Overview

In this performance assessment, students will be asked to write an opinion piece stating one thing they would change about their school and the reasons why. They should explain one change they would make, why they would make it, and how their solution might be different from their current school situation.  

Students can write their opinion piece in any appropriate way, including, but not limited to, PowerPoint or Google Slides (or another slideshow tool), Microsoft Word or Google Docs, or paper and colored pens/pencils/ markers. Final student work should be saved as an Adobe Acrobat PDF for uploading to the virtual scoring software. 

This assessment can be used at any time in fourth grade, after students have had instruction on opinion writing. 

Download Teacher Booklet Download Student Booklet

Details

  • 3rd
  • Two 45-minute sessions with optional third session
  • Big Ideas & Competencies View Section Below

Big Ideas & Competencies

Big Ideas Competencies

C. Writing

Students can effectively communicate purpose to an intended audience through written language, using a variety of media.

C1

Students can write structured opinion pieces that state a point of view and provide reasons that support the opinion.

NOTE ABOUT ASSESSMENT RUBRICS

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.

Teacher Rubric

Dimensions Not Yet Meeting Expectations Meeting Expectations Exceeding Expectations

Focus and Organization
  • Provides an unclear introduction to the topic or text or no introduction is included.  
  • Uses an unclear or ineffective body structure to organize the opinion and reasons about the topic or text.  
  • Abruptly ends the writing without a sense of closure. 
No exemplars at this time.
  • Introduces the topic or text.  
  • Organizes the opinion and reasons about the topic or text.  
  • Provides a concluding statement or section.
No exemplars at this time.
  • Introduces and provides information about the topic /or text.  
  • Uses a logical body structure to organize the opinion, reasons, and information about the topic or text.  
  • Provides a concluding statement or section that clearly relates to the opinion. 
No exemplars at this time.

Development/Comprehension
  • States a partially related or unrelated opinion and/or reason(s) or does not state an opinion. 
No exemplars at this time.
  • States an opinion about the topic or text identifying two reasons that support the opinion. 
No exemplars at this time.
  • States an opinion about the topic or text identifying three reasons that support the opinion using information about the topic or text. 
No exemplars at this time.

Style/Conventions
  • Uses basic words or no linking words to connect the opinion and reasons. 
  • Uses inconsistent capitalization and/or spelling patterns. 
  • Uses ineffective sentence structures, and errors may interfere with meaning and/or readability.
No exemplars at this time.
  • Uses linking words and phrases to connect the opinion and reasons. 
  • uses grade-appropriate conventions; errors are minor and do not interfere with meaning and readability.  
  • Uses correct and varied sentence structures.
No exemplars at this time.
  • Uses linking words and phrases to connect the opinion, reasons, and information.  
  • Uses advanced conventions to enhance meaning and readability.  
  • Uses advanced and varied sentence structures.
No exemplars at this time.

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