The 6-Step Process for Writing LATs and RSTs

This workshop guides educators through a structured, 6-step process to help students effectively respond to NJSLA’s Literary Analysis Tasks (LATs) and Research Simulation Tasks (RSTs). Participants learn to deconstruct Prose Constructed Response (PCR) prompts, craft thesis statements, gather and organize textual evidence, and construct well-developed essays aligned with state assessment standards. The session also emphasizes revision and editing practices that align with rubric expectations for reading comprehension, written expression, and conventions.

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• Lack of structured support for students writing LATs and RSTs
  
  
• Difficulty in teaching students how to analyze, synthesize, and cite textual evidence across multiple sources
  
  
• Challenges in helping students meet the specific demands and expectations of PCR prompts and scoring rubrics
  

1. Deconstructing PCR Prompts: 

Educators will gain techniques for teaching students how to identify genre, text requirements, and the assertions in PCR prompts, enabling a clear understanding of task expectations.

2. Strategic Evidence Use and Organization: 

Participants will learn methods to help students gather relevant evidence, distinguish between direct and indirect references, and structure their essays using outlines that align with thesis claims and genre-specific elements.

3. Rubric-Aligned Writing and Revision: 

Teachers will understand how to guide students through writing and revising essays that fulfill all rubric components—reading comprehension, written expression, and language conventions—maximizing potential scores on the NJSLA assessments.