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

Score for Anchor Paper #1: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response contains evidence of some understanding of the question. The student provides minimal supporting details. Although processes that cause chemical substances to move (diffusion and osmosis) are named, no actual description is given. The student supplies a vague description of cell membrane's role (lets unknown substances in and out). Bullets one and four are not addressed in this response.

Score for Anchor Paper #2: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response contains evidence of some understanding of the question. The student names two chemical substances that are exchanged (water and protein), identifies the processes (osmosis or diffusion), and refers to the selective permeability of the cell membrane (only allows certain things to enter or leave the cell). These supporting details are only minimally effective. Bullet four is not addressed in this response.

Score for Anchor Paper #3: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a basic understanding of the question. Adequate supporting details are provided. The student lists some chemical substances that are exchanged (nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen), and briefly describes the cell membrane's role (allows only so many and certain chemicals to invade cells; controls the process of entry.) A discussion of several body systems (digestive system must acquire the chemical; circulatory system must disperse them; excretory must remove those left over chemicals which are not needed) is also given. Although a description of diffusion is attempted (substances must permeate through the cells), the student attributes the wrong name (active transport) to the process.

Score for Anchor Paper #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a basic understanding of the question. A list of chemical substances that are exchanged (nutrients, oxygen, proteins, wastes) is provided. While diffusion is identified, no description of the process is given. The role of the cell membrane (allows the good materials to enter the cell and the wastes to exit) and a brief discussion of body systems (circulatory…moving oxygen to all parts of the body; digestive…in charge of changing food into nutrients) is included. The supporting details are adequate.

Score for Anchor Paper #5: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a good understanding of the question. Generally complete supporting detaits are provided. Chemical substances are named (oxygen and carbon dioxide). Some synthesis of information is evident as the student discusses how several processes work together to move chemical substances into and out of cells (photosynthesis…takes in CO₂ and releases oxygen, respiration takes in oxygen and releases CO₂, and diffusion transports those materials…into the cells.) The student identfies two roles of the cell membrane (allows the materials in and out of the cell, but only specific materials; protect the cell against invaders). A body system involved with the exchange of materials is discussed, (the circulatory system helps distribute the oxygen through the body.)

Score for Anchor Paper #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a good understanding of the question. The student names chemical substances that are exchanged (water, oxygen, food and proteins), and briefly describes processes involved with movement of these substances (diffusion, osmosis, and active transport). The role of the cell membrane (regulates what goes in and out of a cell; selectively permeable) is given along with a description of how the circulatory system facilitates the exchange of materials (bloodstream transports oxygen; exchange it for waste material). The supporting details are generally complete.

Score for Anchor Paper #7: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a full and complete understanding of the question. The student lists chemical substances that are exchanged between an organism and its environment (water, food, and excretory matter), and describes diffusion, osmosis, and active transport (diffusion…substance moves from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration; osmosis allows for the flow of water in and out of the cell; active transport…molecules to travel against the concentration gradient). The role of the cell membrane is described (selectively permeable…only allows certain things in and out of the cell). The discussion of body systems provides an integration of ideas (circulatory system carries…oxygen and carbon dioxide as well as food and waste material; respiratory system provides oxygen for the red blood cells; digestive system assists by giving…food…to the body cells.)

Score for Anchor Paper #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a full and complete understanding of the question. An integration of ideas is demonstrated by a detailed discussion regarding all aspects of the question. The student identifies specific chemical substances that are exchanged (water, salt and oxygen as well as nutrients). The role of the cell membrane (selectively permeable so only needed substances usually get in) is provided. Several processes that cause the movement of these chemical substances are described (larger substances require active transport or even being engulfed; water gets through the membrane by osmosis; the diffusion of it through a semi permeable membrane from a higher to a lower concentration). The student synthesizes information to describe the role of body systems in the exchange of material and how they interact with each other. (digestive system…breaks food down into useable nutrients; circulatory system transports those to all parts of the body, and also takes oxygen from the respiratory system…and carries CO₂…to be excreted.)

Additional Scored Student Responses