School Improvement in Maryland

Public Release Item: Public Release items have appeared on HSA forms and then are released for public viewing and use. Releasing items is one step to ensuring that schools, districts, and other stakeholders understand how the core learning goals are assessed on the HSA.

Goal 2 Composing in a Variety of Modes

Expectation 2.3 The student will locate, retrieve, and use information from various sources to accomplish a purpose.

Indicator 2.3.1 The student will identify sources of information on a self-selected and/or given topic and assess their appropriateness to accomplish a purpose.

Assessment Limits:

  • Determining the appropriateness of a resource to accomplish a purpose
    • dictionary
    • thesaurus
    • encyclopedia
    • magazines
    • newspapers
    • fiction and nonfiction books
    • card catalogue (traditional and electronic)
    • on-line websites and electronic resources

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

Miriam is writing a draft of an essay about the SS Central America, a ship that sank in 1857. The draft of Miriam's essay requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following:

Which Internet site would most likely provide information about collecting gold recovered from the SS Central America?

  1. www.shipwrecks.org/treasurehunting
    The online treasure hunter forum provides a place to discuss shipwrecks.
  2. www.bookbrowse.com/nonfiction/excerpts
    The exciting adventure of the search for lost sea treasure is told in these excerpts.
  3. www.globalclassroom.org
    The shipwreck of the SS Central America is an adventure that dates back to the time of the Gold Rush.
  4. www.centralamericatreasures.com
    This is the official site of the company with the exclusive rights to sell items salvaged from the SS Central America.
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2006_231_eng06.xml

Correct Answer:
D

Selected Response Item - Released in 2006

After reading literature from around the world, students researched their own family backgrounds. One student, Shelli, decided to research her Irish heritage and learned that some Irish sports are popular in the United States. The draft of Shelli's essay, “Irish Sports,” requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following.

Shelli wants to add more information about Camogie to her report. When she conducted an Internet search using the key words “Irish sports,” she found this list of sites. Which site would probably have the most information about Camogie?

  1. Politics of Irish Athletes
  2. Irish Sporting Short Stories
  3. Rules of Irish Sporting Games
  4. Complete Who's Who in Irish Sports
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2006_231_eng50.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Selected Response Item - Released in 2008

In Jessica’s English class, students are writing about artists they admire. Jessica decided to write about the piano player and composer Eubie Blake. The draft of Jessica’s essay requires revisions and edits. Read the draft. Then answer the following item.

After reading about Eubie Blake, Jessica wanted to learn more about jazz music. Which of these books would provide her with the best introduction to jazz?

  1. Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Jazz
  2. Modern Jazz Piano: A Study in Harmony
  3. Jazz Genius: Biographies of American-Jazz Musicians
  4. Jump into Jazz: The Basics and Beyond for Jazz Dance Students
/share/clg/xml/public_release/english/2008_231_eng52.xml

Correct Answer:
A
Resources for 2.3.1:
PUBLIC RELEASE ITEMS | Sample Assessment Items |