School Improvement in Maryland
Public Release Item Scoring Information Return

Goal 4 Economics

Expectation 4.1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of economic principles, institutions, and processes required to formulate government policy.

Indicator 4.1.3 The student will examine regulatory agencies and their social, economic, and political impact on the country, a region, or on/within a state.

Assessment Limits:

  • How regulatory agencies respond to social issues/concerns, and/or market failures.
  • Regulatory agencies that respond to social issues and/or market failures:
    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
    • Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
    • Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
    • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

    Other national agencies and state and local agencies can be used, but information will be provided in the item.

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item - Released in 2004

Read the information below.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)– federal agency that requires businesses to make workplaces safe for employees and to ensure that employees follow safety guidelines.
  • Describe advantages and disadvantages of OSHA regulations.
     
  • Should the federal government be involved in regulating workers' safety? Why or why not?
     
  • Include details and examples to support your response.
     
Write your answer in the answer box below.

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

Anchor Paper #1

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #1: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response is related to the question and shows only minimal knowledge. Fragments of basic ideas are presented (employees are following safety guidelines; purpose of government is to provide public safety), but the ideas are skeletal and incomplete.


Anchor Paper #2

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #2: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response is related to the question and shows only minimal knowledge. Although fragments of basic ideas are provided (improve workplaces for your health and safety; always watching you to make sure you follow the rules), the ideas are general and incomplete.


Anchor Paper #3

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #3: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows knowledge of the effects of OSHA regulations. Basic ideas are presented (helps keep injuries down; sometimes, the regulations are too strict; government is here to protect us). The response is adequate for a score of "2."


Anchor Paper #4

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows knowledge of the effects of OSHA regulations. Basic ideas (employees are in a safer environment; it costs more money) are provided with a little support (a lot of jobs that, without proper safety guidelines, can be very dangerous).


Anchor Paper #5

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #5: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the effects of OSHA regulations. Concepts are accurate and supported (workers will most likely be safe; people make mistakes; some jobs aren't that dangerous; money could be wasted; owners of company should be in charge of safety). Some evidence of higher order thinking skills is demonstrated through appropriate application of analysis and evaluation (we live in a capitalist country where there is private ownership of businesses; government shouldn't help run the business; it is imposing on the owners' rights).


Anchor Paper #6

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the effects of OSHA regulations. Accurate concepts are supported (make your workplace a better environment; fine people; some business owners only want to make money). Effective use of a relevant example (hot factory) and appropriate application of cause-and-effect reasoning (the business may get shut down if it is unsafe or it could get fined and you could lose your job) show some evidence of higher order thinking skills.


Anchor Paper #7

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #7: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows understanding of the effects of OSHA regulations. Concepts are accurate and well supported (protects employees from excessive harm; sets impracticably high standards; the cost of enforcement; the extraordinary fines for even minor violations). Powerful evidence of higher order thinking skills is demonstrated by extended application of analysis and evaluation (the Constitution does not give them {the federal government} the authority; it is only by the Supreme Court's great stretch of the commerce clause; in a capitalistic society, businesses should be free of government regulation) and cause-and-effect reasoning (raises the price of doing business in the U.S., shifting jobs overseas and contributing to our unemployment problem; leads to government interference in the free market and could lead to a command economy).


Anchor Paper #8

image of student response

Score for Anchor Paper #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows understanding of the effects of OSHA regulations. Accurate concepts are well supported (protects workers from unsafe working conditions; reduces company's profit; government's primary role). Extended and integrated application of cause-and-effect reasoning (reducing a company's profit could, in turn, reduce the workers' pay), effective and relevant historical example (before OSHA, children were forced to work long hours; some people lost hands or fingers; others, working without masks in cotton mills, developed severe coughs), and analysis and evaluation (government needs to protect people from such conditions, even if it means less profit for businesses) provide powerful evidence of higher order thinking skills.


Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Rubric
Print: Scoring Rubric (pdf)
Score 4

This response shows understanding of the content, question, and/or problem. The response is insightful, integrates knowledge, and demonstrates powerful application.

  • The application shows powerful evidence of higher order thinking skills.
  • Concepts are accurate and well supported.
  • There are no misconceptions.
  • The response is comprehensive.
Score 3

This response shows some understanding of the content, question, and/or problem. The response includes appropriate application that demonstrates evidence of higher order thinking skills.

  • The application shows some evidence of higher order thinking skills.
  • Concepts are accurate and supported.
  • There are no interfering misconceptions.
  • The response may not develop all parts equally.
Score 2

This response shows knowledge of the content, question, and/or problem. The response is acceptable with some key ideas. The response shows little or no evidence of application.

  • The response includes some basic ideas.
  • The response provides little or no support.
  • There are minimal misconceptions.
Score 1

This response shows minimal knowledge of the content, question, and/or problem. The response is related to the question, but it is inadequate.

  • The response includes incomplete or fragmented ideas or knowledge.
  • There may be significant misconceptions.
Score 0

The response is completely incorrect or irrelevant. There may be no response.

Knowledge and Understanding indicate the degree to which the response reflects a grasp of the content, question, and/or problem presented in the stimulus. The response indicates mastery that progresses from knowledge to understanding.

Last Revised June 2001
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