School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 8

Reading/ELA | Informational | Literary | Writing | Language | Listening | Speaking

Sample Assessments: Each sample assessment item gives an idea of how an assessment item on the MSA might be presented. The items appropriately measure the content of the State Curriculum and may be formatted similarly to those appearing on the MSA; however, these are sample items only and have not appeared on any MSA form.

Standard 2.0 Comprehension of Informational Text

Indicator 3. Apply knowledge of organizational patterns of informational text to facilitate understanding and analysis

Objective c. Analyze shifts in organizational patterns

Assessment limit: Portions of text that illustrate a shift in organizational pattern

Selected Response Item
Read the passage 'The Lost People of Mesa Verde.' Then answer the following.

The organizational pattern of the article changes from chronological order to main idea and supporting details between paragraphs

  1. 2 and 3
  2. 5 and 6
  3. 7 and 8
  4. 10 and 11
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_8_035.xml

Correct Answer:
B
Resources for Objective 2.A.3.c:
Lesson Seeds | SAMPLE ASSESSMENTS |