"Thoughts on An Abacus"
has been a solid resource
to examine different reading skills. We will look
at one more example question relating to the passage
but pulling in the reader's response and ideas.
Click on the book icon to the right and open the
passage.You have read it carefully already,
so you might skim or review the key points for
a refresher.
Again, in this example, you aren't doing the
writing, but you're doing the evaluating! Which
answer would be yours?
Think:
Prompt
is asking me to show I understand the author's
idea, "It is comforting to know that some
very old and very simple ways of getting from one
place to another still work."
AND
be able to extend that idea to another new example
of my own.
Be very familiar with the passage
to be able to answer in the best way you can.
Read:
Carefully consider the whole article.
Then read the author's idea again and summarize
it. That is a good start for your paraphrase.
Know the key elements needed
for a response to be complete.
Think:
I
must state the author's idea in my own words to
show I understand the author's meaning.
I
have to come up with my own example of the idea,
one that is different from any mentioned in the
article.
Understand the scoring criteria.
A
2 point score will paraphrase the author's idea
clearly, show thoughtful interpretation by including
an original example of the idea, and use information
from the article to support the new example.
A
1 point score will paraphrase the author's idea
in part, but not exactly, show average or simple
interpretation of the author's idea by including
an example that comes close to the same idea, and
use some information from the article.
A
zero point score may copy the author's words,
or write something that does not match the author's
idea. Maybe the response is, "I don't know,"
and there is no evidence from the article.
One student answered like this:
Part 1:
It's
good to know that old tools and ways of doing things
still work in our high technological world.
Does this answer the first part of the prompt? Remember
the sentence that is to be paraphrased? "It is
comforting (good)
to know that some very old and very simple ways (old
tools and ways of doing things) of
getting from one place to another still work (still
work in our high technological world)."
Yes, the student hit the bullseye with this
paraphrase.
Part 2:
Today
I can write a letter with pen and paper and send it
in the mail instead of using a computer and e-mail.
Does this answer the second part of the prompt where
the student is asked to come up with another example of
the "old and simple ways still work"
idea? Exactly!
This is a complete and accurate response to the prompt.
Would you agree that this student earned 2 points?
Score this answer to the same prompt.
Prompt: In the second to
last paragraph, the author says, "It is comforting
to know that some very old and very simple ways of getting
from one place to another still work."
Write this idea in your own words.
Give your own example of this idea. Your example
should be different from the example the author uses.
Student 2 answer to question 1:
The
old ways are sometimes better than the new ways because
they are more reliable.
Student 2 answer to question 2:
Sometimes
the newest thing is not always better than the old.
Before scoring the response, remember the key elements
needed in a complete answer:
Yes
No
The author's idea was paraphrased in the words of
the student.
The student gave a different example of the author's
idea, there are still old ways that work.
Now it's your turn to score the response. When you select
a score, you'll see an explanation too.
Let's look at one more student answer:
Prompt: In the second to
last paragraph, the author says, "It is comforting
to know that some very old and very simple ways of getting
from one place to another still work."
Write this idea in your own words.
Give your own example of this idea. Your example
should be different from the example the author uses.
Student 3 answer to question 1:
In
the second to last paragraph the author says, "It
is comforting to know that some very old and very
simple
ways of getting."
Student 3 answer to question 2:
Because I think that calculators
are here to stay and forever more.
Before scoring the response, remember
the key elements needed in a complete answer:
Yes
No
The author's idea was paraphrased in the words of
the student.
The student gave a different example of the author's
idea, there are still old ways that work.
Your turn again! Score the response. When you select
a score, you'll see an explanation too.
Extending information beyond the text, and providing your
own response, usually requires writing of your own, because
it includes your own opinion and thought. Most questions
addressing this concept will be either short answer or extended
response. Let's look at one more article you are familiar
with to see how you can take information from an article
and form your own opinion.
