PREPARING FOR THE PREPARING FOR THE OSSLTOSSLT

Thursday, March 27Thursday, March 27

Glenforest S. S.(www.eqao.com)

Thursday March 27th , 2013 Breakfast 8:00 to 8:30

Cafeteria(Thank you to School Council)

EQAO

8:45 students travel to class

9:00 Student Instructions

9:15 Booklet 1 begins

10:30 Booklet 1 ends

10:30 to 10:45 BREAK

10:50 Booklet 2 begins

12:05 Booklet 2 ends

12:05 student questionnaire

12:20 students dismissed

WHAT WHAT YOUYOU NEED TO DO FOR NEED TO DO FOR THE OSSLTTHE OSSLT

On On Thursday, March 27Thursday, March 27thth at 8:00 a.m., all Grade 10 students in at 8:00 a.m., all Grade 10 students in Ontario will write the OSSLT. Ontario will write the OSSLT.

BE HERE AND BE READY TO WRITE. BE HERE AND BE READY TO WRITE.

Make sure you go to the free breakfast in the cafeteria, compliments of Make sure you go to the free breakfast in the cafeteria, compliments of your School Councilyour School Council

Bring the following: Bring the following: Blue or black pensBlue or black pens pencilspencils a highlightera highlighter

The BasicsThe Basics

The test consists of The test consists of twotwo booklets booklets

You have 1 hour and 15 minutes to You have 1 hour and 15 minutes to answer each booklet. Once the time is up, answer each booklet. Once the time is up, that booklet is sealed and collected.that booklet is sealed and collected.

Each booklet will test you on your reading Each booklet will test you on your reading and writing abilitiesand writing abilities

You may You may not not leave earlyleave early

READING -- Four typesREADING -- Four types

InformationalInformational (225-250 words) (225-250 words) paragraphparagraph and and news reportnews report

Narrative Narrative (225-250 words) (225-250 words) dialoguedialogue and and real-life narrativereal-life narrative (about 600 words) (about 600 words)

Graphic TextGraphic Text (fewer than 150 words) (fewer than 150 words) could be a map, pamphlet, schedule etc. could be a map, pamphlet, schedule etc.

News Report News Report which presents information in which presents information in the form of a news story the form of a news story

READING QUESTIONSREADING QUESTIONSQuestions will be either Questions will be either multiple choicemultiple choice or or open-open-responseresponse ( (short answer of 6 lines each -- a short answer of 6 lines each -- a summary of information paragraph and questions summary of information paragraph and questions on the news report and the dialogueon the news report and the dialogue))

Only Only threethree types of questions that can be types of questions that can be asked:asked:– Right thereRight there ( (directly stateddirectly stated))– You and the authorYou and the author (using info provided plus (using info provided plus

your own ideas -- your own ideas -- inferenceinference))– On your own/making connectionsOn your own/making connections ( (personal personal

opinion based on knowledge and experience, opinion based on knowledge and experience, always the open-response questionsalways the open-response questions) )

READING SUCCESSREADING SUCCESSRead the questions first so you know what to look for as Read the questions first so you know what to look for as you are reading the article you are reading the article Highlight points that you will use Highlight points that you will use If you become confused stop and reread the part you If you become confused stop and reread the part you don’t understanddon’t understand

For the For the Multiple Choice QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions: : - read the question carefully - read the question carefully If you are not sure of the answer If you are not sure of the answer - rule out any incorrect answers - rule out any incorrect answers - choose the - choose the bestbest or or most correctmost correct answer answer -Record your answer on the -Record your answer on the Student Student Answer SheetAnswer Sheet as instructed as instructed

For the For the Open-Response Reading QuestionsOpen-Response Reading Questions: : - read the question carefully - read the question carefully - keep your answer within the six lines provided - keep your answer within the six lines provided - use specific and relevant details and info from - use specific and relevant details and info from the reading and make sure you proofread the reading and make sure you proofread

Writing questions and tasksWriting questions and tasks

Multiple choice questionsMultiple choice questions - - organization of ideas organization of ideas - sentence and paragraph structure - sentence and paragraph structure - language conventions: capitalization - language conventions: capitalization & punctuation& punctuation

Short writing tasksShort writing tasks - six lines each based on your response to set prompts - six lines each based on your response to set prompts

Long writing tasks Long writing tasks - News Report - News Report (one page)(one page) - Series of Paragraphs expressing an - Series of Paragraphs expressing an opinionopinion (two pages)(two pages)

WRITING SUCCESSWRITING SUCCESSNEWS REPORTNEWS REPORT (one page) (one page) - based on the picture and headline - based on the picture and headline given - students are to write given - students are to write about an event that has already happened about an event that has already happened using 3rd person - using 3rd person - should answer WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, should answer WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW and include a quotationWHY and HOW and include a quotation

SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS EXPRESSING AN SERIES OF PARAGRAPHS EXPRESSING AN OPINIONOPINION (two pages) (two pages) - write a minimum of three paragraphs (intro, development and - write a minimum of three paragraphs (intro, development and conclusion) conclusion)

- plan before you begin writing - plan before you begin writing

- - clearlyclearly state your opinion at the beginning state your opinion at the beginning

- support your opinion with examples and facts - support your opinion with examples and facts

- make sure the divisions between paragraphs are clear- make sure the divisions between paragraphs are clear

OSSLT SUCCESSOSSLT SUCCESSManage your timeManage your time

Follow the instructionsFollow the instructions

Listen to the teacher in chargeListen to the teacher in charge

Read each question carefully Read each question carefully

Answer every questionAnswer every question

Use ALL of the space provided for each Use ALL of the space provided for each answeranswer

Don’t write more than the space allowsDon’t write more than the space allows

ProofreadProofread at the end at the end

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked QuestionsFAQsFAQs

Is the test difficult?Is the test difficult?•The test is designed to reflect the requirements of the Ontario curriculum in reading The test is designed to reflect the requirements of the Ontario curriculum in reading and writing that you should have acquired by the end of grade 9and writing that you should have acquired by the end of grade 9

Who marks my test?Who marks my test?•Qualified individuals who have received special training for this purposeQualified individuals who have received special training for this purpose

Does my name appear anywhere?Does my name appear anywhere?•Only on the Student Answer SheetOnly on the Student Answer Sheet

When and how will I know my results?When and how will I know my results?•By the end of the school year you will receive an Individual Student ReportBy the end of the school year you will receive an Individual Student Report

What if I don’t pass?What if I don’t pass?•You can take the test again next year or talk to your parents/teacher/counsellor about You can take the test again next year or talk to your parents/teacher/counsellor about taking the OLC course insteadtaking the OLC course instead

Any Questions?Any Questions?See Mrs. Marsh or Mr. Fink in Room 116See Mrs. Marsh or Mr. Fink in Room 116

Get a Get a Don’t Panic 2.0 Workbook Don’t Panic 2.0 Workbook from Room 116 from Room 116 if your are NOT currently in a gr. 10 English if your are NOT currently in a gr. 10 English class for only $10class for only $10

Do some practice questions and answers in the Do some practice questions and answers in the Workbook Workbook and check your answers at the backand check your answers at the back

Go to our website and check out the support Go to our website and check out the support documents documents

Visit the official EQAO OSSLT website at Visit the official EQAO OSSLT website at www.eqao.com to see last year’s test to see last year’s test

Good Luck!Good Luck!Remember to get a good night’s sleep for Remember to get a good night’s sleep for a full week before the testa full week before the test

Eat a good breakfast and come to the Eat a good breakfast and come to the breakfast provided by the School Council breakfast provided by the School Council in the cafeteriain the cafeteria

Bring a snack and some water for the Bring a snack and some water for the breakbreak

Don't panic because you are prepared Don't panic because you are prepared