Written Responses

Your midterm exam contains a section in which you must respond to a complex question in paragraphs with supporting details from text you have already read.

This means you need to remember to bring your iLit Language Arts 9 Anthology with you.

These strategies will help you with this part of your exam:

Strategies for Written Responses


  • Read carefully and thoroughly the assignment instructions.
  • Answer any question(s) in the assignment, and aim to do so accurately. 
    • Analyze each part of the question to determine what it is asking you to do. For example, if the question says you should describe or discuss, you must provide more than a list.  If the question asks you to include a particular number of reasons, aspects, factors, etc. in your response, be sure you have done so. 
    • Give a thorough and detailed response. 
  • Reread your response; check to ensure you have written all you needed to fulfill the expectations of the assignment. 
  • Review for spelling and conventions. 
  • Review your response again, using the assessment criteria provided in the assignment. 

Example


After reading the poem "Identity", examine how your identity is recognized by others.       

To complete this assignment, note the following:

  • Format: You will be writing in paragraph format for this exam.
  • Include a minimum of three paragraphs in your response (introduction, (a) body paragraphs, and a conclusion).
  • Support your ideas with specific details. Include at least three pieces of support for your main idea.
  • Connect your ideas with transition words
  • Use CUE (coherence, unity, and emphasis).
  • Before submitting your work, read the criteria in the assessment rubric to ensure that you have included all required information. The rubric is the standard one used throughout this course (and on the PAT).

Student Example: Justin's Written Response
I believe being community minded is very important. In this way, my identity is recognized by others. One key component of my identity is volunteering. I feel that contributing to others’ well-being makes a stronger society and builds good citizenship. Contributing to the food bank, or volunteering at a shelter, nursing home, or hospital allows me to make a difference and demonstrate compassion. This is one way in which I can face my fears of growing old or being in pain. I hope that someone will care for me when I am old or in need, as I care for others. I want to be remembered, even if it is only by one or two people, and in order to do this, I need to be a part of others’ lives.

Often people assume creative people are going to be isolated from others and unappreciated. The speaker in the poem “Identity” cares about being an individual and having inner beauty, more than about pleasing others. I would argue that inner beauty comes from treating others as you want others to treat you. Putting others first develops inner beauty. Giving and sharing are more life affirming than hanging out alone on a mountaintop in my view. For example, music is one element that I share with others in the community. I am in a band and I perform sometimes at our local senior’s home. My creativity is something that I enjoy sharing with others. The seniors’ faces change from vacant to happy smiles. The light comes back into their eyes and some of them cry. Music and art take one out of the present and into the past or future or imagination. I loved it when my mom put my crayon drawings on the fridge. Today, I keep my drawings of logos and portraits in a scrapbook and am happy to show them to others. I love taking photographs and sharing them online. Music and art are ways I am recognized by others.

Because I enjoy volunteering and sharing my creativity with others, unlike the speaker in the poem, “Identity” I do not feel my identity is stifled by others. I want to live my life respecting others rather than having contempt for their values. This does not mean I do not mean I can be pressured to give up my values and give in to peer pressure. Standing up for what I believe in, is important to me. This is why someday I’d like to travel around the world and learn more about other cultures and make a difference. Then, I would have no fear of the future because I have invested in the world to make it a better place. I feel by following solid values, I will be respected and remembered by others long after I have passed away.

Narrative rubric

 

Excellent

5

Proficient

4

Satisfactory

3

Limited

2

Poor

1

Content            /10

Exploration of the topic is insightful. Main idea and supporting details are precise and original.

Exploration of the topic is adept. Main idea and supporting details are specific.

 

Exploration of the topic is clear. Main idea and supporting details are relevant or generic.

 

Exploration of the topic is simplistic. Main idea and supporting details are imprecise or superficial.

Exploration of the topic is minimal. Main ideas and supporting details are irrelevant or scant.

Organization      /10

Introduction is engaging and skillfully establishes a focus. Transitions fluently connect details. Closure is effective and related to the focus.

Introduction is purposeful and clearly establishes a focus. Transitions clearly connect details. Closure is appropriate and related to the focus.

Introduction is functional and establishes a focus. Transitions tend to be mechanical. Closure is related to the focus and is mechanical or artificial.

 

Introduction lacks purpose; little or no focus is established. Transitions are lacking. Closure is abrupt, contrived or unrelated to the focus.

Introduction is ineffective. Transitions are absent or inappropriately used. Closure is ineffectual or missing.

Sentence Structure

/5

Sentence structure is effectively controlled. Sentence type and sentence length are consistently effective and varied.

Sentence structure is consistently controlled. Sentence type and sentence length are usually effective and varied.

Sentence structure is generally controlled. Sentence type and sentence length are sometimes effective or varied.

 

Sentence structure often lacks control. Sentence type and sentence length are seldom effective or varied.

Sentence structure generally lacks control. There is essentially no variation in sentence type or sentence length.

Vocabulary

/5

Words and expressions are used precisely and deliberately to create vivid images or to enrich details. The voice/tone created is convincing.

Specific words and expressions show evidence of careful selection. The voice/tone created is distinct.

                            

Words and expressions are generally used adequately to clarify meaning. The voice/tone created may be inconsistent.

Imprecise words and expressions predominate; specific words, if present, may be improperly used. The voice/tone created is not clearly established.

Words and expressions are generally used inaccurately; specific words, if present, are frequently misused. The voice/tone created is not evident.

Conventions

/5

The quality of the writing is enhanced because it is essentially error-free.

The quality of the writing is sustained because it contains only minor convention errors.

The quality of the writing is sustained through generally correct use of conventions.

The quality of the writing is weakened by the frequently incorrect use of conventions.

The quality of the writing is impaired by the consistently incorrect use of conventions.

INS Insufficient – No evidence of an attempt to address the task presented in the assignment, or the student has written so little that it is not possible to assess the Content.

Total:                  /35