This document provides tips for the TAKS exam, including writing essays, multiple choice, and short answer questions. It emphasizes choosing one specific example, using vivid details, and relating answers back to the prompt. Prewriting techniques like outlining and free writing are recommended. When writing essays, students should show not tell, use snapshots and moments to describe scenes, and focus on one story rather than multiple examples. For multiple choice, re-read passages and highlight answers rather than assuming the first choice is right. Students who pass the TAKS or earn a 3 or 4 on the essay can be exempt from writing another on final exams.

1. Terrific Tropical TAKS Tips

2. Essay: Be specific. Give details. Avoid words likegood,bad, very, etc.

3. 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.”

4. Prewriting helps—really it does! Common Prewriting Techniques: Brainstorming Cubing Outlining Clustering Webbing Venn Diagram Free writing Thinking map

5. 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.

6. Essay Development: “Deep, Not Wide” Focus on one story, not three different examples or reasons.

7. Essay: Remember to use the writing techniques we learned in class.

8. 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.”

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

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

11. Short Answer Answerthe 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.

12. Cross-Over Short Answer + Answer Answer 1 2 Proof Proof 1 2

13. 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.

14. Reading Multiple Choice: Highlightthe correct answer in the reading passage.

15. All sections except editing and revising: Use a dictionary or a thesaurus.

16. 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.

17. Exemption from Final Essay Students inEnglish 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.

18. Relax, take your time, and do your best!

19. Sources Atkins, Sue. mvc-087s.jpg. March 11, 2003. Pics4Learning. 18 May 2011http://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 2011http://pics.tech4learning.com

20. Brad Townsend Technology in Today’s Classroom East Texas Baptist University