Terrific TropicalTAKS Tips

Essay:

Be specific. Give details. Avoid words like good, bad, very, etc.

Translate the prompt.

The prompt says, “Write an essay explaining what courage means to you.”

The prompt means, “Write a story about one time when someone

I KNOW showed courage.”

Prewriting helps—really it does!

Common Prewriting Techniques:

Brainstorming Cubing

Outlining Clustering

Webbing Venn Diagram

Free writing Thinking map

Essay:

Develop one specific story.

Let the reader “hear your voice” by

making it personal and realistic.

Be sure to end with a strong

conclusion that ties

your story back

to the topic.

Essay Development:

“Deep, Not Wide”

Focus on one story, not three different examples

or reasons.

Essay:

Remember to use the writing techniques we learned in class.

Show, Don’t Tell

Telling sentence:

“The room was decorated well.”

Showing sentence:

“Vases of freshly-cut tropical flowers sat on crisp, clean tablecloths, candles flickered brightly, and golden pineapples surrounded by colorful miniature umbrellas adorned every table.”

Snapshot

Describe a person or a scene as if you are looking at a picture, trying to convey the details to your reader.

Explode a Moment

Give specific details at the most exciting moment in your story to slow down the action.

Short Answer

Answer the question and prove your answer with evidence from the text.

Be sure the quotation proves your answer.

Don’t write anything else. Just answer it and

prove it.

Cross-Over Short Answer

Answer Answer

1 2

Proof Proof

1 2

Reading Multiple Choice:

READ THROUGH EACH PASSAGE CAREFULLY. After reading the questions, return to the passage and look for each answer—even if you think you already know what the correct answer is.

Reading Multiple Choice:

Highlight the correct answer in the reading passage.

All sections except editing and revising:

Use a

dictionary or a thesaurus.

Editing and Revising

Use process of elimination.

Eliminate choices with fragments or run-ons.

Watch out for possessives and apostrophes.

Remember that singular verbs end with –s.

Exemption from Final Essay

Students in English III who pass the ELA TAKS will be able to exempt the essay on the final exam.

Students in Honors or AP who score a 3 or a 4 on the ELA TAKS essay will be able to exempt the essay on the final exam.

The final essay counts 40% of the final exam grade.

Relax, take your time, and do your

best!

SourcesAtkins, Sue. mvc-087s.jpg. March 11, 2003. Pics4Learning. 18 May

2011 http://pics.tech4learning.com

Boggs, Kevin. waikikisunset001.jpg. October 2008. Pics4Learning. 18 May 2011 <http://pics.tech4learning.com>

Fogarty, Kim. img_03781.jpg. December 2010. Pics4Learning. 18 May 2011 http://pics.tech4learning.com

Fogarty, Kim. img_0753.jpg. December 2010. Pics4Learning. 18 May 2011 http://pics.tech4learning.com

Oro, Ann. 2009digitalcamera.jpg. August 11, 2007. Pics4Learning. 18 May 2011 http://pics.tech4learning.com

Brad Townsend

Technology in Today’s Classroom

East Texas Baptist University