Reading & Writing · Unit 4 · Weeks 19–24 · 45–55 min (fine to split over two sittings)

Scoring Guide: Opinion Essays, Inference & Point of View

36 points total

Part 1: Reading: An Opinion Essay

11 points

Read the essay written by a third grader. Then answer the questions.

1.
What is the author's opinion?
(1 pt)
Answer: Every third-grade classroom should have a fish tank.
2.
List the author's three reasons.
(2 pts)
Answer: Teaches responsibility; helps kids feel calm; makes science something kids can see (come alive). 2 for all three, 1 for two.
3.
Copy one piece of evidence the author gives for the reason "watching fish can help kids feel calm."
(1 pt)
Answer: Any one: "When I come home from a busy day, I like to sit by our tank at home"; "The bubbles hum softly, and the fish drift back and forth"; "After a few minutes, I feel ready to do my homework."
4.
What is the author's main purpose for writing this essay?
(1 pt)
Answer: to persuade readers that classrooms should have fish tanks
5.
Which linking word does the author use to answer people who say a tank is too much work?
(1 pt)
Answer: However
6.
Read: "Students could observe how fish eat, rest and swim." What does observe mean? What clue helped you?
(2 pts)
Answer: To watch closely (1). Clue (1): the sentence is about seeing how fish eat, rest and swim, or the paragraph says science is something kids can see.
7.
What does the author ask readers to do in the conclusion?
(1 pt)
Answer: Teachers should ask their principal about getting a fish tank.
8.
The author thinks a fish tank is worth the work. What is your own view? Give a reason of your own that is not one of the author's reasons.
(2 pts)
Answer: Answers vary. Look for: the child's own view stated clearly (agree, disagree or partly) (1) with a reason that is the child's own, not copied from the essay (1).

Scoring: 1-point items: 1 if correct. 2-point items: 1 for each part. On the last item, any view earns credit if it has its own reason.

Reteach if needed: Week 19, Week 20, Week 21, Week 22, Week 24. Week 19 Days 1–4 (parts of an opinion essay); Week 20 Days 1–4 (reasons and evidence); Week 21 Days 1–3 (transitions and conclusions); Week 22 Day 4 (context clues); Week 24 Days 1–2 (author's purpose and your own view).

Part 2: Reading: Making Inferences

6 points

Read the short story. Use clues from the story and what you already know to answer.

9.
What special day is it? Write two clues that helped you know.
(2 pts)
Answer: The narrator's birthday (1). Clues (1 for two), any two: the red circle on the calendar with the narrator's name; Dad is baking (flour, bowl, oven); Mom hides a small box with a bow; everyone is acting secret.
10.
What is Dad most likely baking in the oven?
(1 pt)
Answer: A cake (a birthday cake).
11.
Who is telling this story? Which words show you?
(1 pt)
Answer: The child whose special day it is (a character in the story) tells it; the words I, my and me show it.
12.
The narrator thinks surprises are the best part of the whole year. What do you think? Tell whether your view is the same or different, and why.
(2 pts)
Answer: Answers vary. Look for: the child's own view, marked as the same as or different from the narrator's (1), with a reason (1).

Scoring: 2-point items: 1 for each part. 1-point items: 1 if the answer fits the clues in the story.

Reteach if needed: Week 22, Week 23, Week 24. Week 22 Days 1–3 (inferences from text clues and what you know); Week 23 Day 2 (catch-up on inference); Week 24 Days 3–4 (who is telling a story and how your view differs).

Part 3: Language

6 points

Read each sentence by yourself. Follow the directions.

13.
Circle the right word. Of all the fish in the tank, the goldfish is the (bigger / biggest).
(1 pt)
Answer: biggest
14.
Circle the right words. Ana reads (more quietly / most quietly) than her brother.
(1 pt)
Answer: more quietly
15.
Join the two sentences. Begin your new sentence with Although. I wanted to swim. The water was cold.
(2 pts)
Answer: Although the water was cold, I wanted to swim. (1 for a correct joined sentence that begins with Although, 1 for the comma after cold)
16.
Fix the verb so the whole sentence stays in the past tense. Yesterday we walked to the pond and see a heron.
(1 pt)
Answer: Yesterday we walked to the pond and saw a heron.
17.
Add the missing comma. Ms. Hall lives in Boise Idaho.
(1 pt)
Answer: Ms. Hall lives in Boise, Idaho.

Scoring: Items with two parts get 1 point for each part. Other items: 1 if correct.

Reteach if needed: Week 19, Week 21. Week 19 Day 1 (comparing with -er/-est and more/most); Week 21 Day 2 (coordinating and subordinating conjunctions); Week 21 Day 3 (commas in addresses); Week 21 Day 4 (keeping the same tense, irregular past-tense verbs).

Part 4: Word Study

9 points

Read each item by yourself. Follow the directions.

18.
Add the ending. Use the spelling rules. hot + est = ____ wide + er = ____
(2 pts)
Answer: hottest (1); wider (1)
19.
What does chewable mean?
(1 pt)
Answer: Able to be chewed (can be chewed).
20.
Add -ment to make a noun. amaze → ____
(1 pt)
Answer: amazement
21.
Add the ending. Change y to i first. hurry + ed = ____ silly + est = ____
(2 pts)
Answer: hurried (1); silliest (1)
22.
Add -y to make a describing word. cloud → ____
(1 pt)
Answer: cloudy
23.
Use the words in the box to make two compound words. rain coat sun flower
(2 pts)
Answer: raincoat (1); sunflower (1)

Scoring: Each part is worth 1 point; spelling must be exact. Note which pattern each missed item checks: -er/-est (Week 19), -able and -ment (Week 20), -y and changing y to i (Week 21), compound words (Week 22).

Reteach if needed: Week 19, Week 20, Week 21, Week 22, Week 23, Week 24. Week 19 (-er and -est, doubling and dropping e); Week 20 (-able and -ment); Week 21 (-y and changing y to i); Week 22 (compound words); Weeks 23–24 (review).

Part 5: Writing: Opinion Paragraph

4 points

Write an opinion paragraph on your own paper or in the box.

24.
Should kids have a job to do at home every week? Write an opinion paragraph. State your opinion, give two reasons, support each reason with evidence (a fact, an example or something from your own life), use linking words, and end with a conclusion.
(4 pts)
Answer: Rubric (4 points): 4 = a clear opinion, two reasons each backed by evidence, linking words (such as because, for example, another reason, also), and a conclusion that restates the opinion; 3 = opinion, two reasons and a conclusion, but evidence is thin for one reason or linking words are missing; 2 = an opinion with one reason, or two reasons with no evidence or no conclusion; 1 = an opinion only, or reasons that do not match the opinion; 0 = no response or off topic.

Scoring: Score the writing with the 4-point rubric in the answer. Score what is on the page, not neatness. Spelling of words not yet taught does not lower the score. Either opinion (yes or no) can earn a 4.

Reteach if needed: Week 19, Week 20, Week 21. Week 19 Days 2–4 (planning, introduction, body paragraphs); Week 20 Days 1–4 (reasons and evidence); Week 21 Days 1–3 (linking words and conclusions).

Score box

Part	Points earned	Possible
1. Reading: An Opinion Essay		11
2. Reading: Making Inferences		6
3. Language		6
4. Word Study		9
5. Writing: Opinion Paragraph		4
Total		36

Level: Enter points to see the level.

D · Developing: 0–17
A · Approaching: 18–25
P · Proficient: 26–32
E · Exceeding: 33–36