In this performance assessment, students will apply their knowledge of researching, argumentative writing, and persuasive techniques by writing a “This I Believe” essay, like essays found at: thisibelieve.org.
Students will choose the issue of their choice (e.g., voting age, teen social media use, cell phone use in school, paying college athletes), research it, and write an argumentative essay defending their stance on that issue.
This assessment can be completed using Google Docs or Microsoft Word. The final product may be emailed to the teacher directly or shared through a school’s learning management system.
This assessment can be used any time during the school year when students are studying argumentative and persuasive writing techniques. Students should have knowledge of argumentative vocabulary and rhetoric before writing this essay. They should also know how to structure an argument (claim, evidence, counterclaim, and conclusion).
In this performance assessment, students will apply their knowledge of researching, argumentative writing, and persuasive techniques by writing a “This I Believe” essay, like essays found at: thisibelieve.org.
Students will choose the issue of their choice (e.g., voting age, teen social media use, cell phone use in school, paying college athletes), research it, and write an argumentative essay defending their stance on that issue.
This assessment can be completed using Google Docs or Microsoft Word. The final product may be emailed to the teacher directly or shared through a school’s learning management system.
This assessment can be used any time during the school year when students are studying argumentative and persuasive writing techniques. Students should have knowledge of argumentative vocabulary and rhetoric before writing this essay. They should also know how to structure an argument (claim, evidence, counterclaim, and conclusion).
| Big Ideas | Competencies |
|---|---|
C. WritingStudents can read with purpose, understand and analyze information and evidence to construct meaning in increasingly complex texts. |
C2Students can write arguments to support multiple claims using logical reasoning, relevant evidence, and counter arguments that demonstrate understanding of the complexity of an issue. |
E. Research and InquiryStudents can engage in research and inquiry to investigate topics, evaluate and analyze the validity of sources, and synthesize information to communicate findings. |
E1Students can conduct research by effectively gathering information from credible sources. |
Below are analytic teacher rubrics. The column on the left shows the dimension that is being measured in the student’s performance. The levels across the top row indicate the performance level in the dimensions. Occasionally all dimensions and performance levels are exemplified by multiple students in a single recording.
| Dimensions | Not Yet Meeting Expectations | Meeting Expectations | Exceeding Expectations |
|---|---|---|---|
Research and Evidence |
No exemplars at this time.
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Argumentative Structure and Persuasive Techniques |
No exemplars at this time.
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No exemplars at this time.
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No exemplars at this time.
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Spelling and Grammar Usage |
No exemplars at this time.
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No exemplars at this time.
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No exemplars at this time.
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