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What's a non-chronological description? Y2 SATs

30 replies

violetbloom · 26/04/2010 16:57

Dd's teacher said their writing SAT will be a non-chronological description. What the heck is that?!

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admission · 26/04/2010 17:05

It is a report based on stating facts about a subject I believe.

I would however be very interested in knowing how this teacher can be so sure that this will be in the KS 2 SAT tests? Have they had a sneak look, opening the sealed envelope?

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Shaz10 · 26/04/2010 17:08

It's a non fiction report, e.g. about a thing, e.g. dinosaurs, instead of an historical event. So not a recount, which would be something like "My trip to the zoo".

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sundaylunch · 26/04/2010 17:10

Non chronological I would guess in this context to mean 'don't tell a story'. So they will write a description of something (a favourite room?) without any story / events taking place. (Disclaimer: I'm giving you an educated guess only)

The teacher will know what skills are being assessed but not the exact question / task that will be on the paper. No cheating going on there.

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HumanAtLeast · 26/04/2010 17:15

This is helpful

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cece · 26/04/2010 17:16

It is a non-fiction report on a subject such as a science or history topic.

Chronological reports are non-fiction reports say about a school trip. So they have to be in the c orrect chronological order.

Y2 SATs papers are reused over the years and the teacher can choose which one to use. Not in sealed envelope like the KS2 ones.

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violetbloom · 26/04/2010 17:29

I don't know how she knows. It's just what she said to me today.

So stating facts in no particular order or what?

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cece · 26/04/2010 17:31

Yes facts in no particular order but they do have to make sense. Like you might find in a book on say cars or travel.

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cece · 26/04/2010 17:32

sorry not history! that is chronological... sorry been on maternity leave! brain gone to mush

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violetbloom · 26/04/2010 17:35

Thanks, that's all really helpful.

What if they get a subject that they know little about on the actual test?

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Shaz10 · 26/04/2010 17:44

Some classes will have a mini topic on the subject without teaching non-chronological reports (i.e. cheating!), so that they have something in their heads to write about.

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cece · 26/04/2010 17:54

It is all inter linked. So the reading comprehension will be linked to the topic as well.

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TeamEdward · 26/04/2010 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrz · 26/04/2010 18:15

By cece Mon 26-Apr-10 17:54:17
It is all inter linked. So the reading comprehension will be linked to the topic as well.

no

level 2 reading comprehension is about crocodiles and level 3 is about the netherlands

Shaz10 you can teach writing non chronological reports prior to the test as long as it isn't the week before.

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Feenie · 26/04/2010 18:42

Sounds like she is talking about the long and short writing tests at key stage 1 - they are a non-chronological report and a character description (if she has chosen to do tests from 2009; teachers may choose to use the 2007 or 2009 tests this year). Could you possibly have got the two mixed up, perhaps?

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mrz · 26/04/2010 19:11

Non Chronological Reports

Write a title to say what you are writing about

Write an introduction that defines the subject or make a statement that interests the reader so they want to read on.

Organise work in paragraphs starting with a topic sentence. You could also use a sub-heading to divide up your work.

Write paragraphs in a sensible order e.g. when talking about and animal write about it?s appearance first.

Draw diagrams, charts or fact boxes. These give clear information

Write a conclusion to draw writing to an end and add a glossary if necessary.

www.communication4all.co.uk/Writing%20frames/PowerPoint%20Format/Reports%20Writing%20Frame.pps

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violetbloom · 26/04/2010 19:41

Feenie, that's what she said - a character description and a non-chronological report. So the report is the long one and the character description the short one? And it can be on any topic whatsoever?

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mrz · 26/04/2010 19:51

violetbloom no the non chronological report is on a set topic and the character description will be decided by the teacher

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violetbloom · 26/04/2010 20:01

Thanks - will the set topic be something they've covered in class beforehand? And / or the character description? Will it be new to them on the actual day?

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mrz · 26/04/2010 20:26

The character description will be a book character the children know (teacher will pick character or choice of characters) about 30 mins writing time

The school is allowed to "teach" the non chronological report before the actual test as long as it isn't in the previous week.

Technically the children are allowed to research the (non chronological report) subject during the test about 45 mins writing time.
This writing must give factual information, be organised by topic.

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Sexonlegs · 26/04/2010 20:33

DD1 has just done this in class last week. They had to write a report on a nocturnal animal which included, in no particular order, details about appearance, habitat, diet and predators.

Their reports were going to be used as evidence towards the SATS.

It's scary to think they are being tested at such a young age!

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Feenie · 26/04/2010 20:40

The children will be used to extended writing, sexonlegs and, as you say, the test is used as evidence along with lots of other sources towards the end of key stage one teacher assessment.

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violetbloom · 26/04/2010 21:42

Ah, so they've been learning about rainforest animals this last week, different groups focusing on a different animal. So they might be asked to write about the animal they've been researching?

Before Easter they were studying a particular book so maybe they'll be asked to write about a character from that.

This has been very helpful. Thanks so much! I wouldn't have had a clue what they were doing or what it was all about without this help.

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violetbloom · 27/04/2010 10:03

So far they've been asked to write about them with the following criteria:

What it looks like
Where it lives
What it likes
What it dislikes
How it feels

Would that class as a non-chronological report though?

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Feenie · 27/04/2010 12:38

Yes - exactly that. (Non-chronological means in an order not related to time.)

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violetbloom · 27/04/2010 12:51

Oh, okay, thanks. And she might ask them to write about something they've already done like this?

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