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: While this response is related to the question, only minimal knowledge is shown. Fragments of basic ideas are provided (because the polls were not closed; California has the most electoral votes), but the ideas are skeletal and incomplete.

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 given (still time left to vote; influences whether or not people vote), the ideas are general and incomplete.

Score for Anchor Paper #3: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows knowledge of the media’s role and influence in the election process. Basic ideas are provided (California has a large number of electoral votes; right to freedom of the press; influence people to get out and vote) with some support (it’s a large state with a high population; if someone supports Bush and News13 says Gore will win, that person might be more encouraged to vote for Bush).

Score for Anchor Paper #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows knowledge of the media’s role and influence in the election process. The student supplies basic ideas (what the media says influences voters; all the media is doing is expressing their views) with some support (‘prediction’ could have led to the discouragement of voters; give up and just not vote; by the 1st Amendment, they have the right).

Score for Anchor Paper #5: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the media’s role and influence in the election process. Concepts are accurate and supported (could have affected the outcome; California is usually, recently, a Democratic state; give up hope and figure that there is no reason for them to vote; might even be pressured to vote Democratically). Some evidence of higher order thinking is demonstrated through the recognition that, while news organizations should not report early predictions (due to the fact that they can affect the outcome at the poles or the opinion of the voters), the media is guaranteed this right (1st Amendment; freedom of speech rights).

Score for Anchor Paper #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the media’s role and influence in the election process. The student provides accurate basic ideas (all of the votes weren’t counted at that time; they may decide not to vote) with support (their vote doesn’t count when, in reality, the election was still going on). Some evidence of higher order thinking is demonstrated through an analysis of the broadcasters’ rights to give opinions (freedom of speech under the First Amendment; it is called prior restraint, which is unlawful, unless the government can prove it is a threat to national security).

Score for Anchor Paper #7: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of the media’s role and influence on the election process. Accurate concepts are supported (they might hear that Al Gore had already won so…there is no point of even voting; if you don’t vote, then you would have been wasting your vote; what the other political party wants you to think; they thought they might lose some of their votes). Through an analysis of the media influence on some voters (unfair to people who aren’t very aware; it is a fair election; no people messing up other peoples’ reasons for voting; will vote on their opinions and vote because they think they will make a difference), some evidence of higher order thinking skills is demonstrated.

Score for Anchor Paper #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows understanding of the media’s role and influence in the election process. Powerful evidence of higher order thinking is integrated throughout the response. First, cause-and-effect reasoning is supplied (may have caused Bush supporters to give up and not vote, thinking it was hopeless; may have swayed undecided voters; because California holds so many votes in the Electoral College, it is a very important state to win; could have swayed some undecideds to vote a straight party Democratic ticket, hurting both Bush and the congress members). Then, an analysis of how media may hurt the election process (exit poll data should also not be revealed until the whole country has voted; premature figures and statistics introduce too many factors into the election) is provided. Finally, an historical analogy, Dewey vs. Truman, further illustrates the point.

Additional Scored Student Responses