Transcript ELA Update: TEKS and TAKS

State of Texas Assessments of
Academic Readiness (STAAR®)
Grade 7 Scoring Training
Victoria Young
Director of Reading, Writing, and
Social Studies Assessments
Texas Education Agency
Grade 7 Expository
Scoring Training
2
Review the overall descriptors of the score
points based on level of writing performance.
Review the characteristics of writing (specified
in the rubric) on which the score is based.
Teach the exemplars (the anchors to the score
points).
Have readers score the training set(s)
independently and provide the group with
“true” scores when everyone has finished.
Read each essay aloud and discuss with
group, answering any questions individual
readers have.
The Rubric as Summed Scores
on the Scoring Continuum
3
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Very Limited
Basic
Satisfactory
Accomplished
Important Characteristics
of the Writing Rubric
4
Responsiveness
Focus
Progression
Development
Word Choice
Sentences
Conventions
Definitions of the Rubric Characteristics
5
Rhetorical Characteristics of Writing
Responsiveness — the degree to which the
essay is a direct explanation of the topic
specified in the charge (the “Write about”)
Focus — the degree to which the explanation
is centered around an explicit, specific
controlling idea that gives the reader a clear
sense of the goal of the essay
Progression — the degree to which sentences,
paragraphs, and ideas are logically, smoothly,
and clearly connected
Definitions of the Rubric Characteristics
6
Rhetorical Characteristics of Writing
Development — the degree to which the
addition of details and examples specifically
“flesh out” each idea and help the reader
clearly understand the explanation as a whole
Word Choice — the degree to which the writer
uses clear, precise, and appropriate language
to communicate particular meanings and
establish an expository tone
Definitions of the Rubric Characteristics
7
Mechanical Characteristics of Writing
Sentences — the degree to which the
sentences are complete and free from
awkward word patterns so that they have a
natural flow and rhythm, making the ideas
easy to follow and understand
Conventions — the degree to which the writer
can apply the rules of written language
(spelling, capitalization, punctuation,
grammar, and usage) to make the writing
fluent and effective
2014 Grade 7 Expository Prompt
8
READ the following quotation.
True humor is fun—it does not put down,
kid, or mock. It makes people feel wonderful,
not separate, different, and cut off.
─Hugh Prather
THINK carefully about the following question.
Does humor make life better?
WRITE an essay explaining whether it is important
to laugh.
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 1
9
Some people Love to Laugh. Some people don’t
Love to Laught. Every once in a while you need to
Lalf or Else, people will think all different things.
Laughing is one of the most important things to do
of the day.
Laughing represent you are happy and Everthing
in your life is good sometimes. all time you laufgh
god knows you are and then he laufghs with you.
Laufghing is one of the more important thing to do
everday. Laughling I think is important in my life
style. So laughing is really important in life.
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 2
10
Laughing All the Way
Making someone laugh or smile, could make
their day. Giving that certain look, so they can that
frown into a smile. When someone is over there in
the corner by themself, invite them over, give them
a reason to smile.
Having a little humor is all kinds of great. You
can either have a bad day, full of tears, or full of
smiles. If you ever see someone by themself, or
walking with their head down, walk over and tell
them a joke. You can either make their day, or ruin
it.
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 2
11
If a student is sitting in class while the teacher is
teaching, goofing off and making jokes, that’s not
good. They are being very disruptive, by making
people laugh. That’s never a good time to laugh.
The point is, it’s always good to laugh, but then
again it’s not. It’s awesome to give a laugh, or two,
but not at inappropite times.
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 3
12
Laughing to me is like my air. I need it. I’m always
laughing and thats what makes life more enjoyable.
Some people you hardly ever see laugh. I just
wonder how they do that. Laughter is what makes
my day good most of the time. I think laughter is
definitely important. When you can’t laugh or have
a good time, people might not want to be around
you. Humor does make life better in many ways
you might not even think about.
For instance at home if I’m in a bad mood I will
sometimes look up funny quotes or sayings. They
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 3
13
always make me laugh which brings a smile to my
face. My best friend Megan can also always make
me feel better by being funny. To me if your always
laughing and having fun then your a happier
person. Also when your laughing that can help put
others in a good mood. That always makes me feel
better knowing I helped make someone’s day.
All in all, laughter is the key to hapiness in life.
Once you have that your set to take on whatever
life may throw at you.
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 4
14
If you have ever had a bad day, then you know
that it is hardly tolerable. That’s why laughing is so
important. When you laugh, you can turn your day
around. You can also share your happiness with
other people around you when you laugh.
Laughter really is the best medicine when it
comes to having a terrible day. Laughing gives you
a reason to smile. Laughing is one of the few
things that can turn your day around because it
allows you to experience happiness when you
thought it was impossible. Laughing will show you
that happiness does not only come when you want
it to, but it will also come when you really need it.
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 4
15
Not only will laughing turn your day around, it
will also bring happiness to those in need around
you. A good laugh could really change their day for
the better. Sometimes the best way to make
someone feel better is found within everyone.
Laughing will change some people from depressed
to gitty in just a couple of minutes.
Remember, you are not the only person in the
world that feels bad. There are many people in the
world that could use a good laugh. Sadness and
depression is a worldwide epidemic. That means
that it is extremely important that you don’t keep
this cure locked inside of you. With this cure you
Grade 7 Expository
Exemplar – Score Point 4
16
could make anyone feel better and you can free
them from the grasps of despair.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set
17
The training set contains 10 essays
representing all four score points. Score
each essay independently and record your
scores on the answer key.
Consider the rhetorical and mechanical
characteristics of each essay as you are
reading it, but remember that you are
scoring holistically, not analytically. That
means making an judgment about the
overall quality of the essay based on its
strengths and weaknesses.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set Answer Key
18
Training Set – 1
____1___
Training Set – 2
____3___
Training Set – 3
____2___
Training Set – 4
____2___
Training Set – 5
____4___
Training Set – 6
____3___
Training Set – 7
____1___
Training Set – 8
____2___
Training Set – 9
____4___
Training Set – 10
____3___
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 1 (a)
19
Laugh
I feel a laugh is important because you could
make someone’s day by just makeing them laugh.
For example if someone is feeling sad you can
make up a joke. Also you could even make their
day. You shouldn’t make them feel different treat
other people like you want to be treated.
A laugh is very important because without our
laugh we’ll probobly be anything. Without our
laugh the world would be doleful without color.
Without a laugh we wouldn’t know happyness.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 1 (b)
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I think humor is extremly important because
we need to show what we are feeling. We need to
show our happyness.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 2 (a)
21
I belive laughter is a stupendous and important
key factor in life. When you are upset, laughing can
help brighten your mood. Like the saying goes,
laughter is the best medicine!
Without laughter in your life it would become dull
and boring. Many people that do laugh have family
and friends to help them feel better when they are
feeling pretty down. Those who don’t, often go
through depression because they have no support
in their lives. Making someone laugh is a complex
task, yet everyone still has the capability of doing
it.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 2 (b)
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Laughter is also a characteristic. Not everyone of
us has the exact same laugh, they are all unique!
Some people have laughs that are humerous and
some have a laugh that are cute. When some one
laughs it is like a domino effect, one by one people
join in, making any situation better.
Even if you don’t enjoy the way you laugh share
it with the world, who knows maybe someone else
likes your laugh. Laughing can brighten any room.
Laughing is a needed factor of life. It is passed on
to generation after generation.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 3 (a)
23
Laughter some people like to laugh others don’t.
Weather it’s a small laugh or a big laugh. Its always
better to laugh It’s a great way to cheer up when
some one is down and its free to do.
Cheering up is very important but you need
laughter. Like when someone gets mad you need to
make them laugh. That why when cheering up
laughter is the best choice.
Laughter is free to do. Theres no need to buy
something to cheer them up. When you can just
find a joke to make then laugh. There are many
ways to cheer someone up but laughter is the
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 3 (b)
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best medican.
Some people may think laughter is not good for
you but I think it’s the best way to cheer someone
up. So when ever some one needs cheering up
think about laughter and how it can help you.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 4 (a)
25
One of my best friends is Kyle. He is one of the
funniest people I know. The main reason he is my
best friend, is because he makes me laugh.
laughing is the best thing in the world.
The days I don’t laugh are glume, and sad. So on
days like those I invite my friend Kyle over, so I can
get a good laugh in. Have you noticed the people
who don’t laugh, and have fun arn’t happy. If you
don’t show emotion and get a good laugh out. You
will become a lonely, and sad person. Laughing
can be a reason a relationship even exist. Even
makeing people laugh is fun. If this world did
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 4 (b)
26
not have laughter, I don’t think I would want to live
in it at all. Laughing brings the world joy.
Laughing is the joy to my life, and to many
others. If you cant show emotion and just laugh,
why even live. Life is about having fun and
laughing. So sometimes you just got to let it out
and laugh!
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 5 (a)
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Laughter is the best medicine. It can cure
anyone, even if that cure only lasts a couple of
seconds. I know that it makes a difference is
someone’s day or life. A simple thing like smiling to
a homeless person doesn’t only make them feel
better, it also makes you feel warmer and nice
inside. Whenever I see people laughing and having
an awesome day, I feel like faith in humanity is
restored. What’s the point of living if you have
nothing to laugh or smile about? Life indeed would
be boring and dull if everyone was just serious. Not
laughing is like not breathing, in order to live, you
need humour once in a while. You could be in a
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 5 (b)
28
great mind state of deppression, but if someone
just comes to swoop by and deliver you a smile,
you’ll feel like if everything will be alright and no
matter how complicated life gets, a smile or
laughter will somehow “revive” you. Like in every
life, embrassment comes and goes, sort of like
Karma. But instead of worrying so much, just
laugh! What’s done is done, you can’t change that.
If someone laughs at you, laugh along with them
and prove to your enemy that your laughing too
and that you don’t care. So in my opinion, yes,
laughter is very important in life.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 6 (a)
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A friend who can make you laugh is a friend worth
having. Laughter is an amazing thing. Once you
start to laugh everything seems funnier, everything
is closer to making you laugh. It makes you feel
good, and the people in your life play a important
role in your overall happiness. Almost everyone
loves to laugh, and many of the things that people
love to do besides laughing aren’t good for you at
all, just name any junk food. Laughing can relax
you, relieve stress, and just make you feel good.
It’s important to have friends that make you laugh.
Not everyone finds the same thing funny, some
people like puns, others just find them annoying,
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 6 (b)
30
but everyone laughs. People suffering from
depression don’t laugh as much, or at all. Not
laughing can effect your happiness too.
Sometimes, when I’m feeling tired and under the
weather, and someone tells a good joke, I feel more
awake and energetic. There is no greater pick me
up than laughter. A lot of things make us laugh,
comics, cartoons, comedy shows, jokes, etc. Once,
I looked at the murky gray sky and started to laugh,
because for some reason I had just thought that it
looked like it had contemplated it’s own exsistence
and come up with nothing, which was ridiculous to
me, but hey, I was in a pretty good mood after that.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 6 (c)
31
Laughter is vital to mental health, so whatever
makes you laugh, your friends, your cat, the
sunday funnies, whatever it is, it’s good to have
around. After all, laughter is the best medicine.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 7
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I think it’s very important to laugh. Well because
why would’nt you laugh because it helps people for
example, say your sick and if someone or
something made you laugh you’d feel a little bit
better and some people that are under depression
when they laugh they just a little better or even if
your not sick or sad laughing makes you seem like
a better person not a boring, no sense of humor
person. Be fun full of positive energy and have a
good sense of humor. True humor is fun – it does
not put down, kid, or mock. It makes people feel
wonderful, not separate, different, and cut off.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 8 (a)
33
Is laughing really important to us? To many
people laughing is just a mood. Laughing is what
makes people feel happy. People that usually never
laughs has a boring life. It also makes you feel
better. If you are really sick and you feel really
depressed people can make you laugh and you
would feel much better. Laughing is something
mostly everyone in the whole world has. Having a
boring life with no one by your side means
happines and no laughter. Humor does make life
better makes you feel that your not alone. Like as
Hugh Pranther said true humor is fun – it does not
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 8 (b)
34
put down, kid or mock. It makes people feel
wonderful, not seprate and cut off. Some people
even say that laughter brings families closer.
Laughter is important it creats happiness and love.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 9 (a)
35
A laugh or two every once in a while is like a glass
of water after running a mile; it’s refreshing.
When you are feeling down or alone, do you ever
just feel like sitting down and watching your
favorite comedy show? Have you ever tried to
cheer up your friends or a loved one by cracking a
joke? Humor is society’s strange little trick to earn
an audience, connect with them, or just to help
them loosten up after a hard day. For example, are
you one of those people who gets bored after a
long while of being contained in a classroom/
boardroom and end up doing something crazy, like
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 9 (b)
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drawing a goofy picture and showing it to your
friends while the teacher is speaking to the class?
That is your inner comedian trying to brighten up
people’s day, especially after seeing the bored
looks on their faces, which turned into smiles.
This is the type of good humor that harmlessly
catches everyone’s attention even without hurting
a soul. No matter how mature or immature it gets,
humans, in a way, seem to need humor to get on
with life, because comedy shows that there is
always a bright side to things. It’s okay to laugh
because the truth is, everyone does. It turns out
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 9 (c)
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that having a great sense of humor can come in
handy – just don’t go too far with it.
So the next time you feel low in life, grab a
newspaper, read the funnies, and laugh a little.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 10 (a)
38
We all need laughter. Going a day without
laughing is like going a day without smiling, which
doesn’t appear to be very pleasing. Laughing and
humor is the heart of the people, without it the
world would be a much duller, lifeless place.
Laughter has a bigger effect on everyone than
some might think.
If more people learned to laugh things off, many
issues could be solved quicker and with more
peace. Laughter could carry the solution to several
conflicts all people have. Laughing might just cure
depression, anxiety, and many other mental
disorders, because laughing isn’t only fun, it’s
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 10 (b)
39
healthy. Humor and laughter aren’t just for adults
around the world, but children as well. Children
laugh almost more than anyone, this is why they’re
usually the happiest people around. Watching or
doing something humorous is the cause of
laughter, laughter is the source of joy. This source
of joy fuels television shows, families, and
anything that has to do with the sense of glee. The
importance to laugh is unexplainable, every single
person needs laughter and humor in his or her life
to be successful in finding happiness.
The world needs more laughter. The more humor
and laughter it has the better place it’ll be.
Grade 7 Expository
Training Set – 10 (c)
40
Laughing is one of the most important things in
this world, everyone could be a little more cheerful
if they all laughed a little more. After all they do say
laughter is the best medicine.
CONTACT INFORMATION
41
Victoria Young
Director of Reading, Writing, and Social
Studies Assessments
Texas Education Agency
512-463-9536
[email protected]