1. Analyzing Text/ Writing Tasks NJ ASK Grade 3-4 1

2. Drawing Conclusions: When you draw a conclusion you use 2 things: What you know in your head. and What you’ve read in the story. A conclusion is the decision you come to when you put these two together.

3. For Example: I sleep in a crib. I drink from a bottle. I cannot walk or talk. Who am I? I know babies sleep in cribs. I know babies drink bottles. I know babies can’t do these things yet. Must be a baby!

4. Your Turn!!! You need me before you can mail a letter. Paste me on an envelope. What am I? You need a postman, an envelope, and a stamp to mail a letter! Only one of these would be pasted onto an envelope! What did you know in your head?

5. And Again!!! I am white. You need me every day. You drink me when you are thirsty. I can make a moustache. What am I? I know!!! Lots of things are white! You need a lot of things. What is white and you drink? AND, It makes a moustache! What did you know in your head?

6. Last Time!!! I grow on an ear. Cook me in hot oil. I will puff up and taste good. Some people microwave me. What am I? I know!!! What grows on an ear? Ear wax? Earrings? Corn?? You wouldn’t cook or taste ear wax or earrings. I know corn will puff up and it is sometimes cooked in the microwave. What did you know in your head?

7. Open Ended Questions Read the question carefully. Use details from the passage to support your answer. Answer ALL parts of the question. Be ready to complete graphic organizers. Write clearly. 7

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13. RSSE Restate- put the question into your own words Support- provide an example or argument Support- provide another example or argument Extend- make connections(text-to-text, text-to-self, text-to-world) 13

14. In this story, Kia does not agree with her mother’s decision to let the bird go free. • Tell two reasons Kia’s mother gives for letting the bird go. • Do you agree with Kia’s mother’s decision? Explain why or why not. Use information from the story to support your response. Restate- In the story, Kia and her mother disagree about letting the bird go free. Support- Kia’s mother feels that the bird will die in captivity because it will miss its lifestyle and other birds. She also says that it is beautiful flying free so she lets the bird go. Support- Kia, on the other hand, wants to protect the bird as their family pet. She thinks she can provide food and shelter. She does not take the time to look at the other needs the bird has- company of his own kind and the opportunity to use its instincts in nature. Extend- I agree with Kia’s mother’s decision to let the bird go free because it has lived as a wild creature before it was injured. The bird needs to be in a natural habitat to thrive. Even though Kia feels she will love the bird sometimes it is necessary to do what is best for the person/pet you love. 14

15. NJ Samples Think about how Sam changed on the last Fourth of July when his cousin Rob visited. • Explain how Sam’s attitude toward the bird-calling contest changed throughout that day. • Predict how Sam will react to the unique interests of others now. Use specific information from the story and any additional insight to support your response. The story is told completely from Sam’s point of view. Think about how the story would be different if it were told from Sam’s father’s point of view. • Why would Sam’s father agree to go to the restaurant instead of going to the bird-calling contest? Explain. • How would Sam’s father feel about Sam changing his mind? Explain. Use specific information from the story and any additional insight to support your response. 15 How would you teach students to address these questions?

16. When Spider thinks about the spelling bee, he thinks about a mountain lion, a coyote, and a spider. • Explain how each one helps Spider. • Decide which one is most helpful and explain why. Use information from the story to support your response. Write your answer on the lines below. 16

17. Writing Tasks Understand your purpose, audience, topic, and form. Ask yourself: Why am I writing? For whom am I writing? What am I writing about? What kind of writing am I doing (letter, story, report, or…)? 17

18. Now You Try The Happy Greeting Card Company is holding an essay contest. The winner will create a new national holiday. You are entering the contest and must describe your holiday. What would the holiday celebrate? On what day will it be held? How would people celebrate? 18

19. Getting Ideas Read the story, poem, or article you are given. Brainstorm-write down as many ideas as you can Freewrite- write freely without thinking too much 19

20. Drafting Your writing needs a main idea. Your writing needs a beginning, middle, and end. Choose how to order your writing: order of events cause and effect asking and answering questions story 20

21. Strengthening Your Writing Know when to use formal or everyday language. Add details. Put variety in your sentences. Use connecting tools (transitions.) 21

22. Revising After you finish writing, revise and edit your ideas. Include special opening and closing paragraphs. Make sure every sentence in a paragraph is about the topic. Don’t be afraid to change or move words and sentences. Use the checklist. 22

23. Here is a checklist for you to follow to help you do your best writing. Please read it silently as I read it aloud to you. Writer’s Checklist Remember to ❏ Keep the central idea or topic in mind. ❏ Keep your audience in mind. ❏ Support your ideas with details, explanations, and examples. ❏ State your ideas in a clear sequence. ❏ Include an opening and a closing. ❏ Use a variety of words and vary your sentence structure. ❏ State your opinion or conclusion clearly. ❏ Capitalize, spell, and use punctuation correctly. ❏ Write neatly. After you write your composition, read what you have written. Use the checklist to make certain that your writing is the best it can be.

24. Grade 3 Your local newspaper’s Kid Section is sponsoring a contest for the best class trip. Write an article telling what you liked about your field trip and why others should visit this special place. The winners will receive funding to go on their next field trip. 24

25. Poem Prompt MOON-CATCHIN’ NET by Shel Silverstein I’ve made me a moon-catchin’ net, And I’m goin’ huntin’ tonight, I’ll run along swingin’ it over my head, And grab for that big ball of light. So tomorrow just look at the sky, And if there’s no moon you can bet I’ve found what I sought and I finally caught The moon in my moon-catchin’ net. But if the moon’s still shinin’ there, Look close underneath and you’ll get A clear look at me in the sky swingin’ free With a star in my moon-catchin’ net. Has there ever been something you wanted very much that you may or may not have been able to get? Write about what you wanted. Include the following: • What did you want to have? • Why did you want this? • If you got it, explain how it happened. • Explain why you were successful in getting it. • If you didn’t get it, explain why not. • Explain how you might be successful in getting it in the future. . 25

26. Grade 4 You woke up one morning and learned that it was snowing. School was closed for the day! It was a dream come true. Suddenly you had time to take a break from the usual routine and do what you wanted to do. Write a story about a snow day off from school that you remember. Give enough details in your story to show what you did and how wonderful the day was. 26

27. We all have favorite objects that we care about and would not want to give up. Think of one object that is important or valuable to you. For example, it could be a book, a piece of clothing, a game, or any object you care about. Write about your favorite object. Be sure to describe the object and explain why it is valuable or important to you. Write sentences of varying lengths and complexity, using descriptive words. 27

28. NJ ASK: Sample Speculative Prompt(Grades 3-5) When the school bell rang, Katie and Pablo grabbed their books and raced out of the classroom. They had been looking forward to this afternoon all week long. Today they were going to go on an adventure. Write a story about the adventure Katie and Pablo had after they left school. 28

29. Writing to Explain Read the writing prompt carefully. Start with the main idea. Use words that call on the 5 senses. Use details to describe feelings. Use examples to support your ideas. Bring it all together in the ending. 29

30. EXPLANATORY PROMPT People enjoy playing games. Some take games they know and change the rules while others invent their own board games, ball games, or other games. Write an essay about a new game you created or might like to create, or an old game for which you changed the rules. Be sure to explain your game by using details and examples to support your explanation. 30

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