Summary

 

Directions:

·         Reading the following informational article

·         As you read, you may mark the article or make notes.  Marks and notes will not be scored.

·         After reading the article you will have 60 minutes to read, plan, write and proofread.

·         You may reread or go back to the article at any time during the test.

 

Scoring:

Your writing will be scored on how well you:

·         state the main ideas of the article

·         identify the most important details that support the main ideas

·         use your own words in writing the summary

·         use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization

 

 

Frog or Toad

(from CDE STAR Testing Released Questions)

                Some frogs and toads look very much alike.  They are cousins in the animal family, but frogs and toads are not the same.

                Frogs have round bodies, big heads, and no necks.  Their eyes stick out from the tops of their heads.  They also have big mouths and sticky tongues.  Many types of frogs have teeth on their upper jaws.

                Frogs skin is smooth.  It also feels wet, as if the frog has just stepped out of a shower.  So about every ten days, when their skin becomes too tight, frogs shed their old skin.  They have brand new skin underneath.

                Frogs have short front legs and long back legs.  Their back legs are also very strong.  This allows them to move quickly by jumping long distances.

                Most types of frogs need to live close to water.  Their bodies are made for living in water.  During the day, you might find some frogs sitting near water.  They never go very far away from it, though.

                Toads have stoat bodies, big heads, and no necks.  Their eyes sit on top of their heads, and they also have big mouths and sticky tongues.  Toads do not have teeth.

                Toads have skin that is bumpy and rough.  It feels very dry.  Toads also take off their old skin.  However, they need new skin every three or four days.

                Toads have short back lets.  They take short hops to get from one place to another.  Their back legs are for hopping instead of jumping.  It takes them quite awhile to get to where they want to be.

                Most toads live on land.  Some live many miles away from water.  Others go into the water only to lay their eggs.  Toads often hide during the day.  They like to come out after dark, then go back to their hiding places in the daytime.

                Frogs and toads may look the same, but they are different in many ways.  No matter which you see, both frogs and toads are fun to watch.

 

Writing the Summary

 

Write a summary of the article.  Your writing will be scored on how well you:

• state the main idea of the article
• identify the most important details that support the main ideas
• use your own words in writing the summary
• use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.