TIPS TO “ROCK” THE
TEST
Two Types of Writing on EOC
Responses to reading Open Response
Questions
Scoring Procedures for Open-Response Questions
Scores range from “0” to “4,” with “4” being
the best.
All responses to the Grade 11 Literacy
Examination open-response test items are scored independently by two readers. Those two scores are compared, and responses that receive scores that are non-adjacent (a “1”
and a “3,” for example) are scored a third time by a Team Leader or the Scoring
Responses to reading Open Response Questions
You will be asked to read a passage or
passages.
You will then be asked to respond to what you
have read in writing.
For example: Describe a conflict presented in the
passage. Explain how the conflict is resolved. Provide two examples from the passage to support your response.
You will be provided with a rubric that will
Example Rubric
SCORE DESCRIPTION
4 The response describes a conflict of the passage, explains how the conflict is resolved, and provides two examples from the passage to support the response.
3 The response describes a conflict of the passage, explains how the conflict is resolved, and provides one
example from the passage to support the response.
OR
The response describes a conflict of the passage and provides two examples from the passage to support the response.
OR
The response explains how the conflict is resolved and provides two examples from the passage to support the response.
2 The response describes a conflict of the passage and explains how the conflict is resolved.
OR
The response describes a conflict of the passage and provides one example from the passage to support the response.
OR
The response explains how the conflict is resolved and provides one example from the passage to support the response.
1 The response describes a conflict of the passage.
OR
The response explains how the conflict is resolved.
0 The response is totally incorrect or irrelevant. There is no evidence that the student
understands the task, or the response may be off-topic.
Domains for Open Response
Writing is graded in five different areas called
“domains”:
1.
Style
2.
Content
3.
Usage
4.
Mechanics
Domains are Great!
All these different domains
are great because they give
Domain 1: STYLE Divisions
Selected Vocabulary
Selected Information
Style
Questions asked when scoring STYLE:
Is the vocabulary and information selected to
influence the reader? Is vocabulary precise
(specific), and is it suited to the writer’s purpose? Does the writer create images for the reader?
Are a variety of sentences used to enhance the
writer’s points and to create reader interest?
Does the writer’s voice emerge through the
More questions about STYLE:
Is there an appropriate tone created with all
the features working together?
Does the writer control these features
consistently or just some of the time?
What level of control of all features within the
Domain: STYLE Consistent Control (score of 4)
Selected Vocabulary •purposeful selection with audience in mind
•precise, specific
•suits the writer’s purpose and topic
•creates images for the reader sustained throughout Selected
Information ••purposeful selection of details to affect readercreates images for the reader (“Dentyne” rather than “gum”) sustained throughout
Sentence Variety •sentences have a variety of beginnings and lengths
•different sentence structures create an interesting reading
Tone •an attitude is conveyed through selected vocabulary and information
•maintained throughout
•tone does not shift
•appropriate for the piece Voice •strong writer’s voice
Domain 2: CONTENT
Central idea
Elaboration
Unity
Questions asked when scoring
CONTENT:
Is the central idea clear and does the student
maintain the focus?
Are there details that five a clear idea of the
student’s message? Does the writer leave some questions unanswered?
Are all ideas in the essay elaborated or did
More questions about CONTENT:
Are all the details supporting the central
idea? Does everything hang together? Is the essay cohesive?
Is there an organizational plan or has the
writer jumped around?
What level of control of all features within the
Domain: Content Consistent Control (score of 4)
Central Ideas •clear central idea
•apparent to reader
•adhered to throughout piece Elaboration •writer has included
• details so that reader gets a clear idea of message
•elaboration for a narrative fills in the steps in the sequence
•even elaboration (not just one of the ideas elaborated)
Unity •all elaboration focused on central idea presence of closure
•more mature writers will close the entire piece (less mature writers
will close their last thought)
•consistent point of view
•piece hangs together Organization •clear organization
•can tell there is a plan in effect
•sequential for a narrative piece
•writers may clump ideas in expository pieces
Domain 3: SENTENCE
FORMATION
Completeness
Absence of Fused Sentences
(run-ons, comma splices)
Expansion through Coordination
and Modifiers
Embedding through Standard
Subordination and Modifiers
Questions asked about SENTENCE FORMATION:
Are all sentences complete or are there
fragments?
Are there sentences with words out of order?
Has the writer made use of clauses,
coordinating conjunctions, series, adjectives, adverbs so that he or she demonstrates the ability to construct different types of
More questions asked about SENTENCE FORMATION:
What has the writer done well in relation to
what he or she has done poorly.
What level of control of all features within the
Domain:
SENTENCE FORMATION Consistent Control (score of 4)
Completeness Non-enjambment Expansion through standard coordination and modifiers Embedding through standard subordination and modifiers
•control of a variety of sentence structures
•ideas are combined and embedded with skill
•fragments may be used for effect
Domain 4: USAGE
Standard Inflections
Agreement
Questions asked when scoring
USAGE:
Does the writer control inflections: noun and
verb endings?
Does the writer control subject/verb and
pronoun/antecedent agreement?
Is verb tense consistent and accurate
More questions about USAGE:
Has the writer chosen the correct words to fit
the meaning in the sentences or are there inaccurate word choices?
What has the writer done well in relation to
what he or she has done poorly?
What level of control of all features within the
Domain: USAGE Consistent Control (score of 4)
Standard inflections (plurals, possessives, -ed, -ly, etc.)
Agreement
Word meaning
Conventions
•all the features are handled well
Domain 5: MECHANICS
Capitalization
Punctuation
Formatting
Questions asked when scoring MECHANICS:
Does the writer have control of
capitalization?
Does the writer have control of punctuation?
Does the writer format correctly?
Does the writer have control of spelling?
Misspelling more difficult words is less
More questions asked when scoring MECHANICS:
What has the writer done well in relation to
what he or she has done poorly? Mechanics offers the greatest opportunity to make errors or show skills!
What level of control of all features within the
Domain: MECHANICS Consistent Control (score of 4)
Capitalization
Punctuation
Formatting
Spelling
•all the features are handled well
