State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness - English II Writing - 2011 Released Selections and Test Questions

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Bintang

Released selections and test questions for STAAR English II Writing (2011) present selected TEKS student expectations by reporting category. The material includes a persuasive reading passage about being a careful consumer when viewing television commercials, followed by revision and multiple-choice questions. Students evaluate thesis and word choice, determine how to extend ideas, and identify the most effective edits and supporting details tied to propaganda techniques used in advertising.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Reading and selecting the best answer

Persuasive passage: Think Twice About TV Commercials

Revision and writing questions (1-6)

| | TM | | --- | --- | | | State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness | English II Writing 2011 Released Selections and Test Questions These released questions represent selected TEKS student expectations for each reporting category. These questions are samples only and do not represent all the student expectations eligible for assessment. Copyright © 2011, Texas Education Agency. All rights reserved. Reproduction of all or portions of this work is prohibited without express written permission from the Texas Education Agency. Read the selection and choose the best answer to each question. Janie wrote the following paper to persuade her readers to be careful consumers. As you read Janie’s paper, look for any revisions she should make. Then answer the questions that follow. Think Twice About TV Commercials (1) Television ads interrupt network programming every few minutes. (2) In many cases the ads are creative, colorful, and amusing. (3) Watching commercials can certainly be entertaining, but consumers should learn to view them discerningly. (4) All of us should watch commercials wisely and carefully. (5) Imagine flipping on the television and seeing a group of young, fit people on a sunny beach. (6) They’ve just finished a game of volleyball and are reaching for a refreshing soda. (7) You find yourself pondering the soft drink featured in the commercial. (8) But before you head to the store, stop and think twice. (9) You’ve just been a victim of the bandwagon technique. (10) Perhaps you’re watching a show that’s suddenly interrupted by some famous athletes recommending a certain brand of shoes. (11) If these accomplished athletes are wearing the shoes, surely you need to wear them, too, right? (12) Stop and think twice. (13) Are the shoes really responsible for the athletes’ ability and success? (14) You’ve been led to make this connection by the advertising technique known as transfer. (15) From the ad alone you’ll never know or be sure how good the shoes really are. (16) It’s also important to keep in mind that the celebrities were paid to endorse the shoes. (17) Do they even believe that the footwear they’re promoting is that special? (18) You can never be certain. (19) Many other propaganda techniques are evident in today’s commercials. (20) Some ads use repetition, hoping that a catchy jingle or phrase will stick in your mind and subconsciously compel you to buy a certain product. (21) Other ads use emotional words or situations to make you have strong feelings about a product or service. (22) Learn to recognize the propaganda techniques that are used. (23) Just because a clever jingle about a product is stuck in your head doesn’t make that product the best one to buy. (24) Research groups have tried to determine how many commercial messages the average American sees in a day. (25) Although the number varies widely, most experts agree that a few hundred would be a conservative estimate. (26) Commercials are big business, and it’s important to remember that advertisers are well paid for influencing viewers. (27) Don’t let yourself be easily swayed. (28) Be a thoughtful consumer who pays attention to the products, not to just what the jingles and celebrities claim. | STAAR English II Writing | Released Test Questions | 2011 Release | | --- | --- | --- | | | | | 1 Janie does not like the way she expressed her thesis in sentence 4. Which of the following should replace sentence 4 to create a more effective and sophisticated thesis statement? A Watching commercials is serious business, and people should be wary of what they allow into their subconscious minds. B Advertisers are busy trying to sell products that you may or may not have a reason to buy. C People shouldn’t be blinded by the flashing lights and bright colors that the advertising industry uses to make commercials captivating. D As potential consumers, we must be aware of the propaganda techniques advertisers use to

FAQs

What is the purpose of Janie’s paper in the passage?

Janie writes to persuade readers to be careful consumers when watching television commercials and to recognize common advertising techniques.

How should sentence 4 be revised?

Question 1 asks students to replace sentence 4 with a more effective and sophisticated thesis statement, choosing the best option from A–D.

Which type of detail could best be added after sentence 21?

Question 5 asks which option could be added after sentence 21 to further develop the main idea of the paragraph (sentences 19–23).

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Bintang