Middle School Expression of Academic Knowledge

Expression of Academic Ideas. The degree to which the writer demonstrates a depth of understanding through explanation, interpretation, and application relevant to the assigned task.

Components and Elements

• Ideas: Relevant and valid information

• Use of Documents: Application and interpretation of the task and provided documents

• Depth of Development: Application and explanation of specific facts, reasons, examples, details, descriptions, and/or events

• Use of precise and effective vocabulary

4

Consistent control of the components of Expression of Academic Ideas. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Considerable relevant and valid ideas.

• Consistently correct interpretation and application of provided documents.

• Well-developed explanations using relevant facts, reasons, examples, details, descriptions, and/or events.

• Extensive use of precise and effective vocabulary in the response (from within and beyond the provided documents).

All parts of the writing task are explained comprehensively. 

3

Sufficient control of the components of Expression of Academic Ideas. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Generally relevant and valid ideas. 

• Generally correct interpretation and application of provided documents. 

• Sufficiently developed explanations using relevant facts, reasons, examples, details, descriptions, and/or events. 

• Adequate use of precise and effective vocabulary (from within and some beyond the provided documents).

 The majority of the writing task is explained with sufficient detail.

2

Limited control of the components of Expression of Academic Ideas. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Insufficient ideas (mixture of valid, irrelevant, invalid ideas). 

• Over-reliance, limited, or inconsistent use of information from the provided documents. 

• Minimally developed explanations using facts, reasons, examples, details, descriptions, and/or events (irrelevant information may be present). Demonstration of competence may be limited by the brevity of the response. 

• Some precise and effective vocabulary used correctly (may be limited to vocabulary used in the provided documents). 

Incomplete explanations are given to address the writing task. 

1

Lack of control of the components of Expression of Academic Ideas. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Invalid, irrelevant, unclear ideas; or information is only copied from the documents. 

• Inappropriate or no use of provided documents. 

• Inadequate explanations of facts, reasons, examples, details, descriptions, and/or events; OR insufficient student writing (due to brevity, repetition, or copying from the provided documents) to determine competence. 

• Little attempt to use precise and effective vocabulary; word choice is inaccurate, imprecise, inappropriate and/or confusing. 

Incorrect or unclear explanations are given to address the writing task.

0

Nonscorable. The response is unable to be scored. Reasons a student may not receive a score include blank or insufficient submissions, plagiarized content, and off topic responses.

Expression of Academic Knowledge. The degree to which the writer demonstrates a depth of understanding through explanation, interpretation, and application relevant to the assigned task.

Components and Elements

• Prior Knowledge: Accuracy and relevance of information; amount of prior knowledge

• Use of Documents: Application and interpretation of the task and provided documents

• Depth of Development: Application and explanation of relevant scientific facts, concepts, and phenomena

• Use of Academic Vocabulary 

4

Consistent control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Considerable relevant and correct prior knowledge 

• Consistently correct interpretation and application of provided documents 

• Well-developed descriptions of relevant scientific facts, concepts and phenomena that go beyond the provided documents 

• Extensive use of scientific vocabulary in the response (from within and beyond the provided documents)

   All parts of the task are explained thoroughly.

3

Sufficient control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Generally relevant and correct prior knowledge 

• Generally correct interpretation and application of provided documents 

• Sufficiently developed descriptions of relevant scientific facts, concepts and phenomena 

• Adequate scientific vocabulary (from within and beyond the provided documents) 

 The majority of the task is explained with sufficient detail.

2

Limited control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Insufficient prior knowledge (mixture of correct, irrelevant, and incorrect prior knowledge) 

• Over-reliance on information from the provided documents 

• Minimally developed descriptions of scientific facts, concepts and phenomena; irrelevant information may be present. Demonstration of competence may be limited by the brevity of the response

•  Some scientific vocabulary used correctly (may be limited to vocabulary used in the provided documents) 

    Incomplete explanations are given to address the task.

1

Lack of control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Incorrect, irrelevant, unclear prior knowledge; or information is only copied from the documents 

• Inappropriate or no use of provided documents 

• Inadequate descriptions of scientific facts, concepts, and phenomena; OR insufficient student writing (due to brevity, repetition, or copying from the provided documents) to determine competence 

• Little attempt to use scientific vocabulary; word choice is inaccurate, imprecise, inappropriate and/or confusing 

  Incorrect or unclear explanations are given to address the task.

0

Nonscorable. The response is unable to be scored. Reasons a student may not receive a score include blank or insufficient submissions, plagiarized content, and off topic responses.

Expression of Academic Knowledge. The degree to which the writer demonstrates a depth of understanding through explanation, interpretation, and application relevant to the assigned task.

Components and Elements

• Prior Knowledge: Accuracy and relevance of information; amount of prior knowledge 

• Use of Documents: Application and interpretation of the task and provided documents 

• Depth of Development: Application and explanation of relevant social studies facts, concepts, and events

•  Use of Academic Vocabulary 

4

Consistent control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Considerable relevant and correct prior knowledge 

• Consistently correct interpretation and application of provided documents 

• Well-developed descriptions of relevant social studies facts, concepts and events that go beyond the provided documents 

• Extensive use of social studies vocabulary in the response (from within and beyond the provided documents)

 All parts of the task are explained thoroughly.

3

Sufficient control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Generally relevant and correct prior knowledge 

• Generally correct interpretation and application of provided documents 

• Sufficiently developed descriptions of relevant social studies facts, concepts and events 

• Adequate social studies vocabulary (from within and beyond the provided documents) 

The majority of the task is explained with sufficient detail.

2

Limited control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Insufficient prior knowledge (mixture of correct, irrelevant, and incorrect prior knowledge) 

• Over-reliance on information from the provided documents 

• Minimally developed descriptions of social studies facts, concepts and events; irrelevant information may be present. Demonstration of competence may be limited by the brevity of the response 

• Some social studies vocabulary used correctly (may be limited to vocabulary used in the provided documents) 

  Incomplete explanations are given to address the task.

1

Lack of control of the components of Expression of Academic Knowledge. The response is characterized by most or all of the following:

• Incorrect, irrelevant, unclear prior knowledge; or information is only copied from the documents 

• Inappropriate or no use of provided documents 

• Inadequate descriptions of social studies facts, concepts, and events; OR insufficient student writing (due to brevity, repetition, or copying from the provided documents) to determine competence 

• Little attempt to use social studies vocabulary; word choice is inaccurate, imprecise, inappropriate and/or confusing

  Incorrect or unclear explanations are given to address the task.

0

Nonscorable. The response is unable to be scored. Reasons a student may not receive a score include blank or insufficient submissions, plagiarized content, and off topic responses.