Keystone Prep ! Session 2

1. Keystone Prep! Session 2 Welcome everyone! If you have any questions, please type them to us 

2. Keystone Prep Sessions • Algebra, Biology and English (Literature) • Any student VC or LI who is taking the Keystone Exam and would like help with preparation –all grades are welcome!

3. Who takes Keystones? • All 11th graders regardless of class enrollment . • Any student currently enrolled in English 10, Algebra, or Biology (any grade level) • Any 10th grader who has previously taken Algebra or Biology!

4. Testing Dates • The Keystone test dates are: • May 13th-LiteratureMay 14th-Algebra May 15th-Biology • There will be a morning and afternoon sessions.  Students with last names A-L will test in the mornings. M-Z will test in the afternoon. • IS staff will contact students to schedule-if you have a question about if you are to take a test-please ask your IS.

5. Let’s Review! • Last week we discussed open ended responses and what a top score looked like. Let’s now look at a few examples of poor responses as well. • Does anyone remember the method we recommended using last week to answer open ended questions? Hint: Three letters!

6. The Question…

7. Scoring Guidelines

8. Top-Response (3 points)

9. 2 point response

10. 1 point response

11. Vocabulary Words! • Obviously, an important part of testing is understanding what the question is asking you to do! Lets take some time to review some terms you will need to be familiar with for the Keystones!

12. Alliteration • The repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words. • Example: She sat of the soft, silky, silver couch. • Think of tongue twisters!

13. Allusion • An implied or direct reference in literature to a familiar person, place, event, or other piece of literature. • Example: If you were to say, “I have a dream,” in a speech, what would you be alluding to?

14. Antonym • A word that has the opposite meaning of another word. • Example: Hot vs. Cold • Example: Angry vs. Happy

15. Author’s Purpose • The author’s intent either to inform or teach someone about something, to entertain people or to persuade or convince his/her audience to do or not to do something. • Look for the message. If there is a call to action (the writer is urging you to take action) you are probably reading a persuasive piece.

16. Bias • The subtle presence of a positive or negative approach toward a topic. • Example: I hated my British Literature course last year, so I am going to hate my American Literature course this year too.

17. Characterization • The method an author uses to reveal characters and their various traits and personalities • Indirect: Appearance, Dialogue, Internal Thoughts, Actions, and Effects • Direct: The author provides you with the information. No guesswork needed. Example: Maria has dark hair and large almond eyes.

18. Dialect • A variety of language distinct from the standard variety in pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary. • Example: In Western PA we say, “Pop.” In the South they will use “Coke” or “Soda.”

19. Diction • An author’s choice of words, phrases, sentence structures and figurative language, which combine to help create meaning and tone.

20. Differentiate • Distinguish, tell apart, and recognize differences between two or more items. • Please differentiate between the two short stories, “Call” and “Answer.”

21. Conclusion • We will continue to cover more vocabulary next week. • Any questions??