Tips for the Bagrut Tips for the Bagrut exam exam

What you need to know in order to succeed!LOTS, HOTS and BRIDGING QUESTIONS…

Good Luck!Pirchy Dayan

Based on the Literature Handbook (2013) and Bari Nirenberg’s presentations.

For each Summative For each Summative Assessment on a story, Assessment on a story, poem or play you should poem or play you should answer answer:answer answer:basic understanding (LOTS)

questions. These are basic content questions. Answers should be short and to the point.

Analysis and interpretation (HOTS) questions that may include understanding of literary techniques.

Extended HOTS question where you:a. name the HOTS you chose to

answer the question.b. answer the question showing

appropriate use of the HOTS that you have chosen. Use vocabulary that is directly connected to the chosen HOTS.

Bridging Text and Context question:

Students are asked to make connections between the text, universal themes and new relevant information and ideas from other sources. These sources may include the biography and personality of the author, themes and /or aspects of the historical, social and cultural contexts of the text.

The connection must be both accurate and explicit. Use 1-2 examples from the text to support your point.

InferringInferringReading "between the lines" to

understand information that is not presented directly.

Drawing a conclusion from clues.What do you think the character meant

when s/he said, “___”? What does ___’s behavior suggest?

What is the purpose or function of this information?

What different meanings can be inferred from this line in the poem?

Useful VocabularyUseful VocabularyInfer, learn, conclude, read

between the lines, assume, clue, hint, imply, probably, likely, unlikely, evidence, what are the consequences of this statement?

Sample QuestionsSample QuestionsWhen George first meets Mr.

Cattanzara he lies to him about reading books because he wants his respect. Why is Mr. Cattanzara's respect so important to George?

What is the importance of the setting of the story? (any story)

"I shall be telling this with a sigh". What TWO different meanings can we infer from this line in The Road Not Taken?

Comparing and Comparing and contrasting contrasting

Finding what is similar/different between two or more things.

Drawing conclusions based on these similarities and differences.

Compare and contrast the conflicts/ problems/dilemmas in two stories or poems.

Compare and contrast characters in a text.

Useful VocabularyUseful Vocabularylike, similar, also, similarly, in the

same way, likewise, again, compared to, both, have in common.

unlike, in contrast with, different than, opposite, (comparative adjectives) on the contrary, however, although, yet, even though, still, nevertheless, regardless, despite, while, on the one hand…on the other hand.

Sample QuestionsSample QuestionsCompare and contrast the TWO

roads in the poem The Road Not Taken.

Compare and contrast Mr. Kelada and the narrator.

Compare and contrast Joe's view of family before and after he hears the contents of Larry's letter. Support your answer with information from the play.

Explaining patterns Explaining patterns Identifying and explaining different

patterns of behavior in a text;Explaining why these patterns are

important.Identifying and explaining different

patterns in a poem - for example: rhythm and rhyme;

What behavior does the character repeat?

Explain why certain lines/phrases/words are repeated in a story/poem.

Useful VocabularyUseful Vocabularyrepeat, repetition, repetitive,

routine, order, notice, noticeable, significance, significant, similar, recur, rule, follow a pattern, pattern of behavior.

Sample QuestionsSample QuestionsThe relationship between Waverly and

her mother is like that of chess players. Explain the pattern of their behavior.

What behavior does Mr. Kelada repeat throughout the story? Why is his behavior in the end surprising? Explain.

What behavior does George repeat in the story? Based on his pattern of behavior, is he going to read the books? Explain.

Explaining cause and Explaining cause and effect effect

Identifying reasons why things happen (the cause);

Identifying and describing the result (the effect) of actions and circumstances;

Explaining the connection between the two.

What were the results of ___‘s action?

What caused ___ to think that ___?

Useful VocabularyUseful Vocabularycause, effect, result,

consequence, consequently, outcome, as a result of, therefore, if....then, in order to, due to, because, thanks to, as a result (of), encourage, persuade, development, explanation, ___ leads to ____.

Sample QuestionsSample QuestionsWhat caused the speaker in the poem

to choose the “road less travelled by”?

"He stayed in his room for almost a week, except to sneak into the kitchen when nobody was home." What caused George to stay in his room for a week?

While Mr. Kelada is examining the pearls, Mrs. Ramsay's face changes. How does this affect Mr. Kelada?

Distinguishing different Distinguishing different perspectives perspectives

Identifying different points of view in a text;

Identifying different outlooks on life.

Identify how different characters respond to a central event in the story.

How does your understanding of the characters’ actions/events in the story change as you read?

Useful VocabularyUseful Vocabularyperspective, point of view,

attitude, differences, outside, inside, looking from the side, opinion, reader, narrator, consider, identify, distinguish, tell the difference,

however, on the one hand, on the other hand, outlook, standpoint, perception, side, angle.

Sample QuestionsSample QuestionsHow do the narrator's feelings

about Mr. Kelada change from the beginning to the end of the story?

How do Waverly and her mother view Waverly's success in chess?

How does our opinion of Mrs. Ramsay change at the end of the story?

Problem SolvingProblem SolvingIdentifying a problem/dilemma and its

solution.Identifying a problem and suggesting

a solution of your own based on what you know about the characters, events and circumstances.

Define the problem facing the protagonist.

What is the central conflict in this text and how is it resolved? Explain.

What dilemma does ___ face at this point in the story?

Useful VocabularyUseful Vocabularyfind out, solve, answer, explain,

difficulty, resolve, decipher, predicament, trouble, crisis, advantage / disadvantage, pros and cons, choice, dilemma, deal with, weighing possibilities.

Sample QuestionsSample QuestionsIn the first stanza of the poem The Road Not Taken (lines 1-5), what is the traveler’s dilemma? How does he solve his dilemma?

What dilemma does Mr. Kelada face when he examines the pearls? How does he solve his dilemma?

What is considered a What is considered a good answergood answer??

The information is relevant, sufficient, well organized and correct. The answer includes examples/ supporting details from the text. The message is clear. There is correct use of grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.

F - 80% is given for content and 20% for grammar and spelling.

General Tips for General Tips for SuccessSuccessRead the question carefully! You

may want to highlight key words in the question to help you focus.

Make sure that your answer relates to the entire question. Give examples from the text to support your point!

If you are given a quote, the answer must reflect a general understanding of the literary piece, NOT just the quote.

If there is a question about a literary term, such as setting or metaphor, you should show understanding of the literary term in connection to the text.

You should provide examples from the text in your answer. When you are asked to explain, you must support your explanation with examples.

No examples means you lose at least 20% from what the question is worth.

Extended HOTS questions Extended HOTS questions For the extended HOTS question: A. answer the question as

required. B. choose ONE HOTS, name it and

show appropriate evidence of the use of the chosen HOTS. That is, use the relevant vocabulary you have learned in your answer. You will get up to 5 points for using the correct vocabulary.

Bridging Text and Context – Bridging Text and Context – TipsTipsYou need to write 80-100 words about

how certain information you are given is related to the text you read, and enhances ((מחזק your understanding of it.

Relate to the information / quote you are given in YOUR OWN WORDS.

Explain how the background information you are given is connected to an aspect of the text.

Make connections between the new information and the text by giving explanations and 1-2 examples.

Give ONLY relevant information!Conclude your answer.Use the following template to help

you organize your answer.From this quote/information I learn

that ___________. (In addition, it suggests that ______________.) This is reflected in the story/poem/play (in several ways). For example, ___________. (Also, ______________. )To sum up, _______.