TEST-TAKING STRATEGY USING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Transcription

1 RUBIES TEST-TAKING STRATEGY USING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

2 What is RUBIES? RUBIES is a critical thinking based test taking strategy for taking tests. Can be used on any content test such as science, social studies or math.

3 THE GOALS Become a confident test taker Read for understanding Show what you know GET THE ANSWER RIGHT!!!!!!!

4 Remember RUBIES Write the word RUBIES on your paper and copy the acronym.

5 RUBIES R U B I E S Read and reread everything. Underline the question. Bracket the key words or phrases. Identify the key concept or pattern. Eliminate the wrong answers. Select the best answer.

6 Step 1 - Read Everything 1. Read directions and instructions first before reading questions. 2. Read all tables, pictures, charts, and graphs associated with question first. 3. Read all parts of the question, do not skip any parts of the question.

7 STEP 1 Cont. Read and Reread EVERYTHING 1. The main idea in this step is to collect as much information as possible. 2. Use the sample problem to apply this step. 3. Place a small checkmark next to each part of the problem as you read it.

8 Sample Problem List A Glass beaker Wooden spoon Plastic cup Rubber band List B Copper wire Steel bolt Nickel-plated fork Iron wrench Marcus and Anne were going through some things in their attic to use in an experiment at school. As they sorted through the objects that they found they put them into two boxes. What would be the best label for the objects in List B? A. Magnetic objects B. Hard objects C. Electrical Conductors D. Thermal Insulators

9 Sample Problem - Step 1 R List A Glass beaker Wooden spoon Plastic cup Rubber band List B Copper wire Steel bolt Nickel-plated fork Iron wrench Marcus and Anne were going through some things in their attic to use in an experiment at school. As they sorted through the objects that they found they put them into two boxes. What would be the best label for the objects in List B? A. Magnetic objects B. Hard objects C. Electrical Conductors D. Thermal Insulators

10 STEP 2 Underline Question 1. The main idea of this step is to help you identify the information in the problem. 2. You need to understand the question. 3. Underlining the question helps you to focus on what is being asked, and find it quickly when you refer back to it.

11 Sample Problem - Step 2 RU List A Glass beaker Wooden spoon Plastic cup Rubber band List B Copper wire Steel bolt Nickel-plated fork Iron wrench Marcus and Anne were going through some things in their attic to use in an experiment at school. As they sorted through the objects that they found they put them into two boxes. What would be the best label for the objects in List B? A. Magnetic objects B. Hard objects C. Electrical Conductors D. Thermal Insulators

12 STEP 3 [Bracket] Key Words 1. The main idea of this step is to help the you organize the information 2. Focus your attention on key words or concepts in the problem. 3. [Bracket] all key vocabulary words (i.e. science) and any words giving specialized directions; 4. Circle any words whose meaning you don't know

13 Sample Problem Step 3 RUB List A [Glass] beaker [Wooden] spoon [Plastic] cup [Rubber] band List B [Copper] wire [Steel] bolt [Nickel-plated] fork [Iron] wrench Marcus and Anne were going through some things in their attic to use in an [experiment] at school. As they sorted through the objects that they found they put them into two boxes. What would be the best [label] for the objects in List B? A. Magnetic objects B. Hard objects C. Electrical Conductors D. Thermal Insulators

14 STEP 4 - Identify the Key Concept or Pattern 1. The main idea of this step is to analyze the information in the question. 2. Here is where the hard work begins. 3. Examine the key words, graphs, pictures, etc. 4. Find an organizing idea or pattern behind the question.

15 Sample Problem Step 4 RUBI List A List B [Glass] beaker [Copper] wire [Wooden] spoon [Steel] bolt [Plastic] cup [Nickel-plated] fork [Rubber] band [Iron] wrench Non-metals objects Metals objects Key concept: Conductors or insulators? Marcus and Anne were going through some things in their attic to use in an [experiment] at school. As they sorted through the objects that they found they put them into two boxes. What would be the best [label] for the objects in List B? A. Magnetic objects B. Hard objects C. Electrical Conductors D. Thermal Insulators

16 STEP 5 Eliminate the Wrong Answers 1. The main idea of this step is to test the answer choices. Read them all first! 2. Eliminate the ones that CANNOT be true. 3. Focus on eliminating answers with facts and logic that connects back to key word. 4. An answer choice should not be eliminated without justification.

17 Sample Problem Step 5 RUBIE List A [Glass] beaker [Wooden] spoon [Plastic] cup [Rubber] band List B [Copper] wire [Steel] bolt [Nickel-plated] fork [Iron] wrench Conductors or Non-metals objects Metals objects insulators? Marcus and Anne were going through some things in their attic to use in an [experiment] at school. As they sorted through the objects that they found they put them into two boxes. What would be the best [label] for the objects in List B? X Magnetic objects Copper is NOT magnetic B. Hard objects C. Electrical Conductors X Thermal Insulators Metal CONDUCTS heat Key concept:

18 STEP 6 - Select the Best Answer 1. The main idea of this step is to evaluate the remaining answer choices. 2. There will often be one or two possibly correct answer choices. 3. But one answer is always much better than the others. 4. Try to explain why, and how it connects to key word or concept.

19 Sample Problem Step 6 RUBIES List A [Glass] beaker [Wooden] spoon [Plastic] cup [Rubber] band Non-metals objects List B [Copper] wire [Steel] bolt [Nickel-plated] fork [Iron] wrench Metals objects Key concept: Conductors or insulators? Marcus and Anne were going through some things in their attic to use in an [experiment] at school. As they sorted through the objects that they found they put them into two boxes. What would be the best [label] for the objects in List B? X Magnetic objects Copper is NOT magnetic X Hard objects Glass could be harder than copper C. Electrical Conductors ALL metals conduct electricity X Thermal Insulators Metal CONDUCTS heat

20 Let s take this TAKS question and break it down in such a way that we can be very confident that we have the answer correct.

21 Let s give it a try.. Check each time you read the question Find key words and key concepts Reword or rewrite the question. Which answer choice is right? YES X Make sure chart information really supports answer choice X X

22 So what is the big deal about reading the question more than once? There is GREAT power in observation. Check out the next couple of slides.

23 Can you find 5 horses?

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25 Can you find 5 wolves?

26 Actually, the two lines are the same length!

27 What do YOU see in this picture?

28 Learning to look at things and read passages for understanding takes practice. The more you focus on your learning, the more exciting the learning becomes!