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Assess writing
A starting point to initiate
a student’s own thoughts
on the topic
No “correct” answer (but
MUST address the topic)
Supported by student’s
own experience or ideas
Style and organization
important to the score
2 domains: topic
development and
conventions
Worth 20 total points
COMPOSITION
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Assesses reading
comprehension
Student must answer the
question asked
Answers found in reading the
passage or can be inferred
from information in the
passage
Answer supported with details
from text
The explanation and support
from the text matter MUCH
more than style and
organization
Writing conventions NOT
scored
Worth 16 total points (4 Ors)
OPEN RESPONSE
 The
following reading comprehension
example is from the 2008 7th grade MCAS
test:
 Treasure Island
1- Read the question carefully.
 2- Explain your answer.
 3- Add supporting details.
 4- Double check your work
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 Read
the question and think about the big
picture- what is being asked?
 Remember that this is a READING
COMPREHENSION evaluation; therefore, the
answer must lie within the text
 Find supporting details from the text that
support your claim, and make sure you can
explain HOW they prove your answer.
 Remember, there is NOT one right answerthe important thing is to support your answer
with examples!!!!
The relationship between
Bones and Jim is that Bones is
demanding. Jim is very nice to
Bones. Bones is a good guy but
very bossy.
Is this a good answer, or could it be better?
Does it provide supporting details?
What could be added to improve this
answer?
 “The
relationship between Jim and Bones is
similar to a father-son relationship. Bones
seems to order Jim around a bit, like a
father would. Jim acts somewhat like a son
in the sense that he’s always doing exactly
what Bones tells him to do. They both act
like they have a father-son relationship by
comforting each other when the Blind Pew
comes”
Is this a good answer, or could it be better?
COULD BE BETTER!
Is it accurate?
Yes…
Is it complete?
NO!
Does it provide supporting details?
No, it does NOT.
 “In
the excerpt from Treasure Island, Bones
and Jim have a very strong relationship.
Bones seems like the boss, because he might
be older, and he is a captain. Jim acts like
his servant, and his bartender. When Captain
Bones says, “Quick, Jim! Step to the door
and put year head out! Do as yer told boy!”
Jim is forced to do what Bones tells him to.
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Even though Bones bosses Jim around a lot, I can
see how they are friends, too. At the end of the
piece, when Jim tells Bones that he is only
imagining things, Bones starts laughing at himself
and says to Jim, “That’s right, Jim. Ha haaaa!
Shart as a handspike, ain’t you, and only a yard
long!” it show that they can laugh together, and
make fun of themselves like good friends do.
Also, to me, Bones seems like Jim’s grandfather.
At the end of the story, Bones starts telling Jim
about his scar, and how it acts up when
something is wrong. This makes me think that
Bones is going to start a story about how he went
through some other time and his scar started
acting up. Jim and Bones have many different
aspects of their relationship”
Is this a good answer?
Yes!
Does it provide supporting details?
Yes!!!
This answer received a top score (4) because it met all of
the rubric’s requirements.
4
* The response is a clear, complete, and accurate description of
Bones’ and Jim’s relationship.
•The response is supported with 3 examples, 3 quotes, and 3
explanations
•The response includes less than 2 conventional errors which
distract the reader from the content.
• The response include important and specific details from the
scene.
3
* The response is a mostly clear, complete, and accurate description of Bones’ and
Jim’s relationship.
•The response is supported with 2 examples, 2quotes, and 2 explanations
•The response includes less than 3 conventional errors which distract the reader
from the content.
• The response includes important but often general details from scene.
2
•The response is a partial description of their relationship.
•The response is supported with 1 example, 1 quote, and 1 explanation
• The response include limited details from the scene and may include
misinterpretations.
1
•The response is a minimal description of their relationship.
•The response is supported with at least 1 example or quote or at least 1
explanation (but not all).
0
The response is INCORRECT or IRRELEVANT or doesn’t answer
the question being asked.