MEAP and MME Social Studies:Scoring the Persuasive Essay

Ruth IsaiaMDE-OEAA-MEAP

5/23/2006

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What is Range finding?A committee of Michigan social studies educators reads a sample of student papers to determine a “range” of scores for a specific prompt:

• 0-3 points for 6th grade assessment.• 0-4 points for 9th grade assessment.• 0-5 points for 11th grade assessment.

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Should the Constitution be amended to allow Congress to overturn Supreme Court decisions?

• 1. Give a clearly stated position on the issue and support their position. -Grades 6, 9 and high school

• **This first point must be awarded to receive any other points.**

• 2. Provide at least one supporting point that is based on core democratic values of American constitutional democracy. (CDV)-Grades 6, 9 and high school

• 3. Provide accurate, valid, and relevant supporting information from the Data Section. -Grades 6, 9 and high school

• 4. Provide accurate, valid, and relevant supporting social studies information that comes from the student’s prior knowledge. (PK) -9th grade and high school only

• 5. Provide one reason that acknowledges an argument from the opposing viewpoint and refutes that argument. --High school only

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Criteria by Grade

• 6th grade: position, data, CDV (core democratic value)= 3 points max

• 9th grade: the above, plus prior social studies knowledge= 4 points max

• 11th grade: the above, plus an opposing argument and a refutation= 5 points max

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Today’s agenda:• Break into small groups led by current Michigan sstudies

teachers who serve as MEAP range finders

• *Briefly* review today’s prompt and high school scoring rubric

• Practice scoring several student papers from this high school released item

• Reconvene as a whole group to discuss

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Should the Constitution be amended to allow Congress to overturn Supreme Court decisions?

• Paper #1: 5 points maximum• Paper #2: 0 points: No clear position• Paper #3: 1 point: Not sufficient

prior knowledge to support position• Paper #4: 4 points: Did not attempt

refutation

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Interested in future range finding?• Send your resume to Ruth or call:

isaiar@michigan.gov 517 335 0477• Released items and rubrics by grade levels:

www.mi.gov/meapLook for “released items” or rubrics links.

• Watch for OEAA updates in spring 2007 for the posting of our annotated guide.