Cardinal

Ambrozic C.S.S.

OSSLT

Preparation WRITING:

SHORT WRITING TASK

&

GRAMMARSession # 5

SHORT WRITING TASK:

You will be required to write two (2) short writing

responses.

ONE will be based on your life experience.

TWO will be based on a text from the test.

GRAMMAR:

Select the most correct response

What is a Short Writing Task?

One type of short writing task will be based on

your life experience. There is no correct or

incorrect answer, but be specific when you

explain your answer.

The other type of short writing task is based on

something you have read in the test. Be sure to

include information directly related to the text.

This is one of the types of reading

you will be asked to do on the test.

Short Writing Task (not based on a

reading) It will look like this:

Answer Booklet

Writing

Selection

Short Writing Task (based on a reading) It will look

like this:

Question #7

Writing

Selection

Scoring Guide

Grammar

It will look like this:

Answer Sheet

Short Writing Task

Strategies for beginning the short answer responses.

PLAN

Read the question and choose your response. Underline or circle key

words.

Draft a sentence stating your response. Use the test question to help

you draft your response: copy it or reword it to suit your purpose.

Brainstorm and list three reasons to support your response.

Short Writing Task

Strategies for beginning the short answer responses.

WRITE

Write an opening sentence that states your response.

Write 4 sentences to support your response. Give reasons, explanations

and examples.

Write a concluding sentence that connects to the main idea, beginning with

words and phrases like “That is why”, “Therefore”, or “To sum it up”.

REVIEW

Review and correct. Make sure to have capitals at the start of all sentences

and punctuation (periods, exclamation points) at the end.

Grammar Strategies

Answer every question—no blanks

Eliminate wrong answers—if two seem correct, choose the BEST

one

Don’t skim for answers—you MUST read the text carefully—

even if it seems obvious, double check!

Read the questions “aloud” in your head.

Grammar questions will include: punctuation, capitalization,

combining ideas into one sentence, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence

structure, etc.

NOW YOU TRY

Using the strategies and tips discussed here, complete the

practice short writing task.

You will be required to have a lined piece of paper and a pen

or a pencil for this task.

For the writing task you will be required to write a

response that is no longer than 6 lines in length.

Complete the Multiple Choice Grammar Questions by

selecting the most correct answer.

PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL BE ANSWERING THESE

QUESTIONS IN THE ANSWER BOOKEET DURING THE

OSSLT

Exemplar

What is one thing you would do if you had a day off to

do anything you wanted? Explain why. (Please answer

using no more than 6 lines).

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Check your answer

Grammar Questions:

1) Choose the sentence that does not belong in the

following paragraph.

Beavers are natural engineers. (2) Theses mammals

occupy slow-moving streams and build dams of sticks and

mud. (3) Their dams, which average 10 m to 100 m in

length raise water levels to create ponds. (4) They are one

of Canada’s national symbols. (5) Beavers are relentless

in their efforts to shape their environment.

a) Sentence 2

b) Sentence 3

c) Sentence 4

d) Sentence 5

Grammar Questions:

2) Which word best completes the following

sentence?

_________________ Canada became a country in

1867, it did not officially get its own flag until almost

100 years later, in 1965.

a) While

b) Since

c) Firstly

d) Because

Grammar Questions:

3) Which of the following sentences uses a word with

an apostrophe correctly?

a) You’re gym membership expires in three months.

b) Despite it’s name, there is no coffee in coffee cake.

c) They’re only three spots left on the presentation

schedule.

d) The students determine who’s going to be the class

president.

Grammar Questions:

4) Which option tells how to make the following

sentence correct?

The chairperson of the student council, Marta Alton

was proud of her school’s participation in the

fundraising event.

a) Capitalize “fundraising”.

b) Put a comma after “Alton”.

c) Remove the apostrophe in “school’s”.

d) Replace the comma after “council” with a colon.

Check Your Answers

Read the following selection and answer the short writing response question.

Although the Marshmallow Test was an experiment designed to test self-control in four year- old

nursery school pupils, it has become one possible indicator of future success. At Stanford

University in the 1960s, researchers told children they could have one thing they really wanted

right away—a marshmallow or a candy, for example—but if they could wait 15 minutes, they

could have two. The researchers, led by psychologist Walter Mischel, found only about 30 per

cent of more than 600 children tested could hold out. When Mischel followed up in the 1980s,

he discovered that those who had been able to wait for two marshmallows averaged more

than 10 percent higher on college entrance exams than did those who could wait only 30

seconds. The Marshmallow Test predicted success more accurately than how well the children

were able to read or do math. Their success can be attributed to their ability to control

impulses, sustain attention, and plan and develop strategies to achieve goals. Collectively, these

brain skills are known as “executive function” or “self-regulation.” York University professor

Stuart Shanker says students can learn the ability to self-regulate. Improving executive function

skills involves learning how one’s own brain works, identifying goals and motivations and

learning strategies to accomplish those goals. Shanker stresses that learning executive function

skills is not the same as learning to comply with orders. Exercising self-regulation comes from

within. It is self-directed and it appears to be a key skill in helping kids achieve success.

Open Response Question:

Answer the question below on a separate

piece of paper. Do NOT exceed 6 lines.

Check your Answer

Visit YouTube CA LitKit for more tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8TQJh8RloA&index=5&list=PLIhmQG2vtY_b0ssq4H62CsdP

BUriq2Czy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx4-

MvVzAX0&index=8&list=PLIhmQG2vtY_b0ssq4H62CsdPBUriq2Czy

Short Writing Task and Grammar Questions