BLOCK B

Slides 1-17

Start Here:

Welcome to the OSSLT

PREP TO PASS THE TEST

OSSLT Multiple Choice Strategies

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OSSLT Multiple Choice Strategies

• Read the entire question first
• Read the question before the passage to help you know what information to look for while reading.
• Try answering the question in your mind before reviewing answer options.�
• Look for Key Words
• Pay attention to words that tell you what the question is asking
• Main idea
• Best describes
• Most likely
• According to
• According to the text
• Purpose
• Tone
• Go Back to the Text (Use Split Screen to make things easier)
• Find the part of the passage that connects to the question.
• Many answers are directly stated or strongly supported by the text.
• Base your answer on evidence, not just your opinion.

OSSLT Multiple Choice Strategies

• Eliminate Wrong Answers - Cross out answers that:
• Are not mentioned in the text
• Are clearly incorrect
• Are too extreme (words like always, never, completely)
• Are partly true, but don’t fully answer the question�
• Watch for Trap Answers - Some choices try to trick you:
• They may use words from the passage but mean something different.
• They may be true statements, but don’t answer the question.�
• Choose the BEST Answer
• Sometimes more than one answer may seem correct.
• Pick the answer that is:
• Most accurate AND best supported by the text.

SAMPLE QUESTION

We’ll be looking at a passage about Drake from the OSSLT on the following slide.

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Here is the actual passage.

Note the length of the passage!

Take a look at this question from the passage on Drake before we read the practice excerpt.

How does Drake view his impact on listeners according to the article?

• He wants to be the best for the world, not just the best in the world
• He aims to dominate the charts.
• He believes he needs to impress the critics.
• He wants to be the most famous artist.

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Despite his initial success, Drake faced significant challenges as he transitioned to the mainstream music scene. Critics were often divided about his music, with some praising his innovation while others dismissed him as a product of the industry's commercialization. He confronted these challenges head-on, continuously evolving his sound and his lyrical themes. "I don't want to be the best in the world. I want to be the best for the world," he said in a 2013 interview, highlighting his desire to impact listeners' lives rather than just dominate the charts.

SAMPLE QUESTION

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Use the strategies from slides 4 and 5 and make your selection.

How does Drake view his impact on listeners according to the article?

• He wants to be the best for the world, not just the best in the world
• He aims to dominate the charts.
• He believes he needs to impress the critics.
• He wants to be the most famous artist.

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How does Drake view his impact on listeners according to the article?

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• He wants to be the best for the world, not just the best in the world
• He aims to dominate the charts.
• He believes he needs to impress the critics.
• He wants to be the most famous artist.

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"I don't want to be the best in the world. I want to be the best for the world" (Paragraph 5)

OSSLT Multiple Choice Review

• If You Are Unsure
• Use the process of elimination.
• Make your best educated guess.
• Never leave a question blank�
• Manage Your Time
• If a question is taking too long
• Flag it
• Skip it AND return to it later.�
• Check Your Work (if you have time at the end)
• Reread difficult questions.
• Make sure your answers are supported by the text.

OSSLT Multiple Choice Grammar Strategies

• Read the Whole Sentence First
• Read the entire sentence carefully before looking at the answer choices.
• Ask yourself: Does this sound correct and make sense?�
• Check for Complete Sentences
• A subject (who or what the sentence is about)
• A verb (the action or state)
• Watch out for sentence fragments
• Look for commas, periods, or conjunctions

❌ Because the students finished their work.

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✔ The students finished their work.

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OSSLT Grammar Strategies

• Look for Correct Punctuation and Capitalization
• Commas in lists (eg. “The grocery list included bread, jam, butter, and milk.”)
• Periods at the end of sentences
• Apostrophes for possessions or contractions (eg. “The dog’s leash”, “don’t”)�
• Watch for Run-On Sentences
• A run-on happens when two sentences are joined incorrectly
• Coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) connect ideas. Use a comma before them when joining two complete sentences.

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OSSLT Grammar Strategies

Take a look at this incorrect sentence below. What’s wrong with it?

❌ the bell rang the student’s left the classroom

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• Missing capitalization of “The”
• Incorrect apostrophe placement
• No punctuation at the end of the sentence
• Run-on sentence

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✔ The bell rang, and the students left the classroom.

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✔ The bell rang. The students left the classroom.

Instead, try applying FANBOYS:

OSSLT Grammar Strategies

• Check Subject-Verb Agreement - The subject and the verb must match:
• Singular subject → singular verb

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• Plural subject → plural verb

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✔ The student writes the test.

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✔ The students write the test.

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1. Choose the option that best combines all the information in the following sentences.

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I love basketball. The Bears are my favourite team. I hope they win the championship this year.

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1. I love basketball, and I hope the Bears win the championship this year.
2. I love basketball and the Bears because I hope they win the championship this year.
3. I love basketball and hope the Bears, my favourite team, win the championship this year.
4. I love basketball, I love the Bears, my favourite team, I hope they win the championship this year.

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Use the strategies we’ve reviewed

to help you answer this question.

• Choose the option that BEST combines all the information in the following sentences.

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I love basketball. The Bears are my favourite team. I hope they win the championship this year.

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• I love basketball, and I hope the Bears win the championship this year.
• I love basketball and the Bears because I hope they win the championship this year.
• I love basketball and hope the Bears, my favourite team, win the championship this year.
• I love basketball, I love the Bears, my favourite team, I hope they win the championship this year.

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This response includes proper grammar while and best combines all information from the sentence:

• Love of basketball
• Hoping the Bears win the championship
• Favourite team is the Bears

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OSSLT Grammar Strategies

When in doubt:

• Trust What Sounds Right → After checking the grammar rules:
• Read the sentence again in your head, or quietly to yourself.
• Ask yourself: Which option sounds the most natural and correct?
• Use Process of Elimination → Cross out answers that clearly break grammar rules
• Choose the option that makes the sentence clear and correct.

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Here are 40 Grammar Multiple Choice Questions for you to try on your own.

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Here are the answers.

BLOCK C

Slides 19-29

PREP TO PASS THE TEST

OSSLT Opinion Essay Strategies

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OSSLT Opinion Essay Structure

• The OSSLT will ask you to write a Series of Paragraphs (an essay)
• Opinion based
• On a topic that is familiar and/or relevant to teenagers.
• You will need to pick one side and provide 3 reasons to support your opinion.
• Demonstrating that you know the proper structure is very important. You are writing this for an adult to read who is interested in your opinion, so make sure to use proper language as well.

OSSLT Opinion Essay Structure

• The Opinion Essay will be 5 paragraphs in length and includes:

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

• Hook → 1 sentence to grab the reader’s attention about the topic
• Topic sentence → 1 sentence that states your position on the topic with an “I believe…” or “In my opinion…” statement
• Do NOT choose both sides of an argument
• Choose the side of the argument that you can BEST support with examples (Proof)
• No one will be checking to see if this is actually your opinion
• List 3 points → 1 sentence that lists the 3 points that will be discussed, in order, within your body paragraphs

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OSSLT Opinion Essay Structure

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• Topic sentence: Introduce Point 1 using a transition word (“Firstly,”)
• Give an example
• Explain how the example supports your point
• Concluding sentence

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BODY PARAGRAPH 1

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Repeat this process for Body Paragraphs 2 and 3 exchanging the transition words with:

Body Paragraph 2: “Secondly,”

Body Paragraph 3: “Lastly,”

OSSLT Opinion Essay Structure

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• 1 sentence → Restate your opinion
• 1 sentence → Summarize points 1, 2, and 3
• 1 sentence → Closing statement that connects back to hook

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CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH

Before we do some practice, let’s take a look at how the OSSLT is scored.

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OSSLT Opinion Essay Scoring

• The Series of Paragraphs is worth up to 100 points:
• 60 for content
• 40 for writing conventions (grammar, spelling, structure)
• You will need to manage your time while writing this essay, so good planning at the start is very important.
• The suggested total writing time is about 40 minutes.
• ALL students can have up to double time to write the test

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Let’s take a look at the scoring guide on the next slide

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OSSLT Opinion Essay Scoring Guide - Content

OSSLT Opinion Essay

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Scored Example

(60 Points)

OSSLT Opinion Essay

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Scored Example

(50 Points)

OSSLT Opinion Essay Practice

• Let’s give it a try together using this prompt:

Do people depend too much on technology?

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• Your first step is to brainstorm an opinion you can support with 3 separate points, providing examples (proof) for each.
• Take some time with your table, an elbow partner, or your whole class to come up with your strongest “I believe…” statement.
• Using the template t-chart provided (like the one on the next slide), organize your thinking.

BRING THIS TEMPLATE SHEET TO PERIOD D TOMORROW!

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OSSLT Opinion Essay Brainstorming

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Do people depend too much on technology?

YES

NO

Which opinion can you BEST support with examples?

BLOCK D

Slides 31-37

OSSLT Opinion Essay Brainstorming

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Do people depend too much on technology?

YES

Let’s say you feel most confident arguing “YES”.

Here are 3 potential points you could use to support your opinion.

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1. Technology is used for personal entertainment

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• Technology is frequently used to complete school work

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• People communicate almost exclusively through the use of technology

OSSLT Opinion Essay Introduction

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HOOK TOPIC SENTENCE

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SUMMARY OF THREE POINTS

Here’s what a complete Introduction would look like:

From the moment people wake up to the moment they fall asleep, technology is involved in almost everything they do. I believe people depend too much on technology. This is because technology is used for personal entertainment, technology is a major part of classroom activities, and because people communicate almost exclusively through the use of technology.

OSSLT Opinion Essay Body Paragraphs

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TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING SENTENCES

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CONCLUDING SENTENCE

Here’s what a complete Body Paragraph would look like:

Firstly, we are too dependent on technology because we use it for personal entertainment. Kids in the past used to take part in physical activities like going to the park and playing sports with friends in order to have fun, but now, kids, literally, have screens at their fingertips all the time. Even young children often have their own iPads and can access TV shows, movies and games whenever they want. Also, busy parents find it easier to hand their child a device or sit them in front of the TV than find other ways to keep them occupied. Spending time being entertained on a screen seems more fun to many kids than being active, and this makes us dependent on technology.

OSSLT Opinion Essay Conclusion

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RESTATE THE TOPIC RESTATE SUPPORTING POINTS

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CONCLUDING SENTENCE

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Here’s what a complete Conclusion would look like:

Therefore, I think people are too dependent on technology. This is because technology is used for personal entertainment, technology is a major part of classroom activities, and because people communicate almost exclusively through the use of technology. For these reasons, it is important for people to learn how to balance their use of technology.

OSSLT Opinion Essay Practice

• It’s your turn to practice the process
• Using the three questions below, practice brainstorming and selecting a strong argument for your Opinion Essay
• Next, practice writing an introductory paragraph and one body paragraph, OR brainstorm using the prompts below

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Is it a good idea for high school students to have a part time job?

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Would you rather live somewhere it is always warm,

or somewhere always cold?

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Is social media more helpful or harmful for teenagers?

Explain your opinion with reasons and examples.

OSSLT Opinion Essay Practice

• Practice Resources
• OntarioLiteracy.ca → Select Long-Form Practice Test
• Work through the Online OSSLT Practice Test
• Ask ChatGPT/Gemini to give you OSSLT Opinion Essay Series of Paragraphs topics to continue the brainstorming and planning process

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OSSLT D2L Practice

Accessing D2L

• Visit wrdsb.elearningontario.ca
• Click “WRDSB” and use your school Google login (same as Chromebook/email).
• Once inside D2L, locate the course:
• “GPS OSSLT Preparation 2425” on your homepage or under "My Courses"
• If you can’t see it, ask your teacher or guidance counsellor for access.

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BLOCK A

Slides 38-41

OSSLT Practice Test

• The goal today is to become familiar with the test layout and format�
• As you practice try some of the tools�
• Ask questions

OSSLT Practice Test

• Use your school issued Chromebook�
• Log-out of your account�
• Click on APPS on the bottom left of the screen�
• Select Kiosk

OSSLT Practice Test

• Your teacher will handout a sticker with your OEN # on it
• Put the sticker on your chromebook

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• Using the access-code given by your teacher and your OEN sign into the practice test�
• Try some of Part A

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• About ½ way through the period your teacher will open Session B. Try some of that

Reminders

• Bring your charged school-issued Chrombook
• No cellphones/mobile devices
• No wireless earbuds
• Answer all the questions

TEST DAY SCHEDULE -April 15th

8:00 – 8:10 – Pick up a snack and head to writing location (Block A classroom, or alternate location) for attendance

8:15 – 8:25 – OSSLT Instructions and Login

8:25-9:30 – Session A (extra time is allowed)

9:30 – 9:40 – BREAK

9:40-10:50 – Session B (extra time is allowed), including questionnaire

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