Grade Three English Language Arts/Literacy Sample Items and Student Responses by Reporting Achievement Level
A student scoring at the indicated overall achievement level is likely to provide a writing response that scores similarly to the sample response provided.
Informational Writing Prompt
Student Assignment:
Your teacher is creating a bulletin board display in the school library to show what your class has learned about different types of jobs. You decide to write an informational article on astronauts. Your article will be read by other students, teachers, and parents.
Using more than one source, develop a main idea about being an astronaut. Choose the most important information from the sources to support your main idea. Then, write an informational article that is several paragraphs long. Clearly organize your article and support your main idea with details from the sources. Use your own words except when quoting directly from the sources. Be sure to give the source title or number when using details from the sources.
Level 1 Sample Student Response
THE job of a astrnot is like, floating in a tin can out in a place wehr there is no gravity.
There is nothing like that around earth.
Sometims astrnots are scared sometimes there not being a astrnot is hard work, thats my apinyon .you may have a diffront a pinyon .
THIS is beause,
I like wringing because,thats my favrot thing to do; some timse astrnots try to stop meders and as-troys .
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing is related to the topic—it includes a relevant idea from the sources by explaining that astronauts float in space because there is no gravity. It shows emerging sense of organization and would benefit from a clearer structure. The writing demonstrates a developing command of conventions.
Level 2 Sample Student Response
It is hard to get a job as an astronaut many people work hard to get the job and if you do have an job as a astronaut you nead to work hard on training.
Many astronauts get to have a close view at other planits.And many astronauts benn on the moon.And astronauts have roebot thingys that can go too other planits that the astonauts can not go to.
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing somewhat sustains organization—staying mostly focused on the topic of astronauts and including some relevant information from the sources. It develops ideas unevenly, using simplistic language. The writing demonstrates a partial command of conventions.
Level 3 Sample Student Response
Being an astronaut is not an easy job. They don’t just go to space to go sight seeing. they are there to learn about the wonderful things about space. You have to go to school for at least 18 years. After all that time studying you have to train for a very long time. Maybe even up to 130 hour of training.
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing adequately develops ideas—clearly explaining that being an astronaut is not easy and supporting it with relevant evidence from the sources. It employs a mix of precise and general language to communicate ideas. Although there are some errors in capitalization and spelling, the writing demonstrates an adequate command of conventions.
Level 4 Sample Student Response
Have you ever thought about what it’s like to be an astronaut? You might think that it would be a lot of fun but going into space is very hard. There is a lot of work to do before you go actually go to space. Before you become an astronaut, you have to be educated. Astronauts go to school for 12 years, then go to college for 4 years, and after that they study for two years or more. That’s 18 years in total! Can you imagine that!
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing effectively develops ideas with a clear and logical structure, moving from becoming an astronaut, to training and what happens in space. It integrates important details from both sources to support the main idea and uses precise language to communicate understanding. While there are a few minor grammar errors, the writing demonstrates an adequate command of conventions.
About This Item
Claim 2
Writing
Target 4
Compose Full Texts. Write full informational texts on a topic using a complete writing process attending to purpose and audience organize ideas by stating a focus (main Idea): include text structures and appropriate transitional strategies for coherence: include elaboration and supporting evidence from sources and an appropriate conclusion.
Standard
3.W.2b: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.