The Open-Ended Question

1. STAAR 2012 The Open-Ended Question

2. Components of the Open-Ended Response Clear, reasonable idea about various aspects of the text Relevant text evidence that supports the idea analysis quotation

3. The Open-Ended Response . . . Is scored on content Unless the frequency and/or severity of writing convention errors causes clarity problems. Write clearly and neatly. Your final answer must be written in the box provided.

4. 0Insufficient • This response is too vague to understand. Or • This response fails to give any textual evidence. (Quote) Or • This response makes an interpretation notfound in the text. Or • This response is just a plot summary

5. 1Partially Sufficient • This response only gives an answer. Or • This response only gives textual evidence and fails to answer the question. Or • There is no clear connection between the answer and the evidence.

6. 2Sufficient • This response answers the question and gives appropriate evidence (Quote) • The connection between the answer and the evidence (Quote) is clear.

7. 3Exemplary • Everything a “2” has, PLUS: • Particularly insightful answer • Embedded quotations • Exceptional vocabulary

8. Sample: Answer Sheet

9. Now… YOU BE THE JUDGE. • We’ll take a look at responses from real students who took the 9th grade STAAR Benchmark a few weeks ago. • Their responses were scored by “official” graders. • Let’s see if we can score these on our own…Get your score cards ready!

10. Literary Selection • In the excerpt from Anne of Green Gables on pages 2-4, do you think the stage directions enhance your understanding of the scene? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from the selection.

11. How do I answer this? • Read the passage. • Highlight where you read that stage directions did/did not enhance the play. • To answer the question completely you must include 2 things: • Response: Write your response in a clear complete sentence in the box provided. • Evidence: Write a direct quote from the story that proves your response is correct.

12. The stage directions definitely help to get an image of the scene in the play. In a short story or novel, authors use words to describe the setting that the characters are in which helps to paint a visual image in the reader’s mind. Descriptions like “a small figure, a child, sits on a battered suitcase” and directions as to who a character is turned talking to like “to Anne” help the reader see what is happening, just like descriptions in a novel or short story. The reader can see the play being acted out in their minds which helps them to understand the scenes better and connect with the characters just by reading.

13. *Response * Evidence (Quote) The stage directions definitely help to get an image of the scene in the play. In a short story or novel, authors use words to describe the setting that the characters are in which helps to paint a visual image in the reader’s mind. Descriptions like “a small figure, a child, sits on a battered suitcase” and directions as to who a character is turned talking to like “to Anne” help the reader see what is happening, just like descriptions in a novel or short story. The reader can see the play being acted out in their minds which helps them to understand the scenes better and connect with the characters just by reading.

14. Score Point: 3 -Exemplary • The student offers the thoughtful idea that stage directions enhance a reader’s images of the scene in the play. Specific synopsis and direct quotations are combined to strongly support the idea, making this an exemplary response. The idea is perceptive and text evidence is specific and well chosen.

15. In “Anne of Green Gables” I believe the stage directions enhance the understanding of the scene. Some evidence to prove it is all of the first paragraph. It enhances the understanding of the scene by introducing the main character, setting the scene, and setting the mood. Without the stage directions it’s all confusing. Some more text evidence is all of paragraph 8. It enhances the scene by introducing a man who is to adopt Anne and what his character is like. In conclusion I believe the stage directions enhance the scene because without them it’s very confusing.

16. *Response * Evidence (Quote) In “Anne of Green Gables” I believe the stage directions enhance the understanding of the scene. Some evidence to prove it is all of the first paragraph. It enhances the understanding of the scene by introducing the main character, setting the scene, and setting the mood. Without the stage directions it’s all confusing. Some more text evidence is all of paragraph 8. It enhances the scene by introducing a man who is to adopt Anne and what his character is like. In conclusion I believe the stage directions enhance the scene because without them it’s very confusing.

17. Score Point- 1- Partially Sufficient • In this response, the student writes in first person. • There is no direct text evidence – only summary. If the writer had quoted from the stage directions, their response would have been scored higher if the connection between the text evidence and answer was closely linked.

18. The stage directions help a lot because the reader can create more realistic pictures in their head about what is going on. When “Anne clutches her bag. She is terrified,” shows Anne is scared without Anne having to say it.

19. *Response * Evidence (Quote) The stage directions help a lot because the reader can create more realistic pictures in their head about what is going on. When “Anne clutches her bag. She is terrified,” shows Anne is scared without Anne having to say it.

20. Score Point: 2- Sufficient • The student presents a reasonable idea and supports it with quotations of relevant text, making this a sufficient response.

21. It lets me know that she’s waiting for something or someone and that she might be unfortunate.

22. Score Point: 0- Insufficient • This student offers an idea (that she’s waiting for something or someone ) that only summarizes part of the stage directions; the response does not address whether stage directions enhance the play. There is no quotation to be used as evidence either.

23. Crossover Selections • What is one similarity between the narrator of “A Handful” and Curtis in “Writin’ on the Line”? Explain your answer and support it with evidence from both selections.

24. How do I answer this? • Re-read both passages. • Highlight anything that shows their similarity. • To answer the question completely you must include 3 things: • Response: Write your response in a clear complete sentence in the box provided. • Evidence: Write a direct quote from each story that proves your response is correct. • (You must have 2 quotes!)

25. Both selections deal with a problem where a loved one helps another loved one out. In “A Handful” Kevin helps the narrator overcome his fear of bridges. “The only person who could calm me down was the person who saved me” (Johnson 18). In “Writin’ on the Line” Kaysandra helps Curtis achieve his dreams of becoming a writer. “Fortunately, Kaysandra believed in those handwritten words” (Smith 23). With her support, Curtis was successful.

26. *Response * Evidence (Quote) * Evidence #2 (Quote) Both selections deal with a problem where a loved one helps another loved one out. In “A Handful” Kevin helps the narrator overcome his fear of bridges. “The only person who could calm me down was the person who saved me” (Johnson 18). In “Writin’ on the Line” Kaysandra helps Curtis achieve his dreams of becoming a writer. “Fortunately, Kaysandra believed in those handwritten words” (Smith 23). With her support, Curtis was successful.

27. Score Point: 2 - Sufficient • The student offers a reasonable idea for each selection (Kevin helping narrator to overcome the fear of bridges; Kaysandrahelping Curtis achieve his dreams of becoming a writer). • Direct quotations are provided to support the ideas from both selections, making this a sufficient response.

28. One similarity between the narrator and Curtis is that they were both helped by their loved one in an hour of need to finally attain success whether it be in the form of career or triumph over emotional turmoil. Curtis “would be the first [to admit] that without [Kaysandra’s support] his dream [would never have been realized]” (Smith 1). Despite the years that have gone by, even when the narrator’s parents thought the story was getting old, “Kevin just ignored them. [Instead], his face wouldn’t change, and…his voice only got softer” indicating that Kevin was there for the narrator regardless of what other people thought (Johnson 2).

29. *Response * Evidence (Quote) * Evidence #2 (Quote) One similarity between the narrator and Curtis is that they were both helped by their loved one in an hour of need to finally attain success whether it be in the form of career or triumph over emotional turmoil. Curtis “would be the first [to admit] that without [Kaysandra’s support] his dream [would never have been realized]” (Smith 1). Despite the years that have gone by, even when the narrator’s parents thought the story was getting old, “Kevin just ignored them. [Instead], his face wouldn’t change, and…his voice only got softer” indicating that Kevin was there for the narrator regardless of what other people thought (Johnson 2).

30. Score Point: 3- Exemplary • The student offers the reasonable idea that both were helped by their loved one in an hour of need to finally attain success whether it be in the form of career or triumph over emotional turmoil. • Great word choices were used in their analysis. • Incorporated commentary into their response. • Direct quotations are provided that demonstrate the student’s ability to strongly connect textual evidence to the idea, making this an exemplary response.

31. The narrator in “A Handful” talks in first person and the narrator in “Writin’ on the Line” third person. In “A Handful” the narrator constantly uses possessives like my and I and also has things like “I remember it” and “In a way I do” (18). However, in “Writin’ on the Line” the narrator talks using he’s and avoids possessives and talks like “his first bank” and “he’s now in demand for personal appearances” (23).

32. Score Point: 0- Insufficient • In this response the student offers how the two selections are different – not the same. Because it does not answer the prompt, it becomes a zero. • The quotations provided from selections are not relevant to the prompt. • Because no reasonable idea or relevant textual evidence is provided for the selections, this is an insufficient response.

33. Both the narrator of “A Handful” and Curtis had assistance from a close friend or relative. Kevin saved the narrator of “A Handful”’s life, as well as help him get over his fear of bridges. Kaysandra helped Curtis become an author as well.

34. *Response * Evidence (Quote) * Evidence #2 (Quote) Both the narrator of “A Handful” and Curtis had assistance from a close friend or relative. Kevin saved the narrator of “A Handful”’s life, as well as help him get over his fear of bridges. Kaysandra helped Curtis become an author as well.

35. Score Point: 1 – Partially Sufficient • In this response the student offers a reasonable idea about their similarity (assistance from a close friend or relative) • However, it is not supported by relevant direct quotations from either story which makes it a partially sufficient response.

36. NOW….are YOU ready for STAAR??