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Writing 6-8

Addressing the Prompts

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TYPES OF TIME SCORING SCALE WritingPersuasive 45 minutes New Jersey Registered Holistic Scoring

Grades 6-8: 1-6 Points (2 scores)

Speculative 25 minutes New Jersey Registered Holistic Scoring Explanatory

Grades 6-8: 1- 6 Points

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• Speculative prompt -a brief scenario used as a springboard for writing a story

• Explanatory prompts- present students with a quotation or adage as a springboard for an essay- share knowledge, convey ideas and experience

• Persuasive writing- student’s point of view on a given controversy or topic

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In Scoring, consider the grid of  written

languageInadequate Command

Limited Command Partial Command

Adequate Command

Strong Command

Superior Command

Score 1 2 3 4 5 6Content & Organization(see below)

· May lack opening and/or closing

· May lack opening and/or closing

· May lack opening and/or closing

· Generally has opening and/or closing

· Opening and closing

· Opening and closing

. · Minimal response to topic; uncertain focus

· Attempts to focus · May drift or shift focus

· Usually has single focus

· Single focus · Single focus · Sense of unity and coherence · Key ideas developed

· Single, distinct focus · Unified and coherent · Well-developed

. · No planning evident; disorganized

· Attempts organization · Few, if any, transitions between ideas

· Some lapses or flaws in organization · May lack some transitions between ideas

· Ideas loosely connected · Transition evident

· Logical progression of ideas · Moderately fluent · Attempts compositional risks

· Logical progression of ideas · Fluent, cohesive · Composi-tional risks successful

. · Details random, inappropriate, or barely apparent

· Details lack elaboration, i.e., highlight paper

· Repetitious details · Several unelaborated details

· Uneven development of details

· Details appropriate and varied

· Details effective, vivid, explicit, and/or pertinent

Usage(see below)

· No apparent control · Severe/numerous errors

· Numerous errors

· Errors/ patterns of errors may be evident

· Some errors that do not interfere with meaning

· Few errors · Very few, if any, errors

Sentence Construction(see below)

· Assortment of incomplete and/or incorrect sentences

· Excessive monotony/ same structure · Numerous errors

· Little variety in syntax · Some errors

· Some errors that do not interfere with meaning

· Few errors · Very few, if any, errors

Mechanics(see below)

· Errors so severe they detract from meaning

· Numerous serious errors

· Patterns of errors evident

· No consistent pattern of errors · Some errors that do not interfere with meaning

· Few errors · Very few, if any, errors

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Writing Tasks1. Understand your purpose, audience, topic, and form.2. Ask yourself:

– Why am I writing?– For whom am I writing?– What am I writing about?– What kind of writing am I doing (letter, story, report,

or…)?

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Speculative Prompt

People enjoy playing games. Some take games they know and change the rules while others invent their own board games, ball games, or other games.

Write an essay about a new game you created or might like to create, or an old game for which you changed the rules. Be sure to explain your game by using details and examples to support your explanation.

How would youmodel this for your students?

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Speculative Prompts Grade 6

Think what it would be like to live one day in the setting of your favorite book, short story, or television show. What would happen to you in this place? What would you do? Use your imagination to write a story about your experience in this place.

How would youmodel this for your students?

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Speculative Prompts Grade 7

A 7th grade student had a big test the following day. The championship basketball

game was after school, and grandma’s 75th birthday party was at 6 PM that evening. How was he ever going to study? Write a story about this 7th grader, and how he deals with his problem.

Sasha dreams of becoming a famous inventor. She jots down ideas, and makes observations about how things work. She hopes to invent something that will help people. Imagine what Sasha might invent. Write a story about her invention, and how it can be used.

How would youmodel these for your students?

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Speculative Prompts Grade 8 A girl arrives home from school to find that the backdoor is ajar. She is not sure if

she should go in. What should she do? Write a story about the girl, and what she does next.

After weeks of preparation, Ella proudly handed in a history report. Her best friend in the same class copied a report from the Internet. When the graded papers were returned, Ella received a C+ while her friend received an A. Write a story about how Ella might deal with this situation.

How would youmodel these for your students?

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NJ ASK: Sample Explanatory Prompt(Grades 6-8)Life can be full of pleasant surprises. Identify a time when you experienced a pleasant surprise.Write a composition for your teacher about a time when you experienced a pleasant surprise. Explain why this surprise was unexpected and how it affected your life in a positive way. Be sure to explain your choice by using details and examples.

How would you model this for your students?

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NJ ASK: Sample Explanatory Prompt(Grades 6-8)Consider how the following quotation is related to you.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”--Will Rogers Cherokee-American, cowboy, comedian, and actor

Write an essay for your language arts teacher explaining what this quotation means to you. Use details, reasons, and examples in your explanation.

How would you model this for your students?

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Grade 6 Persuasive Prompt Every day for the past month, the lunch period at school has become

louder and less orderly. The principal has decided to solve these problems by making the lunch period a silent lunch. This has caused a conflict in your school.

Write a letter to the principal expressing whether you agree or disagree with the principal’s decision. Use examples and other evidence to support your position.

How would youmodel this for your students?

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Grade 7There is a park in your town used by the residents. A popular fast-food chain

wants to buy the land and build a restaurant on it. Losing the park to get the restaurant has caused a conflict in the town.

Write a letter to the mayor explaining whether you think the town should keep or sell the park. Use examples and other evidence to support your position.

How would youmodel this for your students?

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NJ ASK: Sample Persuasive Writing Prompt (Grades 6-8)

A well-known musical group has offered to give a free concert at your school. There has been much debate as to when the concert should be held –during or after school. You decide to write a letter to your principal expressing your opinion about when the concert should be held. WRITING TASKWrite a letter to your principal supporting your position whether the concert should be held during school time or held after school. Use reasons, facts, examples and/or other evidence to support your position.

How would youmodel this for your students?

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As a result of complaints by some students that the school lunch break is too short, the student council has proposed a new schedule to the principal that would add 10 minutes to lunchtime. This proposal would also result in a later dismissal time at the end of the day. The principal is asking students to write letters supporting or opposing this proposal. Think about the effect this would have on you and students in your school. What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages? What is your point of view?

• Write a letter to the principal in which you support or oppose the decision to add 10 minutes to the school day to lengthen the lunch break. Use examples and other evidence to support your decision.

Which type of writing does this prompt require?

Purpose, audience, topic, and form?

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You are submitting an essay to the annual essay competition at your

school. You have been asked to consider how the following quotation is related to you.

“You make the world a better place by making yourself a better person.”

- Scott Sorrell Write an essay explaining what this quotation means to you. Use details and

examples in your essay.

How would youmodel this for your students?

Purpose, audience, topic, and form?

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Many students enjoy doing something special for their family and friends. For

example, they may take care of their younger sibling or help to cook a favorite meal.

Write an essay that describes something special that you would like to do for your

family or friends. Explain why this would be something special and how your family or friends might react. Be sure to include details and facts to support your explanation.

Which type of writing does this prompt require? How would youmodel this for your students?

Purpose, audience, topic, and form?

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Two Strategies for Planning a Response to a Quotation Prompt

Task: “You shouldn't just work on your jump shot. You should work on being a better person, a

better teammate, and a better friend.”

Sue Wicks American Athlete

What have you done to make yourself a better person? Describe at least on example of how you tried to be a better person.

Strategies for Organizing the Body of the Essay Talk about one significant timeUse several different smaller experiences

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You have been asked to consider how the following quotation is related to you.

“It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.”

--René Descartes (1596 – 1650)

Write an essay explaining what this quotation means to you. Use details and examples in your essay.

Which type of writing does this prompt require? How would youmodel this for your students?

Purpose, audience, topic, and form?

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The school board is considering adopting a policy that would require students to maintain at least a B grade in all classes in order to participate in sports or other after-school clubs and activities. Some students support this decision; others oppose it. The principal is preparing to report to the school board on the policy. The principal wants to hear students’ opinions. Each student is asked to write an essay either supporting or opposing the proposal on requiring a certain grade to participate in extracurricular activities. Think about how you feel. What are the advantages of this policy? What are the disadvantages? Explain if you think this policy is fair or not. Do you think the policy should be adopted? Write an essay explaining your position on the policy. Use examples and other evidence to support your position.

Which type of writing does this prompt require? How would youmodel this for your students?

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Introduction : Grab attentionIntegrate the quote, adage or topicIntroduce the topicThesis statement or main idea

Body Paragraph: Example(s) from literature, history, science, film ( text-to-world)Themes are UNIVERSALThink about novels that you have read and/or historical figures. Figure out what they stand for, what themes they exemplify, and be ready to work that into prompt.

Body Paragraph: Example(s) from your own experience or observation (text-to self)An explanation

Conclusion: Unify and summarize ideasRestate your main point / thesisUse a clincher (could tie back into intro)

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Expository Pillar

• Sequential• Introduction and conclusion are broadest parts- balance and

symmetry• Can be adjusted for various lengths• Visualizes content

Model- analyze expository writing using the pillar•Read title and identify topic•Number paragraphs•Circle introduction and conclusion•In body paragraphs- underline main idea-write 1 word in margin that sums up main idea

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1st Support Statement:    

2nd Support Statement:    

3rd Support Statement:    

1st Support Statement:    

2nd Support Statement:    

3rd Support Statement:    

1st Support Statement:    

2nd Support Statement:    

3rd Support Statement:    

THREE BY THREE METHOD 

Statement or Proposal:

Positive / Quality Time

Community Image /

RelationsInclusion /Teamwork

Third Main Idea: (best)Second Main Idea: (worst)First Main Idea: (mid)

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Introduction- RANT: ·        Restate the problem / scenario, ·        Agree or Disagree with the proposed solution, ·        Name your 3 main ideas, ·        THESIS STATEMENT (the overall gist of your point of view). Body Paragraphs- TEST: ·        TRANSITION. ·        Explain your main idea in a general statement. ·        Support with at least 3 supporting ideas (facts, examples, reasons, evidence). ·        Tie up with concluding sentence. Conclusion- RATE: ·        Restate the problem / scenario, ·        Approach your 3 examples by REPHRASING, ·        Thematic Clincher, ·        Edit your work using the writer’s checklist.

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QuickwritesQuickwrite- a first draft response to a short piece of writing• 2-3 minutes• Borrow line or part of a line• Get words on paper Thomas Edison, the great inventor, once said the following about all of his

inventions: “To invent something takes 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.” Do you agree or disagree that for an idea or goal to become a reality it takes a lot of hard work? Explain your reasons.

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Teaching with Quickwrites• Display prompt on transparency• Read prompt aloud• Write while students write• Ask students to share/share your response• Use writing process to develop some pieces- student choice

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Leads and Thesis Statements• Leads- catch reader’s attention

– Unusual fact– Descriptive segment– Quote– Question– Bold opinion– Statistic

• Thesis statement-briefly and clearly identifies main idea

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Detail Generating Questions

• What does each detail “look” like?• Why is this detail important?• Is each detail in a separate sentence?• Did I use specific examples to describe each detail?

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Self-evaluation for persuasive writing

Did I state my position clearly? 1 2 3

Is my first reason clear and supported by details? 1 2 3

Is my second reason clear and . . . 1 2 3

Is my third reason clear and . . . 1 2 3

Did I summarize my reasons at the end? 1 2 3

Is my essay persuasive? 1 2 3

How can I improve my next essay?

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Peer revising strategy • LISTEN as partner reads• TELL what you liked best• READ and ask questions

– Topic? Is the opinion clear?– Reasons? Is each reason clear and related to the opinion?– Support? Is each reason supported with details?– Ending? Is there a summary?

• DISCUSS your suggestions• Author makes changes

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Suggested Writing Topics for Student Compositions

• Examples: AutobiographyWrite about a person who had a big influence on your life. • Classification: ObservationDescribe a person or object so that your reader can visualize.• ComparisonCompare one term by using a metaphor, a reference to literature, and then compare your term to a similar term. (Love v. infatuation?)• Process Analysis: How to do somethingExplain in proper sequence how to make or fix something.• Cause and EffectIdentify a subject. Then list three major effects of that idea.• DefinitionChoose one term and define it by using a dictionary, a literary source, and a human expert who knows the modern definition of your term.

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A Planning Strategy for Persuasive Writing -- (TREE)

• THINK: Who? Why?• PLAN

– T -- Topic sentence– R -- Reasons– E -- Examine reasons– E -- Ending

• Write and say more

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As part of a language arts class assignment, you have been asked to consider how the following quotation is related to you.

“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” --Anonymous

Write an essay explaining what this quotation means to you. Use details and examples in your essay.

Now let’s score some responses…

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If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere. For me this quotation means that if you find a path with no obstacles is not going to lead anywhere, that is not going to go anywhere because it has no obstacles. If it had obstacle probably would lead anywhere, but this time it says that if you find a path with no obstacles it probably doesn’t lead anywhere. And for another explanation for me it means, that if you find a friend but that friend looks like it tells all your secrets, and it’s a lier, and everything that you tell that friend say it to everybody, and you can’t trust to him or her, it’l probably won’t lead him anywhere. And when I say that it would not probably lead you anywhere is that, that kind of friend is not the right for you, that if you continue with that kind of friend in the future that kind of friend would make you in trouble with everything, For example if you tell all your secrets to that friend and he or she say it to . . . , everybody including your parent’s or teacher’s, that friend that you have there is not a friend at all it would make you in trouble with everybody. And everybody will know all your secret’s and they could make fun of you, they could talk about you, depends on the kinds of secrets is that. That friend won’t lead you anywhere, you won’t have a good life, you won’t have a safe life, all because all that problems that the kind of friend that you have. That’s what it means, if you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere. Like that kind of friend, That if that friend doesn’t have no trust, no feelings, no fun life inside his or she’s heart, it won’t lead anywhere His or she, life will be miserable and lonely.

Your score_________

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Score Point: 1 though lengthy, demonstrates a minimal

attempt repetitive unclear attempts to clarify lack of clear organization errors in usage poor sentence construction

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If you finda path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere. This quote means everything in life has obsticals. As a performer I have faced many challages. Like everyone I had to start from somewhere. I had to become a better singer. I knew people would be better then me.

It all started at camp. I like to sing along to music and when my friends heard me sing they pushed me to try out for the camp perduction “Annie get your Gun.” My original proplem was I was shy very shy. Although I was shy on stage I stuck it out and wasn’t shy anymore. There was something else that I was doing wrong, but I did not know what.

I was able to ask around to try and fix the problem and I found out what was wrong, so my mom got me a singging teacher. My teacher helped me f x the problem and then we discoverd I was great. I trained really hard, twice a week for an hour to be exact. Singing soon became my life.

I was able to accomplish alot in just a few years. I performed at Carnige Hall with a group choures which is my biggest accomplishment so far. I realized how much I loved to be on stage and four people to cheer for me. I knew that if I wanted that feeling all the time I would have to act and dance to. I want to be a Broadway star one day.

I have been in many plays but I have never been a lead, but after being in ansomble for so long I was finally good enough for a supporting roll. My hard work is starting to pay off.

I strive to be the best. If I ever want to be the star of a preduction I have to be the best. I try so hard to become the best at everything I do. The quote “If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead any where,” truely means to me that nothing is handed out to you on a silver plater everything takes hard work, dedication, and the modivation to be the best you can be.

Your score_________

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Score Point: 4 explanation/example is detailed and elaborated

solution lesson learned transitions ideas progress in a logical manner adequately developed errors in spelling and punctuation do not interfere

with the meaning

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This quote means that if you take the easy way out, you are not bettering yourself or improving your future in any way. I can relate this quote to my life in many ways. It tells a very universal message that anyone can use.

For instance, this quote can apply to school work. Last year, our social studies class was assigned a difficult project. I was placed in a group with two diligent students that were leaders. I chose to take the “back seat” in the group and let the other two students do all the work. We all received A’s even though I only completed a fraction of the work my fellow classmates did. I accepted the grade casually because I knew I didn’t earn it. The next week, our teacher tested us on the chapter in the textbook that the project was based on. Many of the questions referred to the project. I was overwhelmed. I felt very guilty and received a poor grade on the test. I cheated myself out of learning valuable knowledge by “taking the path with no obstacles.” This lead to a poor grade and a bad understanding. I was glad though because I learned an important lesson that I used in the future.

Another example that relates to this quote is concerned with sports. In the spring, I joined the track team last year. Spring break interfered with the middle of our season. Our coach told us to continue running through break so we would be in good shape for the meet when we came back. On break I felt lazy, so I did not run once. When we returned, the coach asked me if I ran and I lied and said “Yes, almost every day.” I thought to myself. “How would he know he doesn’t even live in this town?” At the meet, my times relapsed a minute and 21 seconds for long distance. I realized that by taking the easy way out, I worsened my performance. The easy road “[didn’t] lead anywhere.

Ultimately, this quote can be applied to all aspects of your life. It teaches that you should not back away from obstacles. Instead, you should face them head on because in the long run, you will get more out of it. This quote sounds similar to the common quote, “Life is about the journey.”

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Score Point: 5 direct and to the point detailed and focused compositional risk transitions fluent focused and well

developed few errors in usage and

mechanics strong command

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This quote “If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” I think that this quote means that if you don’t go through any problems and if you don’t work through something your probaly aren’t going to get anywhere, in life, in school or even just in general. In my life and comparing this quote with something in my life I think I would have to compare it with school. I picked school because in school theres a path from pre-k all the way to maybe colloge but in between all of that your going to be stuck at some point your going to have a bad grade but those are obstacles you go thorgh you do that and you get better at whatever it is. But some people choose to skip these obstacles there not going to get anywhere or if a person chooses to just not go to school or work there going to get any where netheir. So thats what I think that quote means to me in my life.

Your score_________

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Score Point: 3 focused supports the explanation with a personal

example specific elaboration some transitions few errors

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I think this quotation means that if you take the easy route with no obstacles

in life you won’t go anywhere. If you take the hard route with many obstacles, then you will do well in life. I think this quote is a good thing to read when you finish middle school because it is a life life lesson. For any project or assignment it is never good to take the easy way out.

This quote would help any person get a good start on life. I would really like to have known who wrote this quote because he/she must have been a really smart man or woman. He or she must have been really sucessful if he/she followed his/her quote. I hope to use this quote in my life because I don’t want to take the easy way out. I think this quote is a great quote and everyone who wants to be sucessful should read it and use it as a life lesson.

Responses Your score_________

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Score Point: 2 relates to the topic attempt to organize general explanation example (middle school) is provided limited details highlight paper

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A “path with no obstacles’ would certainly be most people’s dream come true. Imagine living life without any problems. Imagine finding success without having to face failure. Imagine what such a life would be. To me, this quote holds the truth of life. Of course, not having to run into mistakes would be a dream come true for me. But at the same time, it would also be my own dreadful loss Obstacles; failures; mistakes, every single challenge one encounters happens for a reason. A “path with no obstacles” is not natural. Whether everyone thinks, obstacles are necesary in everyone’s path to succeed.

If one thinks about some of the most successful people in life, nearly every single one had great, if not ostensibly insurmountable obstacles in their “paths.” Albert Einstein, for instance, suffered from mental retardation as well as rejection from the first college he applied to. But those obstacles were necesary for his incredible contributions to the

science commmity today. Another example is Bill Gates, the second richest man in the world and chairman of Microsoft. Gates was ostracized by his peers during his elementary years, but such hardships made him the successful figure he is today.

Failure is like oxygen in my life. It occurs all around me. It occurs to me. It is an omnipresent “thing!”. Obstacles are what prepares us for life by teaching us a little more about ourselves and the world and people around us. To be where I am today, I had to swim through an enormous pool of failures. Although I drowned at some points I always came back up and kept on swimming. A good example of this as well as the importance of failure is when I first entered middle school. Throughout elementary school, I was able to succeed in all of my coursework without much effort. Only after I got my first failing grade did I learn that it is important to prepare ahead. This failure taught me how its a competitive world, and one has to work to get by.

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Now some people may be thinking that there are those that seem to be successful, powerful, and rich without effort. But what I believe is either they had a major failure already, or there is one waiting for them in the corner. Take wealthy people for example. Most wealthy people by birth are so accustomed to royal treatment that they have not learned the importance and difficulty of earning money. As a result, if he or she somehow loses money, survival will be difficult.

Many singers and movie stars have also faced obstacles in their life. Famous Singer Shaleira was renunced by her music teacher because her voice was too strong. Many movie stars were very unsuccessful during their first years but eventually climed up to fame.

A path without obstacles probably does not lead somewhere because there is probably nowhere to lead to. Paths in life are made up of mistakes, and the destination is the culmination, the results, the golden lessons learned from mistakes. Just how these people failed, I also failed. I failed in my youth and I probably will fail many more times And to tell you the truth, without failure, I would have absolutely no idea at all where I would have ended up But I can say this honestly: it would certainly be a bad place. Your score_________

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Score Point: 6 clear and distinct

understanding thoughtful, organized, well

developed and fluent personal explanation presents another perspective complete, pertinent, and

exhibits verbal sophistication very few, if any errors

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Resourceswww.nj.gov/education/assessment/

www.nj.gov/education/assessment/ms/samples2007/NJ07_TB_G5_SpeculativeFinal.pdf (speculative sample) http://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/ms/samples2007/NJ07_TB_G7_FA_SamplerFinal.pdf (persuasive

sample) New Jersey Department of Education

www.state.nj.us/education/ Office of State Assessments

www.nj.gov/education/assessment/ Office of Academic Standards

www.nj.gov/education/aps New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards

www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/ National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Frameworks

http://www.nagb.org/ Measurement, Inc.

www.measinc.com/njask Learnia

http://newjersey.learnia.net

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Patricia HuttonCMSCEhttp://cmsce.rutgers.edupjhutton@aol.comtikap@aol.com

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Thank you