011 SAMPLE PROMPT FOR PERSUASIVE
Read the information in the box below.
Some argue that our so-called information age is really an
“interruption age.” With smart phones in hand, we spend
much of the day texting, tweeting, and surfing the Web.
Rather than concentrating on big issues, we fill our heads
with the trivia and gossip that interrupts our attention. So
much information passes our way that we have trouble
remembering any of it.
Do you believe that instant communication is helping or hurting
us? Think carefully about this question.
Write an essay stating your position on whether you believe
that we live in an information age or an interruption age.
(Continued on the next slide)
PERSUASIVE SAMPLE, CONTINUED
Be sure to—
state your position clearly
use appropriate organization
provide specific support for your argument
choose your words carefully
edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling
Texting has become like breathing. We do it constantly and can almost not function
without it. With the huge amount of technology and instant communication we have
today, our dependency on our smart phones, computers, etc. has become
detrimental to human beings. The vast amount of useless information available to
us has become harmful to us socially as well as intelectually.
The “information age” has changed the way we interact with each other. Our
dependency on technology to communicate with each other is so great that holding
a simple conversation with a person has become impossible. In restaurants and
other public places, couples and groups of friends have their phones out – texting,
calling, twittering, facebooking, you name it. It’s become an obsession. Not only
have our toys affected the way we communicate, but they have also affected the way
we think.
People’s past times today are commonly spent on the internet or on their phones
rather than with a book or with family. We’ve lost interest in the things that
stimulate our minds and turned our attention towards things that preoccupy us,
filling our heads with useless information. Our focus has turned away from the
beneficial and towards the unimportant.
As cool as modern technology may be, it has caused our world to change
completely – and not for the better. Our time has become constantly wasted.
Handwritten paper is 26 lines.
ANALYSIS OF PERSUASIVE ESSAY




Facts/relevant examples
Quotations/ Believable experts
(Ethos)
Logical reasoning (Logos)
Argument/ convincing
language (Pathos)
BACK:
Top: Introduction/Conclusion
Quadrants: Meaningful transitions,
Powerful statement, Most effective
(least effective) support and why,
Reading question
HEADING FOR THE PAPER
Facts/Relevant
examples
Quotations/Believable
experts (Ethos)
Question/Issue
Logical
Reasoning
(Logos)
Position
Argument/
Convincing language
(Pathos)
Short Answer Rubrics
Single Selection
Connecting Selections
Score Point 3 — Exemplary Responses to the
Question indicate an accomplished reading
performance and have the following
characteristics:
Score Point 3—Exemplary Responses to the
Question indicate an accomplished reading
performance and have the following
characteristics:
 The idea is perceptive and reflects an
awareness of the complexities of the
text. The student is able to develop a
coherent explanation of the idea by
making discerning connections across
the text.
 The text evidence used to support the
idea is specific and well chosen. Overall,
the evidence strongly supports the
validity of the idea.
 The combination of the idea and the text
evidence demonstrates a deep
understanding of the text.
 For both selections, the idea is perceptive
and reflects an awareness of the
complexities of the text. The student is
able to develop a coherent explanation of
the idea by making discerning
connections across both selections.
 For both selections, the text evidence that
is used to support the idea is specific and
well chosen. Overall, the evidence
strongly supports the validity of the idea.
 For both selections, the combination of
the idea and the text evidence demonstrates a deep understanding of the text.
Analyze the STAAR Short Answer Response:
A
Answer with insight! A hint of
wisdom or universality shows an
answer with depth. Aware of text
complexity, explain the answer by
going beyond the obvious. The best
answer is not superficial!
B
Back-up! Support your answer with
specific and well-chosen textual
evidence (quoted text should use
quotation marks). Your text support
may be a paraphrase of your answer
but not a duplicate.
C
Connect the idea and the text evidence
to demonstrate a deep understanding of
the text. Embed the quotes with the
explanation of the answer if possible for
tighter construction. Did you construct
your sentence around the text?
D
Don’t forget: Most 3’s are well-worded
and well-constructed; the perceptive
answer is focused and supported.
Remember: Two selections demand
support from BOTH selections.
Sample Single Selection Short Answer – 3
How would you describe Paul in the excerpt from The Custom of the Country?
Support your answer with evidence from the selection.
Sample Single Selection Short Answer – 3
How would you describe Paul in the excerpt from The Custom of the Country.
Support your answer with evidence from the selection.
Sample Connecting Selections Short Answer – 3
Do you think Jaime Teevan in “2009 Young Innovators Under 35: Jaime Teevan, 32”
and Barry Bingham, Jr., in “Digital Dad Versus the Dinosaurs” have anything in
common? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections.
Sample Connecting Selections Short Answer – 3
Do you think Jaime Teevan in “2009 Young Innovators Under 35: Jaime Teevan, 32”
and BarryBingham, Jr., in “Digital Dad Versus the Dinosaurs” have anything in
common? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections.
Short Answer
Single Selection
How does the author’s
style of writing (his
diction/choice of words)
in Eugene Robinson’s
article help advance the
author’s purpose?
Explain your answer and
support it with evidence
from the selection.
Connecting Selections
What logical connections
can be made between the
ideas and details in
“Them” and in Eugene
Robinson’s article?
Explain your answer and
support it with evidence
from both selections.
Persuasive Essay Prompt – Privacy Issues
Write an essay stating your position on whether
citizens in a democratic society should expect
complete privacy or governmental monitoring of
communications.
Be sure to—
state your position clearly
use appropriate organization
provide specific support for your argument
choose your words carefully
edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling
Expository Essay Prompt – Privacy Issues
Write an essay explaining why governmental
monitoring of communications is sometimes
necessary.
Be sure to—
state your position clearly
use appropriate organization
provide specific support for your argument
choose your words carefully
edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling
Revision and Editing
• Content:
– Introduction—hook!
– Conclusion—call to
action or request
– Idea and stance
– Reasons
•
•
•
•
Support
Details
Emotional appeal
Examples
• Format:
– Capitalization
– Usage (verbs, adverbs,
adjectives)
– Sentence Structure
• Complete thoughts
• Combined well
• Variety
– Spelling