OSAS Strategy Notes Worksheet
OSAS ELA Strategy Guide
Mastering the CAT (Multiple-Choice) Assessment
Name:
Date:
The Goal
The OSAS assessment tests your ability to think _____________________ about what you read. We aren't just reading for facts; we are reading for _____________________.
Reading Literature
Reading Informational
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CENTRAL IDEA:
The primary focus of the text.
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SUPPORTING DETAILS:
Facts, statistics, and __________________ that build the central idea.
Non-Fiction Structures
Cause & Effect
Keywords: because, since, therefore
Compare/Contrast
Keywords: __________________________________
Problem/Solution
Keywords: issue, solve, resolve
Chronological
Keywords: __________________________________
The "EBSR" Challenge
OSAS uses Evidence-Based Selective Response. This comes in two parts:
PART A
Your initial answer choice.
PART B
Pick the ________________ that supports your answer in Part A.
Golden Rule: Always find the quote ________________ you pick the answer!
Retelling is...
Summarizing is...
Rule: Keep summaries OBJECTIVE (No _________________!)
Practice & Strategy
Your Test-Taking Kit
Read _________________ First:
Scan what you're looking for before diving into the text.
Annotation Matters:
Use the digital ____________________ to mark evidence for EBSR questions.
Process of Elimination:
Cross out "____________________" answers that are only half-true.
Practice Checkpoint
"The salmon fought against the churning current of the Columbia River, their silver bodies flashing like coins in the sunlight. Despite the daunting heights of the waterfalls and the lurking shadows of bears on the shore, they pressed onward, driven by an ancient instinct to return home."
Which detail best supports the idea that the salmon's journey is difficult?
"silver bodies flashing like coins"
"return home"
"daunting heights of the waterfalls"
"ancient instinct"
Analysis Reflection:
Why did you pick the answer above? Which keyword in the text helped you identify the difficulty?
Think Critically • Read For Meaning • Prove It
