Does anyone have a plan for scholastic testing prep ??? I do!

Question

So what's up with these tests??? What's the point??What do we have to do on them???

Answer 1

How do you prepare for SAT: The same for the SSAT: These tests are usually based on reading comprehension

The essay prompts have several important things in common:

1. They’re all passages that try to convince the reader of the veracity of the author’s claim
2. They’re all around the same length (650-750 words)

Scholastic tests depend mostly on being able to analyze a text. You will be asked to read an excerpt and follow the prompts. In a text which is focused on some type of argument you will be asked to find within the text the author’s claim/thesis and his reasons/evidence for supporting his claim.

This means that you can have a pretty good idea ahead of time of what types of argument-building techniques you might see when you open the booklet on test day.

The main techniques the author uses aren't going to be overly complex (like the first letter of every word spelling out a secret code), because you just don’t have the time to analyze and write about complex techniques. Because of that, you can prepare yourself with (S)SAT essay examples that’ll be likely found across persuasive passages

What you have to figure out is what the author is trying to persuade his audience

Read the text

Find the author’s claim

Then find the evidence that he uses to convince his audience.

Be sure to look for These Types of Evidence within the Text (What kind of evidence does the author use??)

1. Facts and Statistics (logic) 

Example: 8 of 10 children born in the United States will never know a sky dark enough for the Milky Way

Why are facts and statistics persuasive 

Facts and statistics are persuasive argument building techniques because the author isn't just making up reasons for why his/her argument could possibly be true—there's actually something (data, research, other events/information) that backs up the author's claim.

 

2. Using Expert Opinions -do you trust the author (ethos)

Does the author use expert opinions Find statements that are based on ethos (The credibility of the author-is he an expert or does he use expert opinions and facts as evidence)

Example: The doctors and scientists are promoting safety measures for limiting the spread of Covid based on scientific research.

Why is this type of evidence important in convincing an audience Using expert opinion is a valid way of supporting your claim

 

3. Appeal to Emotion (pathos)

  Can you find any statements that are based on convincing the audience because they make you feel sorry or cause some type of emotional response

Example: Without these safety measures in place the death toll is rising rapidly and families are suffering.

Why is this type of evidence important in convincing an audience

Using emotion is a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response to an impassioned plea or a convincing story.

Scholastic tests usually include vocabulary testing

Vocabulary includes synonyms, antonyms, and analogies

An Essay is Required

Be sure to structure your essay like this:

An intro which introduces the topic in a general way

Then narrows it down to a more specific topic (thesis statement)

                      A transition to the body of the paper

The body which explains the main points of the thesis statement

      Another transition

A conclusion which restates the thesis and discusses the larger picture-the “what will or should happen.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer 2

When you say "scholastic," do you mean the Scholastic Corp., as in the Read 180 program? If so, then the purpose of this test is to determine your Lexile, or the reading level of books that you are reading for pleasure (such as a high-interest novel) and for academic purposes (such as a science textbook).

So for example, I'm a ninth grade English teacher and my students are required to independently read one young adult novel per semester, and then write an analysis essay about their novel. I use their Lexile score from these Scholastic tests to determine what books they should be reading. If a book is too challenging, then students are not likely to finish reading it. If the book is too easy, then students are probably not going to improve their reading skills. So the Lexile allows students to choose a book that's just right for their skill set.

I don't think that there's a set way to study for a Scholastic Corp. test. The best thing you can do to improve your Lexile is to just read more. English teachers seem to emphasize novels, short stories, and poetry, but also note that reading nonfiction and argumentative texts can improve your reading skills, too. As a general rule, I tell my students to read whatever interests them, but also not be afraid to try out something new.