The Literacy Cookbook blog | by Sarah Tantillo, Ed.D., LLC



PARCC Narrative Writing Tasks, updated 12-4-16

Following are the directions from the practice tests and the released items for grades 3-11 (found on the PARCC Website at ):

GRADE 3:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today you will read the story “A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience.” Pay close attention to the actions of the characters and the |

|events in the story. Answer the questions to help you prepare to write a narrative story…. |

|THEN: This story tells about Derrick's first camping trip. Write Derrick's journal entry about this camping trip. Include |

|information about how the characters responded to the events in the story as you write the journal entry. |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read the story “Camping with the Cousins.” As you read, pay close attention to the narrator and her family as you |

|answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: The next day, the family chose to go swimming in the lake. Write a story about the family’s time swimming. Be sure to use |

|what you learned about the narrator and her family in “Camping with the Cousins.” |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read “An Earful.” As you read, pay close attention to what Jacob learns from his homework assignment as you answer |

|the questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: In “An Earful,” Jacob needs to collect sounds for a homework assignment. Write a story that tells how Jacob finishes his |

|homework assignment. What sounds does he include, and how does he present this information to his class. Be sure to include |

|details from “An Earful” to tell what he does. |

GRADE 4:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today, you will read about a girl who finds some unusual shoes. As you read the story, think about the details the author uses as |

|you will be asked to write your own story…. |

|THEN: In “Those Wacky Shoes,” a girl has to outsmart a pair of shoes. Think about the details the author uses to create the |

|characters, settings, and events. Imagine that you, like the girl in the story, find a pair of wacky shoes that won't come off. |

|Write a story about how you find the pair of wacky shoes and what happens to you when you are wearing them. Use what you have |

|learned about the wacky shoes when writing your story. |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read the story “Sally’s Rescue.” As you read, pay close attention to the characters and events as you answer the |

|questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: Imagine what the story would be like from the seal’s point of view. Consider how it would be different from the story you |

|read. Rewrite the story to tell it from the seal’s point of view. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: N/A |

GRADE 5:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today you will read a passage from the story “The Growin’ of Paul Bunyan.” As you read, pay close attention to the characters’ |

|thoughts. This will help you answer questions and prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: You have read a passage from “The Growin’ of Paul Bunyan.” Think about how the story would be different if it were told from |

|Johnny’s point of view. Write a narrative story retelling the story from the point of view of Johnny. Be sure to use supporting |

|details from the passage. |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read a passage from “The Bread Winner.” As you read, pay close attention to the point of view of the characters as |

|you answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: Write a journal entry about the day the table arrived from the point of view of either Sarah, Daddy, or Mama. Use details |

|from the story to describe how the table was used, the emotional effect the table had on the family member chosen, and thoughts |

|about how the table will affect business in the future. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: N/A |

GRADE 6:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today you will read a passage from a story titled Magic Elizabeth. As you read, pay close attention to the characters as you answer|

|the questions to prepare to write a narrative story of your own…. |

|THEN: In the passage from Magic Elizabeth, the author creates a vivid setting and two distinct characters, Mrs. Chipley and Sally. |

|Think about the details the author uses to establish the setting and the characters. Write an original story about what happens |

|when Sally arrives at Aunt Sarah’s house. In your story, be sure to use what you have learned about the setting and the characters |

|as you tell what happens next. |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will listen to an audio recording from the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. As you listen, pay close attention to |

|details and events as you answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: Imagine Alice has returned from her journey down the rabbit hole and is retelling the events to her sister. Write a story |

|from Alice’s point of view, in which Alice explains what happened to her after she reached the bottom of the rabbit hole. Be sure |

|to use dialogue to show how Alice’s sister responds to the story. Use details from the audio recording in your response. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: N/A |

GRADE 7:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today, you will read a passage from a novel. As you read, you will gather information to prepare for writing an original story…. |

|THEN: At the end of the passage, Howie tells Kevin that he is not making a good case. Write an original story that describes what |

|Kevin does next to try to change Howie’s mind about paying for Cromwell’s training. In writing your story: |

|Consider what actions Kevin might take or what Kevin might say that would strengthen his case. |

|Be sure to use what you have learned about the setting, characters, and plot of the passage. |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read a passage from Believing in Horses. As you read, pay close attention to the characters and setting as you |

|answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: Write a narrative in which you continue the story of Believing in Horses. Your narrative should be a believable continuation|

|of the events, and it should clearly reflect the characterization and setting in the passage. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: N/A |

GRADE 8:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today you will read and answer questions on a story about a man seeking to complete an important mission. When you have finished |

|reading and answering questions, you will write a narrative story using details from your reading…. |

|THEN: Write a continuation of the story of Bahauddin Shah using details from the passage. Describe what you think might happen |

|after Bahauddin Shah climbs out of the Salt Caverns. What obstacles might he face, and what actions might he take to overcome them?|

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read the folktale “The Fox and the Horse.” As you read, pay close attention to characters and events as you answer |

|the questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: Beginning after paragraph 9, write an alternate ending to the folktale using details about the characters and events from the|

|passage. You may choose to use dialogue in your new ending. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: N/A |

GRADE 9:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today you will read the passage from the novel Bleak House, set in the nineteenth century, in which Mr. Skimpole has a conversation|

|with some friends. Pay close attention to the conversation as you answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story…. |

|THEN: This passage is written as a first-person narrative told from Miss Summerson’s point of view. Write a narrative story that |

|describes the major events in the passage from the point of view of the stranger, emphasizing his thoughts and feelings about Mr. |

|Skimpole, Miss Summerson, and Richard. |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read a passage from “Las Papas.” As you read, pay close attention to the interaction between the father and the son|

|as you answer the questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: In paragraphs 19 and 20 of this story, the man reflects back on his own father cooking for him, and he recalls one incident |

|in particular that he feels bad about. Write a story about this incident, told in first person by the man’s father. Use details |

|from the paragraphs, and add elaboration of your own to show the father’s feelings about what happened and how he reacted to it. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: N/A |

GRADE 10:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|Today you will read a passage from a novel. As you read, pay attention to the interactions between the characters so that you can |

|write a narrative story…. |

|THEN: After discovering that his wife has gone missing from the bicycle they were sharing, Mr. Harris returns “to where the road |

|broke into four” and seems unable to remember where he has come from. Using what you know about Mr. Harris, write a narrative story|

|that describes how he chooses which road to take and the experiences he has on his return journey. Be sure to use details from the |

|passage in developing your narrative. |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read the passage from “Lost in the Snow.” As you read, pay close attention to plot and theme as you answer the |

|questions to prepare to write a narrative story. |

|THEN: The passage from “Lost in the Snow” tells the story of characters who become lost in a wilderness setting long ago. Write a |

|story with a similar plot and theme but set in a modern time and place. Develop your narrative using ideas and techniques from the|

|passage. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: N/A |

GRADE 11:

|PRACTICE TEST: |

|N/A (pending permission) |

|2015 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read the poem “Digging” by Seamus Heaney. As you read the poem, you will gather information and answer questions so|

|that you can write a narrative story. |

|THEN: In the poem “Digging,” the father is seen through the eyes of his son (the speaker of the poem). Write an original narrative|

|story that discusses the son (the speaker) from the point of view of his father. In your story, use what you have learned about |

|the characters to convey the father’s observations of the son as he matured from the youth described in the poem to the mature |

|adult who writes poetry. |

|Use relevant, concrete, and sufficient details from the poem to support your story of the son viewed through his father’s eyes. |

|The details may be explicitly stated in the poem or logically inferred from the poem. |

|Organize your narrative story to make important connections between the father and son and the details you include. |

|2016 RELEASED ITEM: |

|Today you will read a passage from the short story “Miriam” by Truman Capote and watch a video based on the short story. As you |

|read the passage and watch the video, you will gather information and answer questions so that you can write a story. |

|THEN: The passage from Truman Capote’s short story provides direct glimpses into Mrs. Miller’s thoughts, but not those of the |

|little girl. Write an original story depicting the events of both the passage and the video from the point of view of the little |

|girl. As the basis for your story, use information provided in the passage and the video about the little girl’s interactions with|

|Mrs. Miller. Your story should offer insights into the little girl’s thoughts, including explaining what motivates her to behave |

|as she does and what she wants from Mrs. Miller. |

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