Reading tasks
&
Short written task
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Information paragraph (225 to 250 words)
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News report (225 to 250 words)
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Dialogue (225 to 250 words)
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Real-life narrative (550 to 600 words)
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Graphic text (fewer than 150 words)
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What type of article is it?
 eg. Informational, narrative, news report…
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Read the title
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Examine the picture
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Ask questions and predict what the article is
about
What does the title
suggest about the subject?
What does the picture
suggest about the subject?
Note that this article was
published in a local newspaper.
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Review the questions before reading the
article
Highlight or underline important words in the
question

Read the article carefully.
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Re-read sections you do not understand
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Highlight or underline important phrases and
words
◦ Focus on ‘Big Ideas’
◦ Underline important vocabulary

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Reflect on the purpose and main idea of the
article
Be able to restate the main idea of the article
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Read the question carefully
Review the reading, and determine what you
think is the answer to the question
Choose the most correct answer
If you are not sure, eliminate the choices that
are wrong, and then make your best guess
about the correct answer
From the OSSLT Study Guide - GREATER
ESSEX COUNTY
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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Reread the sentence the word is in, and even
the sentence before and after.
Try replacing each of the options for the
vocabulary word to see which makes the most
sense
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Examples include:
◦
◦
◦
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Cause and effect
Comparison
General to specific
Problem and solution
Chronological
◦ If you are not sure, pay attention to ‘transitional’
words that might indicate the method of
development
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Read the question carefully, and underline the
important parts of the question; there are usually
two parts to the question.
Use this following frame to answer the questions:
◦ Respond: answer the question directly
◦ Proof: support your response with a direct reference to
the article
◦ Comment: Explain how the example illustrates your
point
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After reading the selection, try to summarize
the main idea of the article in one sentence,
using your own words
Give one or two important supporting details
Do not copy lines from the article or use
direct quotations
“Romans put a lock on love”
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Plan your response using jot notes or a
graphic organizer
Use the same “frame” for the open response:
◦ Respond: answer the question directly
◦ Proof: give an example
◦ Comment: Explain
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“Getting Ready Guide for Grade 10 Students”.
EQAO. http://www.eqao.com/pdf_e/15/gettingready-guide-osslt-2015.pdf
“Grade 9 OSSLT Study Guide”. Greater Essex County
School Board
“Planning and Preparation Guide: OSSLT” EQAO.
http://www.eqao.com/pdf_e/15/planningpreparation-guide-osslt-2015.pdf