The following 16 Sample Student Responses represent a range of score points.

Score for Sample Student Response #1: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows a basic understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified (father—gg), and the Punnett square is correct. The probability that the child will inherit the disorder (½) is provided. Possible genotypes and phenotypes for the father's parents are given (father's father had to be gg or Gg, and the father's mother had to be gg or Gg), and a brief explanation is provided (had to have had the disorder…and the other had to be a carrier). Compare to Anchor Paper #4.

Score for Sample Student Response #2: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows a full and complete understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified (recessive gg). The Punnett square is correct. The probability that the child will inherit galactosemia (50% chance; explained by the Punnett square shown above) is described. All the possible genotypes and phenotypes for the father's parents are listed. Genotypic and phenotypic ratios for each possible pairing are also given. An explanation of how these genotypes were determined demonstrates the student's ability to synthesize information (I knew the father was recessive so neither of his parents could be dominant, but could be anything else.)

Score for Sample Student Response #3: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the question. Although two genotypes are listed for the father, only one is correct (gg). The Punnett square is correct, and the possible genotypes and phenotypes of the child are given (Gg = normal digestion; gg = galactosemia). The probability that the child will inherit galactosemia (50%) is correct. The response does not address bullet four. The supporting details are minimally effective. Compare to Anchor Paper #3.

Score for Sample Student Response #4: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a good understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified (gg), and the Punnett square is correct. The probability that the child will inherit galactosemia (50% chance) is stated. The three possible genotypes for the father's parents are given (Gg × gg; gg × gg; or Gg × Gg) and briefly explained in a way that shows some synthesis of information. (Since the father does have the disease, then his parents would have had to have the trait or carry it.) Compare to Anchor Paper #8.

Score for Sample Student Response #5: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the question. While the genotype for the father (G) is incorrect, and the Punnet square is incorrect, the probability that the child will inherit galactosemia (50%) is correct. The student does not address bullet four.

Score for Sample Student Response #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a good understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified (gg, because the trait is recessive), and the Punnett square is correct. The probability that the child will inherit galactosemia is stated (50/50 chance; 50% chance that the child will have two recessive genes which will give him galactosemia). Possible genotypes and phenotypes for the father's parents are described. (Both of his parents may have had it; one may have had it and the other is heterozygous; both may have been heterozygous. It is certain that both had to have at least one recessive gene for him to have it.) The use of scientific terminology strengthens this response (carrier). Compare to Anchor Paper #7.

Score for Sample Student Response #7: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows a basic understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is correct (Homozygous recessive; This means that he has little g's). The Punnett square is correct, and the probability that the child will inherit the disorder (two-forths or one-half) is given. The student chooses an unusual, but correct, way to express one of the possible genotypes for the father's parents (2g:2g). No phenotype is given and the explanation is incorrect (this disorder could have been passed down through the mother side of the family; he had to get two recessive traits from both his mother and father in order to become Homozygous recessive). Compare to Anchor Paper #5.

Score for Sample Student Response #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows a full and complete understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified and explained (homozygous recessive, or gg; since having just one dominant normal allele would neutralize the disorder). The Punnett square is correct and includes phenotypic ratios (50% normal; 50% w/disorder). The probability that the child will inherit the disorder is described with genotype and phenotypes given (50% chance {½} of being heterozygous {normal digestion}; and a 50% chance {½} of being homozygous recessive {gg} thus inheriting the disorder). All possible genotypes and phenotypes for the father's parents are described (both homozygous recessive {both being affected by the disorder}, both heterozygous {not being affected}, or one was heterozygous {not being affected} and the other homozygous recessive {being affected}). An explanation of why these genotypes could have been the father's parents demonstrates a synthesis of ideas (in all of the above listed combinations of phenotypes, there was a chance of offspring with a homozygous recessive genotype, which is what the offspring ended up displaying). The supporting details are pertinent and complete and the use of scientific terminology enhances this response (homozygous recessive).

Score for Sample Student Response #9: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows a full and complete understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified and explained (gg because it is a recessive trait so if it was Gg the normal digestion would mask the trait). The Punnett square is correct, and the probability that the child will inherit the disorder is described (in the Punnett square 50% of the outcomes have gg, which is the genotype of a person with galactosemia). Possible genotypes and phenotypes of the father's parents are described (either…could have had Gg or gg; if they both had gg…he could have only inherited g from each; if they had Gg and gg, he had a 50% chance; if…Gg and Gg he had a 25% chance…because he could have inherited a g from each). An explanation of why neither of the father's parents could be GG reflects the student's ability to synthesize information (neither parent could have had the genotype GG because then he would have inherited the G and not had galactosemia). The supporting details throughout this response are pertinent and complete.

Score for Sample Student Response #10: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response demonstrates a basic understanding of the question. The student provides a correct Punnett square, a correct probability that the child would inherit galactosemia (50%...chance to have or not have the disorder), and two possible genotypes for the father's parents ({gg, Gg}; Gg, Gg). No phenotypes for the father's parents are given. The supporting details are adequate. Compare to Anchor Paper #6.

Score for Sample Student Response #11: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response contains evidence of a good understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified and discussed (gg, this is because if he has the trait and the allele for galactosemia is recessive, he would have to have to recessive alleles). The Punnett square is correct, and the probability that the child will inherit galactosemia (50% chance or ½ chance) is stated. The three possible sets of genotypes for the father's parents are provided (gg-gg, or gg-Gg, or Gg-Gg). In the latter part of the response, some correct names of the genotypes are given (homozygous recessive; heterozygous), although the student incorrectly identifies them as phenotypes. Compare to Anchor Paper #9.

Score for Sample Student Response #12: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the question. The genotype given for the father, the Punnett square, and the probability that the child will inherit the disease are incorrect. The student does provide one possible set of genotypes for the father's parents (they were both heterozygous) and includes a brief explanation (meaning that the father had gotten the recessive genes).

Score for Sample Student Response #13: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows evidence of a good understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified (gg), the Punnett square is correct, and the phenotypes (2-galactosemic; 2-normal digestion) as well as genotypes (2:Gg; 2:gg) of the possible offspring are listed. The probability that the child will inherit the condition is described (50% chance; if the child doesn't have galactosemia, he/she will be heterozygous for this trait). An incomplete listing of genotypes and phenotypes for the father's parents is given (must have had 2 heterozygous parents, 1 heterozygous parent and 1 galactosemic parent, or 2 parents with the disorder). Compare to Anchor Paper #9.

Score for Sample Student Response #14: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response shows some understanding. The Punnett square is correct, and the correct probability that the child will have galactosemia (50% or 2/4 = ½) is given. The student does not address bullet four. Compare to Anchor Paper #2.

Score for Sample Student Response #15: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response demonstrates a full and complete understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified (homozygous recessive), and the Punnett square is correct. The probability that the child will inherit galactosemia is given and fully explained (guaranteed to carry at least one recessive "g" gene; mother also carries the culprit recessive gene; means that half…will receive the normal dominant gene, while the other half will get the recessive; the latter half…are...guaranteed a "g" gene from their affected father; therefore, 50%…will have galactosemia, while the other 50% will only carry the gene). Possible genotypes for the father's parents are incorporated into an explanation of how a child can inherit galactosemia. This explanation demonstrates the student's ability to synthesize information (two affected parents, two carrier parents, or a mix of affected and carrier {like him and his wife}; as long as the "g" gene existed in both of the parents, it was possible to inherit the disease). The supporting details throughout this response are pertinent and complete, and the use of scientific terminology enhances this response (homozygous recessive; gene; carrier).

Score for Sample Student Response #16: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows a basic understanding of the question. The genotype of the father is identified (gg), and the Punnett square is correct. The probability that the child will inherit galactosemia is given (2:2 ratio; 50% chance of being heterozygous for the galactosemia trait [Gg] and a 50% chance for inheriting the trait [gg]). One possible genotype and phenotype for the father's parents is explained. (One of the father's parents had to have had this trait. If one of his parents was heterozygous for the trait…). The supporting details are adequate. Compare to Anchor Paper #4.

Anchor Papers used in scoring