Ohio Graduation Test for Social Studies – March 2007
Annotated Item 24
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard: Social Studies Skills and Methods
Benchmark: B. Use data and evidence to support or refute a thesis.
Multiple Choice Question:
24. A city council member believes that installing more trash cans along city streets will help
reduce the city’s litter problem.
This thesis could be supported by data showing that
A.
B.
C.
D.
the city’s litter problem has gotten worse in recent years.
most city residents consider the litter problem to be serious.
people use trash cans if they are readily available.
there is enough money in the city budget to pay for the trash cans.
Commentary:
This multiple-choice question asks students to determine with one of four sets of data could be
used to support a thesis that supplying more trash cans will reduce a city’s litter problem. The
answer is C. Data showing that people use readily available trash cans would lend support to
the idea that littering can be reduced if trash cans are more accessible. Response A is
incorrect. Data documenting the littering problem would not address the proposed solution to
the problem. Response B is incorrect. Data showing people are concerned about the problem
would not point to any consensus on the proposed solution or any willingness to support the
proposal. Response D is incorrect. Data from the city’s budget may show that the proposed
solution is financially feasible, but would not show that the solution will address the problem.
Performance Data:
The percent of public school students selecting answer choice C for question 24 on the March
2007 Ohio Graduation Test was 64%.
Keywords: Data, thesis
Source: Ohio Department of Education
July 07