Explanatory Writing

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Responding to a Poem for Assessment

Responding to a Poem for Assessment

When you closely read a poem on an assessment, pay attention to the sounds of poetry, such as rhythm, alliteration, and repetition. Also note the meaning of poetry, focusing on features like imagery, metaphor, and symbolism.

Closely read a poem.

Read the following poem, paying attention to sound and meaning.

Source 2

Chicago Poet

Carl Sandburg

I saluted a nobody.

I saw him in a looking-glass.

He smiled—so did I.

He crumpled the skin on his forehead,

     frowning—so did I.

Everything I did he did.

I said, “Hello, I know you.”

And I was a liar to say so.

Ah, this looking-glass man!

Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor,

Soldier, dusty drinker of dust—

Ah! he will go with me

Down the dark stairway

When nobody else is looking,

When everybody else is gone.

He locks his elbow in mine,

I lose all—but not him.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Responding to a Story for Assessment

Warm-Up for Literature Assessment

Some major assessments test your ability to read and respond to literature.

How Can I Practice for Assessment?

Literature Assessment
© Thoughtful Learning 2016

The best way to practice for a reading and writing assessment is to take a practice test, like the one in this unit. You will closely read a story and a poem and write about them. You'll also write a story of your own.

You’ll find a playful story about a girl who tries to get away from her shadow. You’ll also read a poem about a man speaking to his reflection. Read them closely. You’ll be drawing evidence from them to build a response. You’ll also get to experiment with telling a story of your own.

If you would like more help with closely reading literature and responding in writing, see the unit “Reading and Writing Literature for Assessment.”

Responding to a Story for Assessment

When you closely read a story, pay attention to character, setting, conflict, and theme.

Closely read a short story.

Read the following story. You will need to answer questions afterward, but you can refer back as needed.

Source 1

Friend Beneath Your Feet

By Felice Williams

Jana stretched, yawned, and jumped out of bed.

“Ow! Hey! Get off me!”

Startled, Jana jumped back in bed. “Who said that?”

A muffled voice came underneath her. “Me!”

“Who are you?”

“Your shadow, that’s who,” the shadow replied. “I’m pinned underneath you!”

“Sorry!” Jana replied, scrambling off the bed.

“You’re stepping on my feet!” the shadow growled.

Jana lifted her feet, dancing to keep from stepping on the shadow, but every time her foot came down, the shadow was right under it. “Hey, you keep putting your feet under mine!”

“Of course I do. I’m your shadow!”

Jana shook her head. “Then I can’t help stepping on your feet or pinning you to the bed, can I?”

“No, you can’t help it,” her shadow replied, “but at least you could realize you’re doing it. Maybe you wouldn’t stomp around so much if you thought about how you’re always stepping on my feet!”

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Writing On-Demand Essays

Writing On-Demand Essays

A writing assessment gives you a short time to write a paragraph or an essay. To do so, you should use a shortened form of the writing process.

Prewriting (5 Minutes)

Start by reading the writing prompt and analyzing it using the PAST questions.

Sample Writing Prompt

In “Finding Your Instrument” by Tom Diesel, Jamal and his friends are trying to decide what instrument they would like to play. Denny and the others choose saxophone, but Jamal decides on trombone. Why? What motivates Jamal's decision? Write an essay that explains Jamal's choice, using evidence from the source to support your explanation.

Answer the PAST questions.

Purpose? Explain Jamal’s choice

Audience? Tester

Subject? “Finding Your Instrument”

Type? Essay

Write a focus statement.

Jamal realizes he’s better off choosing his own way.

List supporting details.

--Denny is pressuring everyone to play saxophone.

--Denny makes fun of Jamal.

--Jamal tries trombone.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Analyzing Writing Prompts

Analyzing Writing Prompts

Often tests contain writing prompts that you must respond to. Your first step is to understand the writing prompt. Use the PAST questions.

  • Purpose? Why am I writing? (To analyze? To entertain?)
  • Audience? Who will read my writing? (Tester? Classmates?)
  • Subject? What subject should I write about? (Story? Poem?)
  • Type? What type of writing should I create? (Essay? Story?)

Sample Writing Prompt

In “The Most Sensible Car” by Carolyn Asher, Coup is looking for a practical owner. In the end, Coup says, “Nobody wants a truly sensible car these days.” Is he right? What evidence from the story supports your conclusion. Write an essay explaining Coup’s problem with finding an owner, and show what the story says about life.

Answers to PAST Questions

  • Purpose?

    Explain Coup’s problem with finding an owner and show what the story says about life

  • Audience?

    Any other reader

  • Subject?

    “The Most Sensible Car” by Carolyn Asher

  • Type?

    Essay

Note: Some writing prompts do not answer all of the PAST questions. If an answer is not given, infer one (come up with a reasonable answer based on the rest of the information).

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Using Evidence from Sources

Using Evidence from Sources

Whenever you use ideas from a source, you need to name the source and the author. Usually, you put the ideas in your own words (paraphrase them).

Glenda of the Giraffe People

By Leslie Fields

Glenda liked to hang around. Literally. Every recess, she hung from the monkey bars until the line of kids barked her down. Then she would hang from the side braces of the swings. At home, she . . .

In the story “Glenda of the Giraffe People,” Leslie Fields (Title and Author) shows a student who hangs from monkey bars and trees to stretch. . . . (Paraphrase)

If you use the writer’s exact words, put the words in quotation marks. If the quotation is followed by a comma or period, put it inside the end quotation mark.

In the story “Glenda of the Giraffe People,” Leslie Fields (Title and Author) shows a student who “likes to hang around. Literally.” (Quotation) Glenda wants . . .

Paraphrase and quote.

Paraphrase and quote the selection. Credit the title and author.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Analyzing Theme

Analyzing Theme

The theme of a story is a lesson it teaches about life. The theme usually will not be stated outright. You have to infer it from the characters’ actions and words. Ask yourself questions like these.

  • What does the main character learn?

    Glenda learns that she should focus on what she can control (how high she climbs) rather than what she can’t (how tall she is).

  • How does the main character change?

    Glenda stops being a hanger and becomes a climber. She accepts her height and focuses on things she can do instead.

  • How are you changed by reading this story?

    I realize I should accept things I can’t change about myself and focus on what I can do.

  • What is the writer trying to say about life? (theme)

    Don’t focus on what you are given, but on what you do with it.

Read for theme.

Read the following story, watching for theme.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Analyzing Plot

Analyzing Plot

The plot of a story takes a standard shape. The beginning (exposition) introduces character, setting, and conflict. The middle (rising action) raises the level of conflict to a high point (climax). The ending tells what happens afterward (falling action and resolution).

Plot Diagram
By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Analyzing Conflict

Analyzing Conflict

Once you know what a character wants, you can think about the obstacles in the way—what the person has to overcome. Obstacles create conflict. You’ll find six basic types of conflict:

  1. Person versus self means the character is his or her own worst enemy or is struggling to make up his or her mind.
  2. Person versus person pits the character against another character.
  3. Person versus society brings the character into conflict with what other people want or think is okay.
  4. Person versus nature has the person fight weather, animals, wilderness, natural disaster, or forces like aging or gravity.
  5. Person versus supernatural sets the character against fate or magic.
  6. Person versus machine pits the character against computers or technology.
By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Analyzing Characters

Analyzing Characters

Stories focus on people, animals, or humanlike objects called characters. You can analyze a character by describing the person physically and mentally.

  • Name

    Coup, the most sensible car at the dealership

  • Physical description (gender, age, appearance, health, strength, speed)

    He is a new car, “blue, midsized, economical, with a ten-year warranty;” he’s not the fastest, the largest, or the most stylish.

  • Mental description (intelligence, personality, confidence, attitude)

    He is practical and shy. He knows the kind of owner he wants but rarely sees one. He’s picky. He also seems discouraged and closed off.

  • Motivation (what the character wants)

    Coup wants to find a practical owner. He wants to be driven away from the dealership, but he seems afraid to let people try him out.

Read for character.

Pay close attention to the main character and what she wants.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Editing and Publishing Comparison-Contrast Essays

Editing Comparison-Contrast Essays

After revising your essay, you need to edit it to correct any remaining errors. You'll look closely at sentences, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, and spelling. The following activities will help you edit your comparison-contrast essay.

Editing Compound Sentences

Simple sentences have just one complete thought.

Dolphins are playful. They often perform tricks.

Whales can live in cold water. Dolphins prefer warm water.

What if you combined them? A compound sentence joins simple sentences using a comma and and, or, but, for, nor, or so.

Dolphins are playful, and they often perform tricks.

Whales live in warm and cold water, but dolphins prefer warm water.

Combine to create compound sentences.

Combine the pairs of sentences using a comma and the word given in parentheses.

  1. I like helping my mom cook. It's fun to taste our creations. (and)
  2. We were going to go sledding. There was not enough snow. (but)
  3. Special Challenge: Find two simple sentences from your essay. Add a comma and the word and, but, or or to combine the two sentences.

Insert commas where needed.

For each sentence, insert the missing comma before the connecting word to create a compound sentence.

Explanatory Writing