Grade Seven Writing Achievement – May 2007
Annotated Item 8
Standard and Benchmark Assessed:
Standard:
Benchmark:
Writing Process
D. Use revision strategies to improve the overall organization, the clarity and
consistency of ideas within and among paragraphs and the logic and effectiveness
of word choices
Multiple Choice Question:
8. During revision, where should the sentence below be inserted into the paragraph?
1. I was in charge of formatting my school’s student newspaper. 2. In the past, when I had
enough time to plan and organize the layout, I lined up the paragraphs and photographs
perfectly. 3. Because I rushed to meet a deadline, the entire paper printed out on a slant.
Last week was a different story, though.
A. Before sentence 1
Last week was a different story, though. I was in charge of formatting my school’s
student newspaper. In the past, when I had enough time to plan and organize the layout, I
lined up the paragraphs and photographs perfectly. Because I rushed to meet a deadline,
the entire paper printed out on a slant.
B. Before sentence 2
I was in charge of formatting my school’s student newspaper. Last week was a different
story, though. In the past, when I had enough time to plan and organize the layout, I lined
up the paragraphs and photographs perfectly. Because I rushed to meet a deadline, the
entire paper printed out on a slant.
C. Before sentence 3
I was in charge of formatting my school’s student newspaper. In the past, when I had
enough time to plan and organize the layout, I lined up the paragraphs and photographs
perfectly. Last week was a different story, though. Because I rushed to meet a deadline,
the entire paper printed out on a slant.
D. After sentence 3
I was in charge of formatting my school’s student newspaper. In the past, when I had
enough time to plan and organize the layout, I lined up the paragraphs and photographs
perfectly. Because I rushed to meet a deadline, the entire paper printed out on a slant. Last
week was a different story, though.
Commentary:
This multiple choice question asks students to determine the correct placement of the sentence
above. Answer choice A is incorrect. The inserted sentence must be placed to contradict an idea.
The sentence cannot serve in this placement because no idea has yet appeared that could be
contradicted. Answer choice B is incorrect. The inserted sentence must be placed to contradict the
idea of having enough time to do something. That idea has not yet appeared. Answer choice C is
correct. The sentence contradicts the idea that the author had enough time to organize things
perfectly. It is logical that this sentence would directly follow the sentence in which that idea is
established. Answer choice D is incorrect. The purpose of the sentence is to contradict the idea that
the author normally has enough time to organize things. By placing the sentence here, it appears to
contradict a different idea and, in fact, present an opposite meaning.
Source: Ohio Department of Education
May 07
Grade Seven Writing Achievement – May 2007
Annotated Item 8
Performance Data:
The percentage of public school students selecting answer choice C for question 8 on the May
2007 Grade 7 Writing Achievement Test was 64%.
Keyword:
Grade 7 Writing, Revision, Organization, May 2007
Source: Ohio Department of Education
May 07