Score explanation

Score

Sample 6

This response demonstrates effective comprehension of the source text in terms of both the central ideas and important details in Gioia’s piece. The writer accurately paraphrases the main idea of Gioia’s text (living in the high-tech 21st century has unfortunately deteriorated the percentage of Americans who read literature). The writer also includes important details from the text that illustrate an effective comprehension of the passage, such as when the writer summarizes the consequences of the decrease in reading on American society (the domino effect of illiteracy into other large aspects of American society such as electing leaders, and the business world). The response is free from errors of fact and interpretation, and the writer’s ability to paraphrase accurately the main ideas and supporting details of Gioia’s piece indicate proficient reading comprehension.

3

Sample 7

This response demonstrates thorough comprehension of the source text. The writer briefly summarizes the main idea of Gioia’s passage (the author’s concern with literary knowledge declining) and includes an abundance of important details from the text through a mixture of appropriate quotations and paraphrases. Moreover, the writer exhibits an understanding of how details relate to Gioia’s main idea and how this interrelation creates meaning for the reader. For example, the writer points out how Gioia establishes that “the significance of reading has become a persistent them[e] in the new business world”  by the author’s use of multiple quotes buy Wired Magazine. The writer then connects that information to a 2001 poll cited in the next paragraph of Gioia’s text (Gioia even puts in a worker’s perspective from the 2001 National Association of Manufacturers poll). The writer, then, shows understanding of how different details in Gioia’s text contribute to an understanding of the whole. The response is also free of errors of fact or interpretation. Overall, this response demonstrates advanced reading comprehension.

4

Sample 8

This response demonstrates thorough comprehension of the source text and illustrates an understanding of the interrelation between the central idea and important details in Gioia’s piece. The writer accurately paraphrases the central idea of Gioia’s text (the levels of interest young Americans have shown in art in recent years have declined and that this trend is a severe problem with broad consequences). The writer then exhibits an understanding of the details in Gioia’s text and how they work together to convey the main point (Gioia is able to build his point; He then immediately follows with...; In paragraph 6, Gioia follows up on the point established in paragraph 5...). The response is also free of errors of fact or interpretation. Overall, this response demonstrates advanced reading comprehension.

4

Score explanation

Score

Sample 6

The response offers an effective analysis of the source text, demonstrating a proficient understanding of the analytical task. In the second body paragraph, for example, the writer effectively analyzes Gioia’s use of what the writer calls fearful diction, coming to the conclusion that Upon reading the article, and mulling over how Gioia feels about America’s current reading levels, a reader is inclined to acknowledge that illiteracy is detrimental to American society and something that needs to be repaired. The writer is thus able to articulate the effect of Gioia’s diction on his audience, signaling an understanding of the analytical task. This effective analysis continues when the writer discusses Gioia’s use of eye-opening facts about the consequences of the decline in reading and when the writer suggests the potential effect of Gioia’s argument on his target audience via a hypothetical scenario (By appealing his argument to people who are in control of others...Gioia can put faith into the hope that his audience will make the problem he presented a solution. An example of this would be if a school board official were to read his article, and thentook the necessary actions). Although providing this scenario indicates strong analytical skill on the part of the writer, the discussion is elaborated only enough to demonstrate proficiency and does not demonstrate the thoroughness and insightfulness expected at the advanced level.

3

Sample 7

The writer demonstrates a limited understanding of the analytical task and offers only an incomplete analysis of how Gioia builds his argument. The writer does identify some important rhetorical elements of Gioia’s text (evidence, reasoning, and diction) and attempts to describe how these elements function in the source text. However, these moments of analysis, all of which focus on Gioia’s use of diction, never move past assertions. For example, in the first body paragraph the writer identifies Gioia’s use of distinct diction (Stating that the findings in the study are not only “severe” but also “worrisome”) and then asserts that adjectives like this add more weight to his words. This pattern of assertion-based analysis continues throughout the response (These bold statements hammer in to the reader just how significant literature really is, in many different aspects of our life). Both of these examples illustrate some limited understanding of the analytical task. However, the writer never attempts to explain, for example, how or why these adjectives or statements persuade the reader or what effect Gioia’s diction has on his audience. For this reason, this paper demonstrates only partially successful analysis.

2

Sample 8

The response demonstrates good understanding of the analytical task by offering an effective analysis of the source text. The writer is able to move past simple identification of and assertions about the analytical elements in Gioia’s text to discuss how these elements contribute to Gioia’s argument. For example, the writer identifies the distinct contrast that Gioia establishes early in the passage between positive changes in American life and the fact that the interest young Americans show in art has declined. The writer then explains that Gioia uses this contrast to establish an emphasis on his primary point by highlighting it as a negative development. The writer then competently evaluates the effect of this element of Gioia’s text by explaining that this literary tool serves a strong purpose by acting as a vehicle to draw the audience into the principle issue addressed by the writing. This pattern of effective analysis continues throughout the remainder of the response and indicates proficient analytical skill. The writer clearly can delineate and evaluate the impact of Gioia’s argumentative moves, but this analysis lacks the thoroughness and completeness needed to receive a higher score. For example, there is no indication of how or why these moves are effective.

3

Score explanation

Score

Sample 6

This response is cohesive and demonstrates highly effective use and control of language. The writer presents a generally skillful introduction, opening with a brief narrative about the pervasiveness of technology in twenty-first-century life before summarizing the passage and then providing a thoughtful central claim: Gioia is able to sway his audience to devote more time to the simple task of reading works of intellectual value through fearful diction and compelling consequences associated with being illiterate. The writer demonstrates precise, original word choice and phrases throughout the response (astounding capabilities, the domino effect, mulling over, instilling a sense of urgency, strengthened exponentially). The body paragraphs are each tightly focused and are deliberately structured to advance the writer’s analysis of Gioia’s use of diction, consequences, and audience. The response maintains a formal style and objective tone, contains clear transitions (also, lastly, ultimately) to guide the reader, and ends with a concise and precise summary conclusion (Ultimately, Gioia is able to relay a strong and persuasive argument regarding the decline of Americans reading and why it needs to be fixed through concerned word choice, compelling consequences, and masterfully writing to inspire a specific audience). Overall, this response demonstrates advanced writing.

4

Sample 7

The writer demonstrates highly effective use and command of language in this cohesive essay. The introductory paragraph includes a precise central claim that lays out the rather complex structure of the response (Gioia uses evidence, reasoning, and diction to persuade us to agree with him on three points, that literary knowledge is declining, that literary knowledge is very important, and that consequences shall ensue if nothing is done about our apathy towards literature). The writer then constructs a tightly controlled response that demonstrates a deliberate and highly effective progression of ideas, both within paragraphs and throughout the response as a whole. For example, the second body paragraph (focused on Gioia’s claim that literary knowledge is declining) follows the three-pronged approach, set forth in the opening paragraph, of examining Gioia’s use of evidence, reasoning, and diction. Each paragraph stays on-topic while covering each of the three rhetorical elements of Gioia’s argument. The writer uses precise word choice (particularly staggering, consequences shall ensue, an epidemic that is truly detrimental to the nation) and a wide variety in sophisticated sentence structures. This response demonstrates a strong command of written English and is virtually free of errors. Overall, this response demonstrates advanced writing.

4

Sample 8

The writer demonstrates highly effective use and command of language in this cohesive response. The response includes a precise central claim (Strategies Gioia employs to support his argument include citation of compelling polls, reports made by prominent organizations that have issued studies, and a quotation from a prominent author). The skillful introduction establishes the framework for the writer’s organizational structure, which is followed throughout the response. Although the subsequent discussion is not laid out as explicitly as the simple three-pronged thesis suggests, each body paragraph remains on-topic and demonstrates a deliberate progression of ideas, and the response as a whole remains focused and cohesive. The response contains many examples of sophisticated sentence structure, notable vocabulary, and precise word choice (This dual utilization of claims from two separate sources conveys to Gioia’s audience the sense that the skills built through immersion in the arts are vital to succeeding in the modern workplace which aids in logically leading his audience to the conclusion that a loss of experience with the arts may foreshadow troubling results). Overall, this response demonstrates advanced writing ability. 

4