Grade Six 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.
Explanatory Writing Prompt
Student Assignment:
Your history class is preparing for the “World’s Fair” event at your school. The event will focus on the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. To prepare students and parents for their visit, you have been assigned an explanatory essay on the impact of the 1893 World’s Fair.
Using more than one source, develop a thesis/controlling idea to explain the impact of the 1893 World’s Fair. Once you have a thesis/controlling idea, select the most relevant information to support your thesis/controlling idea. Then, write a multi paragraph explanatory essay explaining your thesis/ controlling idea. Clearly organize your essay and elaborate on your ideas. Develop your ideas clearly and use your own words, except when quoting directly from the sources. Be sure to reference the source title or number when quoting or paraphrasing details or facts from the sources.
Level 1 Sample Student Response
The Chicago Fair of 1893 tougk place at Jackson park, on the shore of lack MI. The total area or the fairgrounds was over six hundred acres that’s why they chose Jackson is be cause it had a big area to build on. In six months they had 27 million visitors, many whom came from and lough way away.
The fair had 65,000 exhibits and had inventions from all over, come and goin the party! The inventions were zipper, dishwasher, and light bulb They had food come from all over and had a seating place that all lunch on the first day sat 7,000 people WOW!
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing is related to the topic—such as where the fair took place, its size, the number of visitors and exhibits, and inventions shown. It would benefit from a clearer controlling idea and a more organized structure to connect the details. The writing demonstrates a developing command of conventions.
Level 2 Sample Student Response
In the chicago world fair of 1893 there were many fantastic and amazing things happening. It was great for many things. For instance there was great activities, lots of invetions. and evan a rivaly between inventors. It would be a great place to be. There were mind capturing inventions that took your breath away.
At the fair there were so many activities it took up your whole schedule for the day. There was good food. Infact some are still popular today. There was also a lot of a lot of space for people. There was about 7000 seats. The fair grounds is 600 acres of land.
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing somewhat sustains organization—it attempts to organize ideas around the 1893 Chicago Fair with relevant details from the sources—but lists what was at the fair rather than explaining why those features were important. The writing includes simplistic language, and it demonstrates a partial command of conventions.
Level 3 Sample Student Response
I think the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair impacted the world by introducing hundreds of inventions using electricity as a power source and making electricity itself widely known.
The fair, held in 1893 lasted for 6 months and recieved over 27 million visitors. There were 3 inventors who competed for the contract to light the fair. They were Thomas Edison, Nicola Tesla, and George Westinghouse. Edison and Tesla used DC power while Westing used AC. Westinghouse and Tesla got the contract for the lighting.
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing adequately develops ideas—it includes a clear controlling idea about how the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair impacted the world with relevant details from the sources—and employs a mix of precise and more general language. The writing demonstrates an adequate command of conventions, despite some spelling errors.
Level 4 Sample Student Response
The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 was a great marvel. Over 27 million people came to see its 65,000 exhibits, and the spectacle lasted for over six months. Three reasons it was such a success are the electricity, the comeback, the the two inventors who fought a battle to make it work. Read on to discover how these things came to be!
At the time of the World’s Fair, electricity was something that almost no one had. In fact, it was almost unheard of!
Scoring Annotation: Overall, the writing clearly and effectively develops ideas—it includes a clear controlling idea about the impact of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and organizes the essay around three main points with relevant details from all sources—using precise language. The writing demonstrates an adequate command of conventions, despite a few grammatical errors.
About This Item
Claim 2
Writing
Target 4
Compose Full Texts. Write full explanatory texts using a complete writing process attending to purpose and audience: organize ideas by stating a thesis/controlling idea and maintaining a focus/tone; develop a topic including elaboration and citing relevant supporting evidence from sources, with appropriate transitional strategies for coherence; and develop a conclusion that is appropriate to purpose and audience and follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.
Standard
6.W.2a: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.