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Step 1 – Read for GIST
Have students skim read or fast read the passage. Students are reading for main ideas not details.

Step 2 – Read the Prompt to Learn the Question
Students often fail to answer the question asked in a prompt. Have students read the prompt to really understand the question. Have students underline or highlight the main question(s). Their goal is to determine what is being asked.

Step 3 – Close Read the Passage
Now that students are aware of the question(s) being asked, have the students read the passage again. This time the students are Close Reading or reading for understanding. Based on the questions asked, students read the story to find evidence to respond to the prompt.

Step 4 – Re-read the Questions

Have students re-read the questions. By re-reading the questions students can focus their answers on the actual question asked. Again, sometimes students just reiterate what was read as opposed to answering the questions based on evidence. Emphasize that they want to respond to what is being asked.

Step 5 – Organize Thoughts

Prior to writing their response, students should organize their evidence and analysis. Using a two column graphic organizer, have students create one column titled ‘Evidence from the Text’ and a second column titled ‘Meaning or Reason for Choosing This Evidence’. In the first column, students can pull information directly from the text. In the Meaning or Reason column, students provide analysis on why they found this evidence important.

Step 6 – Compose Response

Students can now write their response to the question. An excellent first step is for students to turn the question into a statement using the word BECAUSE. This will focus students on the analysis portion of the question. To perform Text Dependent Analysis it is important that students make a statement then use evidence from the passage to explain their statement.

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On page ____, it states…

In paragraph ____, the text says…

The author wrote, “…”

The graphic/illustrations/map/chart indicate…

According to the text…

_____provides proof that…

From what I read in the text, I understand…

Based on _____ in the text, I think…

I think the author mean _____ because he/she says _____.

_____is an example of _____.

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Essential Academic Words

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PSSA Text Dependent Analysis Scoring Guidelines