Objective 2.A.4.d:
Summarize or paraphrase
Question: Write a summary of the article “Persistence” (pdf)
Characteristics:
What did the team decide were the characteristics of a proficient response for a grader on this question?
The student needs to:
Identify the author's main idea or viewpoint (stated or implied by the author)
Persistence can help us reach our goals.
Identify and briefly states supporting points or author’s explanations
(A summary of the text includes the author's major points that support the main idea or viewpoint of the author, whereas a summary of a portion of the text, or paragraph, includes supporting details rather than major supporting details.)
Details from Paul Richards childhood and adulthood that demonstrate how persistence helped him attain his goals.
- Write in student's own words
- Only include what is in the text
- Condense the text to a shorter version
The teacher should also look for evidence of:
- Student’s inferential thinking
- Student’s supporting evidence embedded in student's inferences
- Student’s synthesizing information and paraphrasing
Example of a Proficient Response:
The article Persistence was all about how if you keep trying and working hard, you will achieve your goal. Paul Richards, in this case, never gave up on his goal of becoming an astronaut. When he was younger, he entered a race and won the first year. Then he tried again but lost. The next year he was persistent. He tried to work on things that would make his rocket win, not look good, and won the contest. When older, Paul Richards tried to become an astronaut. For eight years he sent in letters that were rejected. But that didn't stop him. Once again he had to use his persistence. Then he was invited to NASA to become an astronaut.
