The following 8 Anchor Papers represent a range of score points and are used in conjunction with the rubrics to assess student responses.

Score for Anchor Paper #1: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The tables are correctly completed; however, no attempt is made to write an expression or determine the difference in the predicted number of deer in 10 years. The response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #2: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The tables are correctly completed, but the representations, in the form of equations, are incorrect. No attempt is made to determine the difference in the predicted number of deer in 10 years. This response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #3: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. The tables are correctly completed. While the student has not provided expressions to represent each ranger's prediction, the correct difference in the predicted number of deer in 10 years ("20 deers different") is given. The explanation supports the solution but is not fully developed. (''Ranger Jones predicts there will only be 138 deer…Ranger Percy predicts there will be 158 deer.") This response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. The tables are correctly completed. The representations, in the form of equations ("Jones-y=78+6n…Percy-y=78+8n"), are correct. The difference in the predicted number of deer is incorrect, and the explanation is incomplete. ("I add to get this number in both Jones and Percy's case.") This response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #5: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to some correct solutions. The table for Ranger Jones' predictions is correctly completed. The student correctly provides the predictions for the first and second years on Ranger Percy's table, but for the third year adds 6 rather than 8. Correct expressions for Ranger Jones (78+6n) and Ranger Percy (78+8n) are given. The response provides an incorrect predicted number of deer for Ranger Jones ("126 deer in 10 years") and a correct prediction for Ranger Percy ("158 deer in 10 years"). The explanation describes a reasonable strategy ("I got this answer by plugging in 10 to the equations"); however, the number "126" would be the solution when substituting 8, rather than 10, into the expression for Ranger Jones. The difference of "32 more deer" is consistent with the student's numbers. This response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to correct solutions. The tables are correctly completed. In the form of equations set equal to "td" (defined as the "total # of deer"), the representations are correct. The equations are labeled for each ranger by their locations beneath the assigned tables. The student provides the correct difference in the predicted number of deer in 10 years; however, an explanation is not given. This response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #7: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution within the context of the problem. The tables are correctly completed. The representations, in the form of equations ("Ranger Jones' y=6n+78…Ranger Percy's y=8n+78"), are correct. The difference in the predicted number of deer in 10 years ("20 deer") is correct. The symbolic explanation is fully developed, clearly presented, and supports the solution. The student replaces the n in each equation with 10, solves for each ranger's prediction, and then finds the difference. This response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution within the context of the problem. The tables are correctly completed. The representations, in the form of equations ("Ranger Jones d=6n+78…Ranger Percy d=8n+78"), are correct. The variable d is defined. The difference in the predicted number of deer in 10 years ("20 deer off') is correct. The symbolic explanation is clearly presented and fully developed. The student replaces n in each equation and solves to find the number of predicted deer for each ranger. This response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.

Additional Scored Student Responses