Writing Tips for the OK Writing Test

1. 2015 Writing Test Tips
What type of writing should we
expect on the test in February?
What strategy do we KNOW will help
our students be successful?

2. What type of writing should
we expect on the State Test?
5th Grade - Be prepared for Opinion,
Expository, Narrative
8th Grade – Be prepared for Argument,
Expository, Narrative
2

3. Strategy for Success:
Don’t lift the text –
PARAPHRASE!
One of the main score-dippers in
the 2014 State Writing
Assessment was “lifting text
directly off the page and dropping
it in your writing – word for word.”
3

4. Paraphrasing Activity
1. Read the 3rd paragraph of the article about
Wikipedia.
2. Choose 1 important word (besides
Wikipedia) from the 3rd paragraph and write it
on the back of your notecard (or the back of
your article).
4

5. Paraphrasing Activity
3. Read the paragraph again.
4.This time choose 2 more important words
(besides Wikipedia) from the paragraph and
write them on the back of your notecard (or
the back of your article).
HINT: THIS IS CLOSE READING!!
5

6. Paraphrasing Activity
IF THE PARAGRAPH IS LENGTHY:
5. Read the paragraph again.
6. This time choose 2 more important words
(besides Wikipedia) from the paragraph and
write them on the back of your notecard (or
the back of the article).
6

7. Paraphrasing Activity
7. Turn the article over (don’t peek)!
8. Write from memory using the 4-5
important words you chose to guide your
PARAPHRASING. Plug in the important
words to write one or two sentences in your
own words.
7

8. Paraphrasing Activity
It is IMPORTANT to PARAPHRASE!!
Practice not looking at the author’s
words, and be careful NOT to LIFT the
author’s words when you write.
PARAPHRASE!!
8