Revising and Editing in Context Understanding and Answering Multiple Choice Items
Using this Powerpoint This powerpoint was created to help you answer more multiple choice items correctly Your goal is to answer all multiple choice items correctly. First, you learn about multiple choice items. Then, you practice answering multiple choice items by predicting and thinking like a stoplight. Next, you learn more about multiple choice items by writing multiple choice items. Finally, you write 2 multiple choice items on your own. Good luck reaching your goal.
Begin by Understanding Multiple Choice Items Multiple choice items use a stem to ask you to select one of the options from a list. Example: 1. What was the writer s purpose? A. to persuade readers to fly kites B. to show readers how to make a kite C. to inform readers about the history of kites D. to entertain readers with a story about kites
Multiple-choice Item Stems The stem is the beginning part of the item that presents: a problem to be solved, a question asked of the test taker, or an incomplete statement to be completed. Example: 1. What was the writer s purpose?
Multiple Choice Item Options The options are the possible answer choices. Example: A. to persuade readers to fly kites B. to show readers how to make a kite C. to inform readers about the history of kites (key) D. to entertain readers with a story about kites The correct answer is called the key and the incorrect answers are called distractors.
How to Successfully Answer Multiple Choice Items Spend time on the stem before reading the options cover the options with your hand or a piece of paper read the question carefully pay attention to key words activate prior knowledge predict an answer
Example Here is the stem: Read the sentence below. These fun activities need lots of important training and safety rules. Which word could replace need in this sentence? Think about all the words you know that could replace the word need. Make a list of the words. Predict an answer.
Was Require on Your List? Read the sentence below. These fun activities need lots of important training and safety rules. Which word could replace need in this sentence? A. require (key) B. want C. play D. show
How to Successfully Answer Multiple Choice Items Read each option carefully and think like a stoplight Read the option and give it a red if it doesn t answer the question or seems ridiculous. Red means stop thinking about this option. Read the option and give it a yellow if it might be the answer to the question because it has some of the same words as the question or it matches the prediction you made from just reading the stem. Yellow means keep thinking about this option Reread all of the options that are yellow. Choose the one that best answers the question and give it a green. Green means it is your go answer, the one you are choosing as the correct answer.
Example Read the sentence below. Many kites today are used for entertainment, but in the past it was used for many important things. What is the conjunction that connects the two sentences? A. In yellow (it is in the middle so it might connect them, so reread and think again) B. Many red (it is at the beginning, it can t connect them, so stop thinking about it) C. Entertainment red (it is a noun, not a conjunction, so stop thinking about it) D. But yellow (it is right after the comma, so it might connect them) green (I also remember that the word but is a conjunction so this is my go answer)
Try Thinking Through Two Examples Here is the stem: This selection is nonfiction because it Think: What is nonfiction? What about this selection is nonfiction? Predict some answers.
Here is the Stem with Options This selection is nonfiction because it 1. shows pictures of alligators. 2. provides facts about alligators. 3. tells a story about alligators. 4. is written from an alligator s point of view. Think: Do any of these answers match my prediction? There may be more than one that matches so be careful and think like a stoplight.
Think Like a Stoplight This selection is nonfiction because it 1. shows pictures of alligators. 2. provides facts about alligators. 3. tells a story about alligators. 4. is written from an alligator s point of view.
Possible Thinking This selection is nonfiction because it 1. shows pictures of alligators. yellow (nonfiction uses pictures but so does fiction, so reread and think again) 2. provides facts about alligators. yellow (nonfiction uses facts but so does fiction, so reread and think again) green (everything in this selection is true so this is my go answer) 3. tells a story about alligators. red (stories are not nonfiction, so stop thinking about it) 4. is written from an alligator s point of view. red (animals don t talk or think in nonfiction books, so stop thinking about it)
Try Thinking with a Partner Here is the stem: In this selection, semi-aquatic means to Think: Do I know any parts of this word? Are there any clues in the selection to help me figure out what this word means? Predict an answer.
Think Like a Stoplight Here is the stem with options: In this selection, semi-aquatic means to A. be in water about half of the time. B. breathe under the water. C. be under the water at all times. D. swim fast in the water. Think: Do any of these answers match my prediction? Be careful, think like a stoplight.
Possible Thinking In this selection, semi-aquatic means to A. be in water about half of the time. yellow (that makes sense to me with what I know about alligators, so reread and think again) green (semi-aquatic reminds me of semi-finals, half the tournament is over, and semi-circle, half a circle, so this is my go answer. B. breathe under the water. red (that would be aquatic not semi-aquatic so stop thinking about it) C. be under the water at all times. red (I ve seen alligators walking on land on tv so stop thinking about it) D. swim fast in the water. yellow (could be, not sure, nothing in the word makes me think of swimming fast though, so reread and think again)
Understanding Multiple Choice Items by Writing Multiple Choice Items Here is a student writing sample: Dear Suzy, Fourth grade is fun. It is not as hard as you probably think, but it is harder than third grade. One of my favorite things is foreign language. You can either take Spanish or French. Both teachers are nice. I take French. For homework on Monday we have math handwriting and reading. On Tuesday, we have reading spelling and handwriting. On Wednesday, we have math and reading. On Thursday, we have the same homework as Tuesday. De don t have homework on Friday. We have to do states tests. We learn abbreviations, capitals and nicknames. We also do state reports. You can choose your own state. I had to find information on the state of Texas. We study inventors. You can also choose your partners and inventors. I was with Cathy and Mark we chose Thomas Edison and Alexander Bell. We make our own inventions. The have special uses. I made a page holder. It make it easy to hold pages. We study Pioneer days. Every afternoon you do you re journal.
Start with Editing Errors What errors did this writer make that could have been fixed through careful editing? Check for these kinds of errors. spelling punctuation capitalization grammar Create a stem about the error Create 4 options One option should be correct Three options should be wrong but plausible Make them all the same length or make 2 short and 2 long
Create a Stem about the Error Some examples: Read the sentence below. For homework on Monday we have math handwriting and reading. Which is the best way to fix or edit this sentence? Read the sentence below. Every afternoon you do you re journal. Which sentence has been fixed or edited correctly?
Try Writing some Options for the First Stem Read the sentence below. For homework on Monday we have math handwriting and reading. Which is the best way to fix or edit this sentence? 1. sentence 1 2. sentence 2 3. sentence 3 4. sentence 4
Writing Revision Stems Multiple choice items for revising in context might be about: Adding details Which of the following is an appropriate detail that could be added about studying pioneer days? Improving word choice Read the sentence below I made a page holder. Which of the following words could be used instead of made? Improving paragraphs Which of the following would improve the first paragraph of this sample?
Try Writing some Options for this Stem with a Partner Read the sentence below I made a page holder. Which of the following words could be used instead of made? 1. word 1 2. word 2 3. word 3 4. word 4
Writing Knowledge about Craft Stems Multiple choice items for knowledge about craft might be about: Identifying genre What genre is this piece of writing? Identifying author s purpose Why did the author write this student sample? Identifying writer s craft Which of the following is an example of a strong verb?
Try Writing some Options for this Stem with a Partner What genre is this piece of writing? 1. genre 1 2. genre 2 3. genre 3 4. genre 4
Now try it with a Partner Here is the student writing sample: I care for my dogs a lot. I feed them three times a day. I let them go outside in our fenced back yard. I like to let them go outside because I can watch them play around. I like to purchase dog toys. I get them a lot of dog toys. I like to get things for my dogs because they do not care what they get. I like to play catch with my dogs. Sometimes we take them for a ride in the car I like to roll down the window and let them stick out their noses. I also like to teach them to did tricks. I can tell they are intelajent. My cat will purr when she is happy. If I put a treat on their nose, they can push it into the air and eat it. I even like to take them for walks at the park at school and around the block. I like it because they do not pull you to the ground like my Uncle Joe s dogs do. I like to care for my dogs because my dogs are very good and my dogs obey me. They are very cool dogs. That s how I care for my dogs.
Create 2 Multiple Choice Items First, consider these editing errors to create a stem spelling punctuation capitalization grammar Then, consider these revising strategies to create a stem adding details improving word choice improving paragraphs Next, consider knowledge about craft to create a stem identifying Genre identifying Author s purpose identifying writer s craft Finally, write 4 options for each stem Make sure the key answer is correct Make sure the distractors are plausible