Sea Glass Treasure Hunts

1. Sea Glass Sandy’s teacher has asked the class to write a story about something the her family enjoys doing together. Sandy decides to write about hunting for sea glass. She makes these notes. Use them to answer the questions that follow. • My grandparents and I hunt for sea glass at the beach. • One time I thought I had found the biggest piece. • We go on our searches in the early morning. • We keep the sea glass on display in their beach cottage. • My grandfather and I compete to find the most sea glass. • Which of these best describes the reason for writing this story? • A to inform • B to explain • C to entertain • D to persuade • Based on these notes which of these is the best title for Sandy’s story? • F The Hunt for Hidden Treasure • G A Day At The Beach • H Grandparents Make Life Fun • J Summer Fun At The Beach provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

2. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: The writing subtest of the Grade 8 English test will have a series of brief scenarios, each of which defines a writing task for a specified audience. Items following the statement of the writing task will address planning or prewriting activities relevant to the specified task and will be coded to the Planning, Composing, and Revising reporting category. A rough draft of a response to the specified writing task will follow the planning/prewriting test items. The rough draft will be divided into sections. The first section will have errors which require revision such as the inclusion of a sentence that does not belong or two sentences that need to be combined. Items following the first section of the rough draft will require the student to correct these errors by choosing the correct revision from the answer choices provided. These items will also be coded to the Planning, Composing, and Revising reporting category. The second section of the rough draft will contain embedded errors in usage or mechanics. Items following this section will refer to underlined words or groups of words in the second section of the rough draft and will require students to choose the answer which represents correct usage or mechanics. These items will be coded to the Editing reporting category. In some cases, the underlined words will contain no error and the correct answer will be "as it is." Following the expanded blueprint is a list of usage and mechanics skills which are addressed in the Editing reporting category. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

3. Read the first part of Sandy’s rough draft. Use it to answer the questions below. (1)One of my favorite things to do with my family is go on sea glass hunts. (2)During the summer, my grandparents and I go almost every morning. (3)The morning is the best time to find sea glass on the beach. (4)Sea glass is found in many different colors. (5)My favorite is bright blue. (6)My room is also bright blue. (7)Sea glass is very difficult to find. (8)That is why we call our searches for sea glass treasure hunts. • How can sentences 2 and 3 best be combined? • A During the summer, my grandparents and I go to the beach almost every morning because it is the best time to find sea glass on the beach. • B During the summer, my grandparents and I go on a hunt almost every morning because it is the best time to find sea glass on the beach. • C My grandparents and I go to the beach almost every morning because it is the best time to find sea glass during the summer. • D The morning is best time to find sea glass on the beach during the summer my grandparents and I go almost every morning. • Which sentence should be removed from this portion of the essay because it does not focus the topic? • F sentence 3 • G sentence 4 • H sentence 5 • J sentence 6 provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

4. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the revising stage of the writing process students will revise for focus, organization, and elaboration. To assist students in developing these skills direct instruction must take place on including important details, deleting unnecessary information and varying sentences. The Standards of Learning writing assessments ask students to use their revising skills to identify ways to improve a passage that is provided. To be successful on this section of the test, students must be able to suggest the best way to combine provided sentences, choose a more descriptive way to write provided sentences and locate unneeded information. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

5. Read the next part of Sandy's rough draft. Use it to answer the questions below. (9)One August morning, my Granny and my Pappy and me went on one of our quests for ocean treasure. (10)We always have contests to see who will find the first piece. (11)The waves crashed at our feet. (12)Leaving the glistening shells and rocks on the beach. (13)For a moment, I thought I had found the first piece of glass. (14)Unfortunately, it was a green piece of seaweed. • How is my granny and pappy and mebest written? • A my Granny, my Pappy, and me • B my Granny, and my Pappy, and me • C my Granny, my Pappy, and I • D as it is • Which of the following is not a complete sentence? • F sentence 10 • G sentence11 • H sentence12 • J sentence13 provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

6. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the editing stage of the writing process students will edit for correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling and sentence construction. Students should be provided with many opportunities to edit and correct punctuation in their writing and the writing of their classmates. The Standards of Learning writing assessments ask students to edit a given passage for punctuation, correct case and number, verb tense, and comparative and superlative degrees. Students will be expected to understand the use of conjunctions and transitional words. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

7. Read the next part of Sandy’s rough draft. Use it to answer the questions below. (15)A few minutes later, Pappy called out “I found a big one.” (16)Disappointed that I did not find the first piece, I trudged over to look at Pappy’s find. (17)He laughed when he revealed a small brown stone. (18)He love teasing me. 7 How is sentence 15 best written? A A few minutes later, Pappy called out, “I found a big one.” B A few minutes later, “Pappy called out, “I found a big one.” C A few minutes later, Pappy called out. “I found a big one.” D as it is 8 How is sentence 18 best written? F He did loves teasing me. G He do love teasing me. H He loved teasing me. J as it is provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

8. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the editing stage of the writing process students will edit for correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, spelling and sentence construction. Students should be provided with many opportunities to edit and correct punctuation in their writing and the writing of their classmates. The Standards of Learning writing assessments ask students to edit a given passage for punctuation, correct case and number, verb tense, and comparative and superlative degrees. Students will be expected to understand the use of conjunctions and transitional words. provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

9. Read the next part of Sandy’s rough draft. Use it to answer the questions below. (19)I went straight back to work and this time I searched more carefully. (20)All of a sudden, a huge wave came crashing around my ankles. (21)I fell into the water and came up soaking wet. (22)I recognized Granny’s and Pappy’s laughter behind me. (23)As I stood up, however, I saw something sparkle just a few steps away. (24)I walked closer and could see it was the treasure of all treasures. (25)I reached down picked it up and shouted, “Found it!” (26)It was the most beautiful, biggest piece of sea glass we had ever seen. 9 In sentence 19, how is more carefully correctly written? A more careful B more carefuller C carefullier D as it is 10 How is sentence 25 best written? F I reached down, picked it up and, shouted, “Found it!” G I reached, down picked it up, and shouted, “Found it!” H I reached down, picked it up, and shouted, “Found it!” J as it is provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.

10. Answer Sheet – For Teacher Use Notes to Teacher: During the editing stage of the writing process students will edit for use of language, capitalization, punctuation and spelling. Students can earn 14 multiple choice points and 8 possible score from the direct-writing component by accurately editing. On the Grade 8 Standards of Learning writing assessments students will edit for the use of: provided bySimply Achieve, Inc.