Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

This response provides minimal support for why the school system should not adopt the year-round proposal (no where in life are we going to get these type of breaks; teaches us commitment and how to stay focus) and is too brief to demonstrate an organizational structure.

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

This brief response addresses the prompt by disagreeing with the year-round school proposal. Support is minimal, as only a few quick reasons are provided (students would drop out; summer-break allows me time to get over the previous school-year; school is just fine how it is now). It is too brief to demonstrate an organizational structure.

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

This writer's reliance on general details (get more sleep; go by faster; a whole lot easier; make things alot more efficient; make it easier for me) results in an incomplete essay. Although an organizational structure is attempted, further elaboration and more specific details about why year-round school is a good idea are needed for a higher score.

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

This oversimplified response provides a few general reasons to support why year-round school is a good idea (kids without the summer jobs are getting into trouble; they might be bored the whole summer). There is little awareness of audience as ideas move quickly from one to the next. An organizational structure is attempted, but more support and elaboration are needed for a higher score.

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

This focused response uses adequate support to argue against the year-round school proposal. An organizational structure is demonstrated as ideas flow smoothly from paragraph to paragraph. Some clear word choice is provided (pass by quickly; allow students more free time to take longer trips; get part-time jobs; right when we get out, it is the time to go back already; all I hear are complaints), demonstrating an awareness of audience. More relevant and specific elaboration is needed for a higher score.

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

This complete response uses an organizational structure that focuses on three reasons against the year-round school proposal (breaks are long enough; two-three week breaks will cause confusion with students and frustration; many rely on extended summer breaks for various opportunities). Word choice is clear (it impedes smooth, effective education; keep the status quo), and elaboration is adequate. Additional relevant support is needed for a higher score.

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

Consistent attention to the audience's understanding and interest is demonstrated in this organized and complete essay against year-round schooling. Relevant elaboration (elevated cost; school is not the most important thing in a child's life; there is no significant difference between year-round and traditional school systems) and purposeful word choice (the tyrannical school board; vast misconception) contribute to a strong persuasive tone throughout the response and result in a well-developed essay that fulfills the writing purpose.

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

Using an effective organizational strategy that engages the audience's interest, the writer of this well-developed response moves fluently from one idea to the next to support the adoption of a year-round school schedule. Relevant elaboration is ample, as both reasons (students and teachers alike lose their work ethic; provides stability and structure) are developed in depth. Purposeful word choice (all the other important work slaved over from September to June; only to gather dust; they won't forget any of their times tables or prepositional phrases) helps to created a thoughtful essay that fulfills the writing purpose.