English Language Arts (ELA)
What the ELA EOC tests
Ohio's English Language Arts I and II end-of-course tests measure reading of literary and informational texts, vocabulary in context, and writing to sources. Items include multiple-choice, short answer, technology-enhanced, and an extended writing task that asks you to build an argument or explanation from provided passages.
Core reading moves
- Cite evidence: answer with a claim plus a specific quotation or paraphrase and explain how it supports the claim.
- Analyze, don't summarize: explain why an author uses a structure, word choice, or detail.
- Track central idea and argument: identify the claim, the reasons, and whether evidence is relevant and sufficient.
- Compare texts: note where two passages agree, differ, or use different evidence for the same topic.
- Language: use context clues and connotation; check sentence boundaries, commas, and pronoun agreement in writing.
Worked example
Prompt: 'Should the school ban single-use plastic bottles?' Source A gives recycling data; Source B describes a student-run refill station. A weak response summarizes both sources. A strong response claims: 'A ban is justified because refill stations cut waste more reliably than recycling alone.' Evidence: Source B's refill-station usage and Source A's low recycling rate. Commentary: explain that recycling depends on student behavior, while a refill station makes reuse the default. Acknowledge a counterclaim (cost) and answer it with the source's funding detail.
Traps that cost marks
- Quoting evidence without explaining it.
- Ignoring one of the two sources.
- Answering 'summarize' when the prompt says 'evaluate' or 'analyze.'
- Using a counterclaim without answering it.
- Writing a narrative when the prompt requires an argument.