The State of Texas Academic Assessment of Readiness (STAAR®) will ask students in grades 6-10 to write both short and extended constructed responses. This STAAR® guide provides educators of grades 6-12 with strategies to teach students how to analyze a passage and write the short and extended constructed responses for literary, nonliterary, and argumentation.

The first half of the guide starts with a review of the Jane Schaffer Academic Writing terminology and process. It quickly moves into a STAAR short and extended constructed response model, demonstrating the two planning pages for students to practice for test time implementation. The second half of the guide focuses on nonliterary and argumentation, working with nonfiction passages and issues, respectively, while applying the same planning pages for consistency and success. Each step in the process is aligned with grade level Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, Assessed Curriculum, and Blueprints. In addition to the writing component on the exam, strategies include close reading for the multiple-choice sections.

For interested educators, JSWP® offers an accompanying workshop and/or webinar series.

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