CALT Written Language and Composition Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In MSL-aligned writing instruction, which approach is recommended for teaching sentence construction?
- Asking students to copy sentences from books
- Having students generate sentences without scaffolding
- Using explicit, structured techniques such as sentence combining and pattern practice (Correct answer)
- Teaching grammar rules through memorization worksheets alone
Correct answer: Using explicit, structured techniques such as sentence combining and pattern practice
Consistent with MSL principles, sentence construction is best taught through explicit, structured techniques such as sentence combining and guided pattern practice before independent application.
Question 2: Graphic organizers benefit students with written language difficulties primarily because they:
- Replace the need for explicit writing instruction
- Provide a visual scaffold for organizing ideas before drafting (Correct answer)
- Correct spelling errors automatically
- Assess the final quality of student writing
Correct answer: Provide a visual scaffold for organizing ideas before drafting
Graphic organizers support written composition by providing a structured visual framework for organizing ideas during prewriting, reducing cognitive load during drafting.
Question 3: Which text structure is most appropriate for a student writing about the sequence of events in a historical period?
- Compare-contrast
- Cause-effect
- Sequential/chronological (Correct answer)
- Problem-solution
Correct answer: Sequential/chronological
Sequential or chronological text structure organizes information in time order and is most appropriate for writing about a sequence of events.
Question 4: The gradual release of responsibility (GRR) model in writing instruction follows which sequence?
- Independent → collaborative → guided → modeled
- Modeled → guided → collaborative → independent (Correct answer)
- Assessment → intervention → reassessment
- Brainstorming → drafting → revising → publishing
Correct answer: Modeled → guided → collaborative → independent
The GRR model progresses from modeled instruction (I do) to guided practice (we do) to collaborative practice and finally to independent application (you do).
Question 5: A student who produces grammatically correct sentences but writes disorganized essays most likely needs instruction in:
- Phonological awareness
- Handwriting fluency
- Text-level organization and discourse structure (Correct answer)
- Letter-sound correspondences
Correct answer: Text-level organization and discourse structure
Students who write grammatically correct sentences but produce disorganized essays need explicit instruction in text-level organization, including paragraph structure, transitions, and coherent discourse.
Question 6: Sentence combining is an instructional technique used to:
- Correct spelling errors within sentences
- Help students practice phoneme segmentation
- Develop syntactic maturity by joining simple sentences into more complex ones (Correct answer)
- Teach paragraph organization skills
Correct answer: Develop syntactic maturity by joining simple sentences into more complex ones
Sentence combining is an evidence-based technique that improves syntactic maturity by teaching students to join simple sentences into more complex, varied structures.
Question 7: Which of the following is most characteristic of evidence-based writing intervention for students with learning disabilities?
- Unstructured free writing with minimal teacher feedback
- Copying from the board as the primary writing activity
- Explicit, systematic instruction with frequent feedback and opportunities to practice (Correct answer)
- Waiting until reading skills are fully mastered before addressing writing
Correct answer: Explicit, systematic instruction with frequent feedback and opportunities to practice
Evidence-based writing intervention for students with learning disabilities is characterized by explicit, systematic instruction, teacher modeling, guided practice, frequent corrective feedback, and cumulative review.
CALT Written Language and Composition Skills 2
In MSL-aligned writing instruction, which approach is recommended for teaching sentence construction?