School Improvement in Maryland

Sample Assessments: Each sample assessment item gives an idea of how an assessment item on the High School Assessment (HSA) might be presented. The items appropriately measure the content of the Core Learning Goals and are formatted similarly to those appearing 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 2003

After reading the essay “Starving Pea Pickers,” students searched for more information about photographers and photography to use in their own writing. The following question is about what the students did when researching and writing their reports.

Jamal, another student, chose to learn more about developing black-and-white photographs. Which of these websites would most likely provide Jamal with useful information?

  1. Welcome to Sight Photography
    In-depth look at the work of some excellent art, editorial, and commercial photographers.
  2. PhotoLinks Directory of Photography Links
    Photography directory with tips and techniques, featured sites, bookstore, and more!
  3. Masters of Photography
    Feel free to browse through the list of photographers on the left, and be sure to read the articles and check out the resources.
  4. Center for Creative Photography Homepage
    Welcome to the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, a museum and research center devoted to photography as an art form.
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_231_eng13.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2002

Sandra wrote a paragraph describing her favorite place, “Smithville Beach.” Read the paragraph. Then answer the following:

Sandra would like to compare Smithville Beach to other beaches along the Atlantic Coast.

Which of these would be the best source containing descriptive information about vacations on Atlantic beaches?

  1. A Road Atlas of the Atlantic Seashore
  2. A Visitor's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore
  3. A Collector's Guide to Atlantic Sea Shells
  4. An Almanac for the Atlantic Coast States
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2002_231_eng46.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item - Released in 2003

For her social studies class, Bettina wrote a short report about women who have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Read the introductory paragraph of Bettina's report, “Women Nobel Prize Winners.”

Which of these would most likely include biographical sketches of women who have won the Nobel Peace Prize?

  1. the Internet website for the Nobel Peace Prize
  2. a list of Nobel Peace Prize winners in an almanac
  3. letters between Alfred Nobel and Bertha von Suttner
  4. a biography of Alfred Nobel describing his plans for a peace prize
/share/clg/xml/sample_assessment/english/2003_231_eng41.xml

Correct Answer:
A
Resources for 2.3.1:
Public Release Items | SAMPLE ASSESSMENT ITEMS |