Revising and Editing

in Context
Understanding and Answering Multiple Choice Items
Using this Powerpoint
 This powerpoint was created to help you answer more
multiple choice items correctly
 Your goal is to answer all multiple choice items
correctly.
 First, you learn about multiple choice items.
 Then, you practice answering multiple choice items by
predicting and thinking like a stoplight.
 Next, you learn more about multiple choice items by
writing multiple choice items.
 Finally, you write 2 multiple choice items on your own.
 Good luck reaching your goal.
Begin by Understanding Multiple
Choice Items
 Multiple choice items use a stem to ask
you to select one of the options from a
list.

Example:
4.What was the writer’s purpose?
A. to persuade readers to fly kites
B. to show readers how to make a kite
C. to inform readers about the history of kites
D. to entertain readers with a story about kites
Multiple-choice Item Stems
The stem is the beginning part of the item
that presents:
 a problem to be solved,
 a question asked of the test taker, or
 an incomplete statement to be
completed.

Example:
7.What was the writer’s purpose?
Multiple Choice Item Options
The options are the possible answer choices.

Example:
A. to persuade readers to fly kites
B. to show readers how to make a kite
C. to inform readers about the history of kites (key)
D. to entertain readers with a story about kites

The correct answer is called the key and the

incorrect answers are called distractors.
How to Successfully Answer
Multiple Choice Items
 Spend time on the stem before reading
the options
 cover the options with your hand or a piece of
paper
 read the question carefully
 pay attention to key words
 activate prior knowledge
 predict an answer
Example
Here is the stem:
Read the sentence below.
These fun activities need lots of important training and
safety rules.
Which word could replace need in this sentence?

Think about all the words you know that could replace the
word need. Make a list of the words. Predict an answer.
Was “Require” on Your List?
Read the sentence below.
These fun activities need lots of important training
and safety rules.
Which word could replace need in this sentence?

E. require (key)
F. want
G. play
H. show
How to Successfully Answer
Multiple Choice Items
 Read each option carefully and think like a
stoplight
◦ Read the option and give it a red if it doesn’t answer the
question or seems ridiculous. Red means stop thinking
about this option.
◦ Read the option and give it a yellow if it might be the
answer to the question because it has some of the same
words as the question or it matches the prediction you
made from just reading the stem. Yellow means keep
thinking about this option
◦ Reread all of the options that are yellow. Choose the
one that best answers the question and give it a green.
Green means it is your go answer, the one you are
choosing as the correct answer.
Example
Read the sentence below.
Many kites today are used for entertainment, but in the
past it was used for many important things.
What is the conjunction that connects the two sentences?

E. In yellow (it is in the middle so it might connect them, so

reread and think again)
F. Many red (it is at the beginning, it can’t connect them, so
stop thinking about it)
G. Entertainment red (it is a noun, not a conjunction, so stop
thinking about it)
H. But yellow (it is right after the comma, so it might
connect them) green (I also remember that the
word “but” is a conjunction so this is my go
answer)
Try Thinking Through
Two Examples
Here is the stem:

This selection is nonfiction because it

Think:
What is nonfiction?
What about this selection is nonfiction?
Predict some answers.
Here is the Stem with Options
This selection is nonfiction because it
2.shows pictures of alligators.
3.provides facts about alligators.
4.tells a story about alligators.
5.is written from an alligator’s point of view.
Think:
Do any of these answers match my prediction?
There may be more than one that matches
so be careful and think like a stoplight.
Think Like a Stoplight
This selection is nonfiction because it
2.shows pictures of alligators.
3.provides facts about alligators.
4.tells a story about alligators.
5.is written from an alligator’s point of view.
Possible Thinking
This selection is nonfiction because it
2. shows pictures of alligators. yellow (nonfiction uses
pictures but so does fiction, so reread and think again)
3. provides facts about alligators. yellow (nonfiction uses
facts but so does fiction, so reread and think again) green
(everything in this selection is true so this is my go
answer)
4. tells a story about alligators. red (stories are not
nonfiction, so stop thinking about it)
5. is written from an alligator’s point of view. red (animals
don’t talk or think in nonfiction books, so stop thinking
about it)
Try Thinking with a Partner
Here is the stem:

In this selection, semi-aquatic means to

Think:
Do I know any parts of this word?
Are there any clues in the selection to help
me figure out what this word means?
Predict an answer.
Think Like a Stoplight
Here is the stem with options:
In this selection, semi-aquatic means to
C.be in water about half of the time.
D.breathe under the water.
E.be under the water at all times.
F. swim fast in the water.

Think:
Do any of these answers match my prediction?
Be careful, think like a stoplight.
Possible Thinking
In this selection, semi-aquatic means to
B. be in water about half of the time. yellow (that makes
sense to me with what I know about alligators, so reread
and think again) green (semi-aquatic reminds me of semi-
finals, half the tournament is over, and semi-circle, half a
circle, so this is my go answer.
C. breathe under the water. red (that would be aquatic not
semi-aquatic so stop thinking about it)
D. be under the water at all times. red (I’ve seen alligators
walking on land on tv so stop thinking about it)
E. swim fast in the water. yellow (could be, not sure, nothing
in the word makes me think of swimming fast though, so
reread and think again)
Understanding Multiple Choice Items by
Writing Multiple Choice Items
Here is a student writing sample:

Dear Suzy,
Fourth grade is fun. It is not as hard as you probably think, but it is harder than
third grade.
One of my favorite things is foreign language. You can either take Spanish or
French. Both teachers are nice. I take French.
For homework on Monday we have math handwriting and reading. On Tuesday,
we have reading spelling and handwriting. On Wednesday, we have math and
reading. On Thursday, we have the same homework as Tuesday. De don’t have
homework on Friday.
We have to do states tests. We learn abbreviations, capitals and nicknames. We
also do state reports. You can choose your own state. I had to find information
on the state of Texas.
We study inventors. You can also choose your partners and inventors. I was
with Cathy and Mark we chose Thomas Edison and Alexander Bell.
We make our own inventions. The have special uses. I made a page holder. It
make it easy to hold pages.
We study Pioneer days.
Every afternoon you do you’re journal.
Start with Editing Errors
 What errors did this writer make that
could have been fixed through careful
editing? Check for these kinds of errors.
◦ spelling
◦ punctuation
◦ capitalization
◦ grammar
 Create a stem about the error
 Create 4 options
◦ One option should be correct
◦ Three options should be wrong but plausible
◦ Make them all the same length or make 2 short and 2
long
Create a Stem about the Error
Some examples:
Read the sentence below.
For homework on Monday we have math handwriting and
reading.
Which is the best way to fix or edit this sentence?

Read the sentence below.

Every afternoon you do you’re journal.
Which sentence has been fixed or edited correctly?
Try Writing some Options
for the First Stem
Read the sentence below.
For homework on Monday we have
math handwriting and reading.
Which is the best way to fix or edit this
sentence?
4.sentence 1
5.sentence 2
6.sentence 3
7.sentence 4
Writing Revision Stems
Multiple choice items for revising in context might be about:
 Adding details
◦ Which of the following is an appropriate detail that could
be added about studying pioneer days?
 Improving word choice
◦ Read the sentence below
I made a page holder.
Which of the following words could be used instead of
made?
 Improving paragraphs
◦ Which of the following would improve the first
paragraph of this sample?
Try Writing some Options
for this Stem with a Partner
Read the sentence below
I made a page holder.
Which of the following words could be used instead of
made?

5.word 1
6.word 2
7.word 3
8.word 4
Writing Knowledge about
Craft Stems
Multiple choice items for knowledge about
craft might be about:

 Identifying genre
◦ What genre is this piece of writing?
 Identifying author’s purpose
◦ Why did the author write this student sample?
 Identifying writer’s craft
◦ Which of the following is an example of a strong
verb?
Try Writing some Options
for this Stem with a Partner
What genre is this piece of writing?

2.genre 1
3.genre 2
4.genre 3
5.genre 4
Now try it with a Partner
Here is the student writing sample:
I care for my dogs a lot. I feed them three times a day. I
let them go outside in our fenced back yard. I like to let
them go outside because I can watch them play around. I
like to purchase dog toys. I get them a lot of dog toys. I
like to get things for my dogs because they do not care
what they get. I like to play catch with my dogs. Sometimes
we take them for a ride in the car I like to roll down the
window and let them stick out their noses. I also like to
teach them to did tricks. I can tell they are intelajent.
My cat will purr when she is happy. If I put a treat on
their nose, they can push it into the air and eat it. I
even like to take them for walks at the park at school and
around the block. I like it because they do not pull you to
the ground like my Uncle Joe’s dogs do. I like to care for
my dogs because my dogs are very good and my dogs obey me.
They are very cool dogs. That’s how I care for my dogs.
Create 2 Multiple Choice Items
 First, consider these editing errors to create a stem
◦ spelling
◦ punctuation
◦ capitalization
◦ grammar
 Then, consider these revising strategies to create a stem
◦ adding details
◦ improving word choice
◦ improving paragraphs
 Next, consider knowledge about craft to create a stem
◦ identifying Genre
◦ identifying Author’s purpose
◦ identifying writer’s craft
 Finally, write 4 options for each stem
◦ Make sure the key answer is correct
◦ Make sure the distractors are plausible