NC Tenth Grade Writing Test Expository or Informational Writing

Background Essay of Definition Cause and Effect Teachers NEVER know what prompt you will be given Every student in the state writes on the same prompt

Background Each essay will be digitalized and then scored by 2 readers If there is a discrepancy in the scoring of more than 1 point, a third reader will read it The first two scores will be thrown out if a third reader is called in

Average Reader Thoroughly trained Must maintain consistency in scoring Spends an average of 2-3 minutes on each paper

Scoring Students are given a content score and a conventions score Content score counts more Content rubric grades on 4 main areas Conventions score counts the least

Content Rubric: Composing Features Focus Organization Support and Elaboration Style

Focus Does the composition have a clear focus which is appropriate to the purpose, audience, and context of the task? How is the focus maintained throughout the composition? How well does this piece accomplish its purpose?

Organization How is the piece organized? Which of the ideas and details connected to each other within and between paragraphs? How well can the reader understand this writing from beginning to end? Which ideas logically progress to a conclusion?

Support and Elaboration How is the topic developed with specific, relevant details? Does this composition have enough elaboration to be convincing? Which of the details are important and relevant to the main idea? How well do all of the details move the composition toward the desired end?

Style How does this piece address the specified audience appropriately? How does the writer use words that are precise, engaging, and well-suited to the purpose, audience, and context? How is the language used appropriately for purpose, audience, and context of the given task? How well does the writer use a variety of well-crafted sentences that establish relationships between and among ideas and statements?

Conventions Rubric Scores proficiency in grammar, usage, and mechanics Is the reader distracted by inappropriate or incorrect sentence structure? Does the writer correctly use punctuation, capitalization, and spelling?

Here’s the Math Content scores range from 1-4 Convention scores range from 0-2

Here’s the Math Content 1 = 3 Content 2 = + 2 5 X 2 = 10 Conventions 1 = 2 Conventions 2 = +1 3 = + 3 13 = level 3

Scale Score 4-7 = I 8-11 = II 12-16 = III 17-20 = IV Level III or higher is considered proficient for grade level. Not above standard, not great, just proficient.