State of Israel
Ministry of Education
Pedagogical Secretariat
Language Department
English Inspectorate
Explanations of the Changes in the Literature Program
September, 2014
1. The Ministry of Education has announced a variety of Bagrut reforms, as explained in the
halima document (May 14, 2014).
2. The reforms for the English Bagrut exams relate to those students who will be in the 10th
grade as of September 2014.
3. There are two external English Bagrut exams and one school-based assessment for each
level.
4. The school-based assessment is for the literature program.
a. The assessment for the module B literature program is the Unit Logs.
b. For modules D and F, teachers have the option of choosing between either the
Unit Logs or the Literature Bagrut exam, to be marked internally by the English
teacher.
5. The halima document gives details regarding the external Bagrut exams: modules A, C, E and
G. The purpose of this document is to explain about the two different options for the schoolbased assessment: the Unit Logs or the Literature Bagrut exam.
6. Reminder: For teachers who choose to do the Unit Logs (modules B, D, and F), the English
school coordinator needs to send the form: Approval of the School’s Literature program for
the Unit Logs to the English Inspector of the school (see Appendix One).
CONTENTS
A. General Guidelines
3
B. Personal Response
4
C. Unit Logs: Checklist and Calculation of Grade for the Unit Log - All Levels
6
D. Calculation of the Final Grade for Students Doing the Unit Logs - All Levels
8
E. Calculation of the Grade of a Unit for Each Literary Text for Students Taking
the Literature Bagrut Exam - Modules F and D
10
F. Calculation of the Grade of the Literature Program for Students Taking the
Literature Bagrut Exam - Modules F and D
10
G. Calculation of the Final Grade for Students Taking the Literature Bagrut Exam
- Modules F and D
12
H. Unit Logs - Module B
13
I. Random Sampling for the Unit Logs and the Exam – All Levels
15
Appendix One – Approval of the School’s Literature Program for the Log – All Levels
16
Appendix Two – List of Approved Texts for the Three-Point Literature Program
19
2
A. General Guidelines
a. For students in the 11th and 12th grades in September 2014, starting from the summer moed
2015, in modules D and F:

the alternative question will no longer appear on the exam.

the HOTS of Uncovering Motives will replace the HOTS of Problem Solving.
b. For students who are in the 10th grade in September 2014:

Unit Logs will replace the final Log that included all the work on the literary texts.
Each Unit Log contains work on one text only. When the unit has been completed and a
grade given, it is no longer kept in a complete Log the way it was in the past. Each Unit
Log includes all the Key Components. Teachers will cover the required number of
literary texts, one Unit Log at a time. (See pages 14-15 for information about Random
Sampling.)

Reflection is no longer a Key Component. Instead there will be a Personal
Response (Summative Reflection) at the end of each year that the program is
studied. (See pages 4-5 for more information.)

Students who are doing the Unit Logs need to keep the Unit Logs until the end of the
school year in order to use them when they write their Personal Response.

Students who are taking the Literature Bagrut exam need to save their work so that
they can review for the exam.

It is recommended that students doing the exam save their work

The administration of the school will decide when to submit the grades of the schoolbased assessment to the Testing Dept.

There is no yearly grade (tziyun shnati) or moed bet for school-based assessment (Unit
Logs or exam).

Module B for external and nivchane mishnei students will include one Access to
Information (Reading Comprehension) and 3-4 questions on one short story (from a
given list). Details will be posted on the site of the English Inspectorate.
3
B. Personal Response

Personal Response replaces the Key Component of Reflection. Students will write a Personal
Response at the end of every year that they study literature. Students at the four- and five-point
level will answer in English; students at the three-point level will answer in Hebrew/Arabic.

The criteria for evaluating Personal Response include:
Criteria for Four and Five Points
Possible
Points
Relevancy to questions
Answer relates to the question
20
Relevancy to literary text
Answers reflect understanding of the literary text
20
Application of HOTS
Explanation of applying HOTS to their lives and their learning
20
Personal Perspective
Answers clearly include a personal perspective regarding
issues such as identifying with the text, character
30
Length
At least 100 words
10
TOTAL
100
Criteria for Three Points
Written in Hebrew/Arabic
Possible
Points
Relevancy to questions
Answer relates to the question
20
Relevancy to literary text
Answers reflect understanding of the literary text
20
Application of HOTS
Explanation of applying HOTS to their lives and their learning
25
Personal Perspective
Answers clearly include a personal perspective regarding
issues such as identifying with the text, character
35
Total
100
4
Points
given by
teacher
Points
given by
teacher

Below are suggested questions for all levels (Include at least one question for each of the
criteria specified above):
- What literary texts did you study?
- What text did you enjoy the best and why?
- What HOTS did you learn?
- How have you applied the HOTS to your own life?
- What new things did you learn?
- What kind of progress did you make from the beginning of the year?
- How did learning literature help improve your English?
- Which character did you relate to the most and why?
- Which HOTS do you think is most useful for your learning / life and why?
5
State of Israel
Ministry of Education
Pedagogical Secretariat
Language Department
English Inspectorate
Checklist
Student’s Name:
Date:
Name of Literary Text: A Summer's Reading By Bernard Malmud (17%)
Task in Unit Log
Short Description of Activity
Key Components
1) Pre-Reading Activity
Yes
List of goals (most while....less while)
Comparing with other students)
2) Basic Understanding
Lots Questions
3) Analysis and Interpretation
Character,
Protagonist,
Comparing/Contrasting
Cause/Effect
4) Bridging Text and Context
Immigration to New York for a better
life
5) Post-Reading Activity (40%)
Conversation between George and
Mr. Cattanzara
6) Summative Assessment
Lots and Hots Questions
Bridging Questions
Final Grade
6
No
Calculation of Grade for the Unit Log - All Levels
% of
Grade
for Unit
Element
Presentation
Unit Log contains all the required activities for the Key
Components, is aesthetic, neatly presented and handed in on
time.
10%
Graded Key Component
 Additional graded activities may be included
 For all graded activities, including ones that cannot be
physically inserted (oral, digital, 3-D, etc.), a grading
rubric must be included in the Unit Log for each
student.
40%
Summative Assessment
50%
Grade
Final
Grade
TOTAL
Comments
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
7
C. Calculation of the Final Grade for Students Doing the Unit Logs – All Levels
a. The calculation of the final grade for students who are doing the Unit Logs now
includes Personal Response and Extensive Reading. There is no longer a grade for
Presentation.
b. New calculation spreadsheets will be uploaded to the TLC site.
c. The calculation for the first literature piece is given as an example.
Final Grade for Students Doing the Unit Logs - Module F
% of
Grade
Grade
Final
Grade
Play
20%
80
16
Short Story
14%
Short Story
14%
Short Story
14%
Poem
9%
Poem
9%
Personal Response
5%
Extensive Reading
(four books)
15%
Elements
TOTAL
100%
8
D. Calculation of the Final Grade for Students Doing the Unit Logs – All Levels (continued)
Final Grade for Students Doing the Unit Logs - Module D
% of
Grade
Grade
Final Grade
Short Story
17%
80
14
Short Story
17%
Short Story
17%
Poem
9%
Poem
9%
Poem
9%
Personal Response
7%
Extensive Reading
(four books)
15%
Elements
TOTAL
100%
Final Grade for Students Doing the Unit Logs - Module B
% of
Grade
Grade
Final Grade
Short Story
30%
80
24
Short Story
30%
Poem
20%
Personal Response
5%
Extensive Reading
(two books)
15%
Elements
TOTAL
100%
9
D. Calculation of the Grade of a Unit for Each Literary Text for Students Taking the
Literature Bagrut Exam - Modules F and D *
% of Grade for Unit
Grade
Final Grade
Graded Key Component
40%
75
30
Summative Assessment
60%
Element
TOTAL
* Students who are taking the exam are required to do all the Key Components.
E. Calculation of the Grade of the Literature Program for Students Taking the Literature
Bagrut Exam - Modules F and D
a. New calculation spreadsheets will be uploaded to the TLC site.
b. The calculation for the first literature piece is given as an example.
Final Grade of Literature Program -Module F
% of Final Grade
Grade
Final Grade
Play/Novel
26%
85
22
Short Story
18%
Short Story
18%
Short Story
18%
Poem
10%
Poem
10%
Literary Text
TOTAL
100%
10
F. Calculation of the Grade of the Literature Program for Students Taking the Literature
Bagrut Exam - Modules F and D (continued)
Final Grade of Literature Program - Module D
% of Final Grade
Grade
Final Grade
Short Story
21%
88
18
Short Story
21%
Short Story
22%
Poem
12%
Poem
12%
Poem
12%
Literary Text
TOTAL
100%
11
F. Calculation of the Final Grade for Students Taking the Literature Bagrut Exam Modules F and D
a. New calculation spreadsheets will be uploaded to the TLC site.
b. The calculation for the first literature piece is given as an example.
Final Grade for Students Taking the Literature Bagrut Exam
Module F
% of
Grade
Grade
Final
Grade
Final grade for Literature Program
35%
90
32
Personal Response
5%
Extensive Reading (four books)
15%
Ministry of Education Literature
Bagrut Exam
45%
Elements
TOTAL
100%
Final Grade for Students Taking the Literature Exam - Module D
% of
Grade
Grade
Final
Grade
Final grade for Literature Program
35%
80
28
Personal Response
5%
Extensive Reading (four books)
15%
Ministry of Education Literature
Bagrut Exam
45%
Elements
TOTAL
100%
12
G. Unit Logs - Module B

The literature program for three points will include two short stories and one poem.

There will be a Unit Log for each of the literary texts.

Students need to do activities for all the Key Components for each literary text.

Teachers might want to choose literary texts that are based on a theme.

The choice of the literary texts must be based on the criteria set by the English
Inspectorate:
Short Story
Length
The length of the text is at least 900 words.
Literary
merit
The text was written by a recognized, published author.
Universality
The themes of the text span place and time.
Authentic
The story was written originally in English and may have been
simplified or abridged.
The literary text enriches students and encourages them to
respond to the text.
Poetry

Literary
merit
The text was written by a recognized, published poet.
Universality
The themes of the text span place and time.
Authentic
The poem was written originally in English.
The literary text enriches students and encourages them to
respond to the text.
Teachers can choose any of the texts that are on the approved list on the TLC site. If they wish
to teach a text that is not on the list, they must send an email to Bari Nirenberg at
bari.texts@gmail.com to ask for approval. Texts may be submitted for approval from May 1st
to November 1st. (See Appendix One for a preliminary list of texts that have been approved.)

In order to help teachers, the English Inspectorate will post suggested literary texts, ideas for
teaching the HOTS, tasks for the Key Components and sample Summative Assessments on the
TLC site.
13
H. Unit Logs - Module B (continued)

Literature courses will be given in the coming school year. Details will be posted on the site of
the English Inspectorate.

If a student moves from three to four points, one short story and one poem from the three-point
Log may be counted as part of the four-point Log under the condition that these texts have
been approved for four points. For each text studied at the three-point level, deduct 10% from
the grade.

The breakdown of points for Summative Assessment for each literary text for three points
includes:
Module B
Type of Question
# of questions
Points
LOTS
Basic Understanding
6-8 questions
60
HOTS Analysis and Interpretation
4 questions
40
Note:
 The Summative Assessment includes vocabulary, basic understanding, and simple analysis
questions.

LOTS and HOTS questions can include different question types such as multiple-choice, openended, sentence completion.

There is no Bridging Text and Context question on the Summative Assessment for Module B.
However, Bridging Text and Context must be included as a Key Component in the Unit Log.
14
H. Random Sampling for Unit Logs and Exams
a. For teachers doing the Unit Logs:

Teachers fill out the appropriate form from the Testing Dept. (Form numbers will be
supplied by the Testing Dept. at a later date.) Teachers report the grades for each of the
Unit Logs, Personal Response and Extensive Reading. Teachers will no longer have to
calculate the final grades, as this will now be done by the Testing Dept. (This form will be
instead of the 9540 form.)

Teachers fill out the Excel spreadsheet (which will be in the updated Literature Handbook
and on the TLC site) that includes the students’ ID numbers, grades for each Unit Log,
(which include grades for the graded Key Component and for the Summative Assessment),
Personal Response, and Extensive Reading. It enables teachers to see the final grades of
their students. This form is emailed to the English Inspector of the school.

For each literary text studied, three Unit Logs per class (one with a high grade, one with an
average grade and one with a low grade, when possible) must be kept at school. There
should not be two Unit Logs from the same student. In other words, save Unit Logs from
different students for each text. These Unit Logs will be randomly sampled during the
school year and/or at the end of the school year by either an English counselor or the
English Inspector of the school.
b. For teachers whose students are taking the Literature Bagrut exam:

Teachers fill out the appropriate form from the Testing Dept. (Form numbers will be
supplied by the Testing Dept. at a later date.) Teachers report the grades for each literary
text studied, Personal Response, Extensive Reading, and the grade of the Literature Bagrut
exam.

Teachers fill out the Excel spreadsheet (which will be in the updated Literature Handbook
and on the TLC site) that includes the students’ ID numbers, grades for each literary text
studied, Personal Response, Extensive Reading and the grade of the external Literature
Bagrut exam. It enables teachers to see the final grades of their students. This form is
emailed to the English Inspector of the school.

Teachers must save the marked Literature Bagrut exams until October 31st of the following
school year.
15
Appendix One
State of Israel
Ministry of Education
Pedagogic Affairs
Language Department
English Inspectorate
Approval of the School’s Literature Program for the Log – Module F
Name of School:
Semel #:
Yishuv:
Name of Teacher:
Fax number of school:
Module F
Genre
Name of Literary Text
On the Approved
Text List
Author
Yes
No
One Play or Novel
Three Short Stories
Two Poems
Name of Coordinator: _________________
Signature: ________________
Date:_______
Name of Principal: ____________________
Signature: ________________
Date:_______
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Literature program is:
Approved
Not Approved
Comments:
Name of English Inspector: _______________
Signature: ____________
16
Date: __________
State of Israel
Ministry of Education
Pedagogic Affairs
Language Department
English Inspectorate
Approval of the School’s Literature Program for the Log – Module D
Name of School:
Semel #:
Yishuv:
Name of Teacher:
Fax number of school:
Module D
Genre
Name of Literary Text
On the Approved
Text List
Author
Yes
No
Three Short Stories
Three Poems
Name of Coordinator: _________________
Signature: ________________
Date:_______
Name of Principal: ____________________
Signature: ________________
Date:_______
*****************************************************
The Literature program is:
Approved
Not Approved
Comments:
Name of English Inspector: _______________
Signature: ____________
17
Date: __________
State of Israel
Ministry of Education
Pedagogic Affairs
Language Department
English Inspectorate
Approval of the School’s Literature Program for the Log – Module B
Name of School:
Semel #:
Yishuv:
Name of Teacher:
Fax number of school:
Module B
Genre
Name of Literary Text
On the Approved
Text List
Author
Yes
No
Two Short Stories
One Poem
Name of Coordinator: _________________
Signature: ________________
Date:_______
Name of Principal: ____________________
Signature: ________________
Date:_______
*****************************************************
The Literature program is:
Approved
Not Approved
Comments:
Name of English Inspector: _______________
Signature: ____________
18
Date: __________
Appendix Two
List of Approved Texts for the Three -Point Literature Program
YES = Approved; NO = Not Approved
1. The literature texts in the coursebooks are NOT necessarily approved for the Literature
Program. Only the versions of the texts listed below are approved. If you want to use
an adapted version of a text that has been published in a book not listed here, you must
submit that version for approval. Please note that some stories appear on both the list of
approved texts and the list of rejected texts because one version is approved and another is
not.
2. If you wish to teach a piece of literature that you feel is worthy and appropriate for your
students because of the theme, and it has NOT been approved, you may STILL teach it –
however it CANNOT be included as part of the literature program.
3. Any poem or story approved for four points may also be used for three points. Some may
be difficult, so use your discretion.
4. There are two lists that follow, organized alphabetically according to genres.
5. There is a separate list (following this one) which includes texts that have NOT been
approved. Please refer to that list before submitting a request for a list that is not written
here.
19
List of Approved Texts for the Three -Point Literature Program (continued)
POEMS
Text
Author
Appears in
1.
STORIES – ONLY THESE VERSIONS
1.
Text
After You, My Dear Alphonse
Author
Shirley Jackson
Appears in
A Cool Collection 1
2.
Blanket, The
Floyd Dell
Communicating in English 1,
Revised Edition
3.
Burge McCall
Damon Runyan
Choice Reading
4.
Dusk
Saki
Celebrating Literature
5.
Feeling of Power, The
Isaac Asimov
Intermediate Reader 3
6.
Fun They Had, The
Isaac Asimov
Communicating in English 1,
Revised Edition
7.
Good Lord Will Provide, The
Lawrence Treat and Charles M.
Plotz
A Cool Collection 1
Intermediate Reader 3 (more
difficult)
8.
Hitchhiker, The
Roald Dahl
A Cool Collection 1
9.
Last Leaf, The
O. Henry
The Last Leaf and Other
Stories, Heinemann ELT
Guided Readers
10. Mama and Her Bank Account
Kathryn Forbes
Intermediate Reader 3
11. Open Window, The
Saki
Celebrating Literature
12. Sredni Vashtar
Saki
A Cool Collection 1
13. Suzy and Leah
Jane Yolen
Steps to Literature 3
14. That’s What Happened to Me
Michael Fessier
Looking Into Literature
15. Umbrella Man, The
Roald Dahl
A Cool Collection 1
16. Verger, The
W. Somerset Maugham
Communicating in English 1,
Revised Edition
17. While the Auto Waits
O. Henry
Intermediate Reader 3
20
List of Texts that are NOT Approved for Three -Point Literature Program
Before submitting requests please consult this list and if the text appears here, do NOT request
for it to be approved.
Please note:
1. Lyrics written as lyrics are not approvable texts for poetry.
2. Following are two lists of texts that have been rejected for the Unit Log, organized
alphabetically according to genres.
POEMS that are NOT approved for the literature program
Text
Author
Appears in
1.
Smile
Barbara Hauck
That’s Right
2.
When Sarah Surfs the
Internet
Kenn Nesbitt
That’s Right
STORIES that are NOT approved for the literature program
Text
Author
Appears in
1.
All Those Noughts / All Those
Zeroes
Jake Allsop
No version is approved
2.
Bank Robbery, The
Roger Dean Kiser
That’s Right
3.
Blanket, The
Floyd Dell
Intermediate Reader 2
4.
Cat Who Thought She Was a
Dog and the Dog Who Thought
He Was a Cat, The
Isaac Bashevis Singer
Steps to Literature
5.
Fan Club, The
Rona Maynard
That’s Right
6.
Fun They Had, The
Isaac Asimov
Steps to Literature
7.
Not For Sale
Jack Norman
Stories to Teach and
Delight
8.
Run, Sheep, Run
Rosemary Howland
Steps to Literature
9.
Third Jump, The
Jesse Owens and Paul G.
Neimark
Celebrating Literature
21