For or Against High Stakes Standardized Testing

Student Name:

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Attention Grabber

Support for Position

4Above Standards The introductory paragraph has a strong hook or attention grabber that is appropriate for the audience. This could be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or question addressed to the reader. Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement. The writer anticipates the reader's concerns,

3Meets Standards The introductory paragraph has a hook or attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling or inappropriate for the audience.

21Approaching Standards Below Standards Score The author has an The introductory interesting introductory paragraph is not paragraph but the interesting and is connection to the topic is not relevant to the not clear. topic.

Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement.

Includes 2 pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement.

Includes 1 or fewer pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences).

biases or arguments and has provided at least 1 counter-argument. Evidence and Examples All of the evidence Most of the At least one of the pieces Evidence and and examples are evidence and of evidence and examples examples are NOT specific, relevant examples are is relevant and has an relevant AND/OR and explanations specific, relevant explanation that shows are not explained. are given that show and explanations how that piece of how each piece of are given that show evidence supports the evidence supports how each piece of author's position. the author's evidence supports position. the author's position. All supportive Almost all Most supportive facts and Most supportive facts and statistics supportive facts statistics are reported facts and statistics are reported and statistics are accurately. were inaccurately accurately. reported reported. accurately. All sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and cited correctly. All sentences are well-constructed with varied structure. All sources used for quotes, statistics and facts are credible and most are cited correctly. Most sentences are well-constructed and there is some varied sentence structure in the essay. Most sources used for Many sources are quotes, statistics and facts not credible are credible and cited AND/OR are not correctly. cited correctly.

Accuracy

Sources

Sentence Structure

Most sentences are well Most sentences are constructed, but there is not wellno variation is structure. constructed or varied.

Author makes more than 4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Author makes Capitalization & Author makes no Author makes 1-2 Author makes a few errors in errors in errors in capitalization several errors in Punctuation capitalization or capitalization or and/or punctuation that capitalization punctuation, so the punctuation, but catch the reader's and/or punctuation essay is the essay is still attention and interrupt the that catch the exceptionally easy easy to read. flow. reader's attention to read. and interrupt the flow. Grammar & Spelling

Author makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distracts the reader from the content.

Author makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Author makes 3-4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Total Score: