Score for Sample Student Response #1: Rubric Score 0

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response is irrelevant to the question.

Score for Sample Student Response #2: Rubric Score 0

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response is irrelevant to the question.

Score for Sample Student Response #3: Rubric Score 1

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the text. The student uses minimal information to explain the different attitudes of Jeremy "Doesn't like work" and Nathan "works hard, good at work."

Instructional Annotation: (While the Annotation, Using the Rubric describes the scorer’s explanation for the rubric score, the Instructional Annotation describes how the response might be improved.)
The reader answers in note taking style but does offer 3 equally matched comparisons though the comparisons lack text support. Specifically, the notes that Jeremy "doesn't like work" or "slacs-off" are not supported by text. With Nathan, the note that he "does like work" is the opposite of text details. Essentially, the reader is left with the notes that Jeremy is "O.K. at work" and that Nathan "works-hard" and is "good at work." To improve this response, the reader should focus on Jeremy's average work offering that he does not refuse to work but is specific about what kind of work he will do: he is willing to go to sea though he may have little idea about the difficulty of the work. Next, with Nathan, the reader should supply text support about his working hard: working the bellows, carrying buckets of water from the creek, learning to angle the rods, and striking correct blows with a hammer. Additionally, the reader can focus on how he is becoming better at his work, forming better nails, and growing confidence in his ability to become a successful blacksmith.

Score for Sample Student Response #4: Rubric Score 1

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the text. The student uses minimal information to compare Jeremy's "wants to do it the easier way" and Nathan's "wants to be a frontiersman" attitudes toward work.

Score for Sample Student Response #5: Rubric Score 2

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a general understanding of the text. The student uses text-relevant information to compare the differing attitudes toward work, "Jeremy is trying to avoid work and go to see where there is just adventure…Nathan works for a very demanding blacksmith."

Score for Sample Student Response #6: Rubric Score 2

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a general understanding of the text. The student uses text-relevant information to show how the characters attitudes toward work differ, "Jeremy prefers the easy life on sea. He doesn't like to work" while "Nathan…doesn't mind the work if it can teach him how to be a good blacksmith."

Instructional Annotation: (While the Annotation, Using the Rubric describes the scorer’s explanation for the rubric score, the Instructional Annotation describes how the response might be improved.)
The reader answers that Nathan and Jeremy have "very different" attitudes toward work. "Jeremy prefers the easy life" while Nathan who "doesn't like to work" realizes "if he wants to become a blacksmith, the he will have to work hard" but is willing to do the work "if it can teach him how to be a good blacksmith." The response is not particularly well balanced between the two characters. To improve this response, the reader should bolster references to Jeremy. For example, Jeremy is willing to go to sea to work even though he may not have a clear idea of the difficulty of that life. He looks forward to the opportunities that job will give him. Next, the section on Nathan can be improved by detailing what kind of hard work Nathan must perform to become successful. A reasonable extension might be that both boys have different expectations from their chosen work but both are willing to pursue those jobs.

Score for Sample Student Response #7: Rubric Score 3

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text. The student effectively uses text-relevant information to clarify how "Jeremy and Nathan have significantly different attitudes towards hard work. Jeremy is carefree and just…waits for an adventure, while Nathan 'was no slacker and he'd prove it.'" The student extends the understanding of these differences further "Jeremy just runs off without proper training. Nathan almost goes…but in the end, his common sense and consience convince him to return to his uncle's."

Instructional Annotation: (While the Annotation, Using the Rubric describes the scorer’s explanation for the rubric score, the Instructional Annotation describes how the response might be improved.)
The reader answers that Nathan and Jeremy "have significantly different attitudes towards hard work" noting that Jeremy "is carefree" while Nathan "was no slacker." Nathan is "willing to work and learn the skills he will need" while Jeremy "just runs off without proper training." To improve this response, only slight adjustments are needed. In the case of Jeremy, the reader should rectify the idea that he doesn't just wait "for an adventure" he actively seeks out that adventure with a job at sea and encourages his friend to join him. It is true that both boys "want adventure;" and a reader should include that Jeremy comes very close to convincing Nathan to accompany him. Life at sea has appeal for Jeremy and Nathan. Finally, in the section focused on Nathan, a reader might note that Nathan realizes that his uncle, though a hard man to spend your days with, has skills and abilities that he can teach Nathan. The reader concludes well with the clarification that Nathan's "common sense and consience" prevail and he continues his training.

Score for Sample Student Response #8: Rubric Score 3

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text. The student effectively uses text-relevant information to clarify that while "Jeremy is a slacker and hates hard work, because he always does what seems the easiest" that "Nathan on the other hand is a very detemind worker who…isn't afraid to get his hands dirty."

Score 3

The response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text.

• Addresses the demands of the question
• Effectively uses text-relevant¹ information to clarify or extend understanding

Score 2

The response demonstrates a general understanding of the text.

• Partially addresses the demands of the question
• Uses text-relevant¹ information to show understanding

Score 1

The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the text.

• Minimally addresses the demands of the question
• Uses minimal information to show some understanding of the text in relation to the question

Score 0

The response is completely incorrect, irrelevant to the question, or missing.²

Note 1:

Text-relevant: This information may or may not be an exact copy (quote) of the text but is clearly related to the text and often shows an analysis and/or interpretation of important ideas. Students may incorporate information to show connections to relevant prior experience as appropriate.

Note 2:

An exact copy (quote) or paraphrase of the question that provides no new relevant information will receive a score of "0".

Rubric Document Date: June 2003