A comprehensive lesson focused on TEKS 9C and 9D, preparing students for the Texas English EOC by practicing revision and editing skills using a realistic student personal essay.
A. I spent hours staring at a blank canvas, waiting for inspiration to strike me like a bolt of lightning.
B. I spent hours staring at a blank canvas and wait for inspiration to strike me like a bolt of lightning.
C. I spending hours staring at a blank canvas, wait for inspiration to strike me like a bolt of lightning.
D. I spent hours staring at a blank canvas, I waited for inspiration to strike me like a bolt of lightning.
3. The author wants to provide a better transition between sentence 7 and sentence 8. Which of the following should be added to the beginning of sentence 8?
A. In conclusion,
B. Inspired by her words,
C. Similarly,
D. On the other hand,
4. What is the correct way to write sentence 16?
A. Adding jagged lines of yellow for lightning. And deep shadows below.
B. I added jagged lines of yellow for lightning and deep shadows below.
C. Jagged lines of yellow for lightning and deep shadows below were added by me.
D. Sentence 16 is correct as written.
5. Sentence 11 and 12 can be combined to improve clarity and flow. Which of the following is the best way to combine these sentences?
A. I felt my heart sink because it looked like a bruised sky.
B. I felt my heart sink, and then looking like a bruised sky.
C. My heart sank as I realized the purple smear made the canvas look like a bruised sky.
D. Feeling my heart sink, I saw the sky bruised.
6. Which sentence could be added after sentence 18 to better describe the details of the painting?
A. Painting is a very relaxing hobby for many people.
B. I also used a variety of different brushes to get the textures right.
C. Each stroke of my brush brought the rugged terrain and the restless water to life.
D. Ms. Aris was very impressed when she saw my progress.
7. What change should be made in sentence 26?
A. Change mistake to mistakes
B. Change has became to had become
C. Change focal point to focul point
D. Change work to works
8. What change, if any, should be made in sentence 23?
A. Change judge to Judge
B. Insert a comma after stopped
C. Change long time to long-time
D. No change is needed.
9. The author wants to use a more descriptive word than crowded in sentence 21. Which word would be the best replacement?
A. gathered
B. swarmed
C. stood
D. walked
10. What is the best way to revise sentence 27 to improve sentence effectiveness?
A. Now, whenever I face a blank canvas or when I am facing a difficult challenge, I don't fear making errors.
B. Now, facing a blank canvas or a difficult challenge, errors aren't feared by me.
C. Now, whenever I face a blank canvas or a difficult challenge, I approach them without fear of making mistakes.
D. No revision is needed.
11. What change, if any, should be made in sentence 1?
A. Change Spring Art Showcase to spring art showcase
B. Change school to School
C. Change Event to event
D. No change is needed.
12. Which of these sentences could best follow sentence 24 to strengthen the conclusion of the third paragraph?
A. I was so glad I didn't give up on the painting after the mistake.
B. The judge was wearing a very nice suit that night.
C. Most paintings at the showcase were traditional portraits.
D. My parents took me out for ice cream after the event was over.
13. What change, if any, should be made in sentence 2?
A. Change their to there
B. Change Students to They
C. Change their to they're
D. No change is needed.
14. The author wants to end the essay with a thought-provoking closing statement. Which sentence should replace sentence 28?
A. Mistakes are just a part of life that we have to deal with every day.
B. I will always remember what Ms. Aris told me about my art project.
C. Sometimes, the flaws we try so hard to hide are exactly what make our stories worth telling.
D. I hope to enter the showcase again next year with an even bigger painting.
15. What is the correct way to write sentence 14?
A. I remembering what Ms. Aris had said.
B. I remembered what Ms. Aris says.
C. Remembering what Ms. Aris had said, I decided to keep going.
D. Sentence 14 is correct as written.
16. Sentence Flow Challenge
Read sentences 13 and 14 again. Combine these two sentences in a way that creates a smoother flow and shows a clear relationship between the thoughts.
The original sentence is a correctly constructed simple sentence in the past tense.
Question 16: Scoring Guide
Target: TEKS 9C (Sentence Effectiveness and Parallel Construction)
Acceptable Responses (Strong Flow):
"Although I wanted to throw the whole thing away, I remembered what Ms. Aris had said."
"I wanted to throw the whole thing away until I remembered Ms. Aris's advice."
"Remembering what Ms. Aris had said, I overcame my desire to throw the painting away."
Weak Responses (Poor Flow/Redundant):
"I wanted to throw it away, and I remembered Ms. Aris." (Lacks a clear logical connection)
"I wanted to throw the whole thing away but I remembered what Ms. Aris said she said." (Redundant)
