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: This response shows minimal knowledge of the federal system. A couple of relevant, but incomplete, ideas are provided (federal system alwas overpowers the state system; state continues to get money for education and roads).

Score for Anchor Paper #2: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response shows minimal knowledge. The student provides some relevant, yet fragmented, ideas (states wouldn’t have a lot of power; people…would need to pay higher taxes if increased; states…have help from the government on keeping their state safe).

Score for Anchor Paper #3: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows basic knowledge about both the advantages and disadvantages of the federal system (have to listen to the fed. gov’t; supremacy clause; their funding is at risk; strong central government…yet states share…powers).

Score for Anchor Paper #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response shows knowledge of the question. The student provides some disadvantages (have to obey other laws and must get permission), as well as advantages (strong, national militia and aid when needed), to states under a federal system.

Score for Anchor Paper #5: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of how the federal system works. Accurate, supported concepts are provided. The response shows some evidence of higher order thinking in the analysis of the conflict between the state’s needs (money for schools) and the repercussions of acquiring these funds from the federal government (the states have to give out tests every year; states need to listen to what the federal government says; whether that state’s representatives and senators agreed with it) and in exploring a possible outcome of states having more power (if the states all had powers then there would be drastic difference in each state, instead we are unified as one country).

Score for Anchor Paper #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response shows some understanding of how the federal system functions. Although the response focuses only on the disadvantages of such a system, the concepts provided are accurate and supported. Some evidence of higher order thinking is demonstrated through examining possible outcomes for states if they don’t yield to federal demands (a state did not want to change the drinking age from 18 to 21 but if they didn’t the federal government would take funding away from that state for its roads).

Score for Anchor Paper #7: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows understanding of the federal system. Concepts are accurate, well supported, and integrated throughout the response. Demonstrating powerful evidence of higher order thinking, the student uses the example of Texas v. Johnson, to describe a situation where the states “who had made flag burning illegal” had to rescind a state law in order to comply with a federal decision. The response then analyzes why a federal form of government works better than a confederate system (did not work for our country; national government is greatly need to hold the country together; handles many disputes between states; confederate system of government could have broken our country apart).

Score for Anchor Paper #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response shows understanding of the federal system. The student provides a solid foundation of accurate, well supported knowledge (all the states are on the ‘same page;’ regulating the coining of money, voting regulations; leaves certain decisions up to the states; may include ones concerning schools, driving age). Powerful evidence of higher order thinking is demonstrated throughout the response (national law will always win against a state law; country is more united with the federal government; states do know their constituents better) and culminates in an analysis of federalism (a cross between a unitary government and a confederate government it takes out most of the flaws from both, and combines it into a strong, working, system).