ESSAY ITEMS: Examples

Essay type of assessment (Example 1)
Learning Target
Students should be able to accurately describe Oaxacan folk art animals in terms of color, form, and pattern in an essay type of assessment item.

Grade Level and Subject
5th Grade Visual Arts

Prompt
Write a paragraph discussing what all Oaxacan folk art animal sculptures have in common. Use the vocabulary words you learned in class to describe how the artists use each of the following:
  • Color
  • Form
  • Pattern
Be sure to write neatly and use complete sentences: grammar, punctuation, and spelling count.

Time limit:

15 minutes

Total points possible:

8


Analytic Scoring Guide


Requirement


Inadequate


Developing


Understanding


Points

 

0

1

2

 

Color

Does not describe

Describes color, but does not use correct vocabulary

Describes color using correct vocabulary

 

Form

Does not describe

Describes form, but does not use correct vocabulary

Describes form using correct vocabulary

 

Pattern

Does not describe

Describes pattern, but does not use correct vocabulary

Describes pattern using correct vocabulary

 

Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation

4 or more spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors

1–3 spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors

No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors

 

TOTAL

POINTS

 

Learning Target
Students should be able to correctly describe the sequence of steps they use to shape, fire, and paint their Oaxacan clay animal projects in an essay type of assessment item.

Grade Level and Subject
5th Grade Visual Arts

Prompt
Write a paragraph describing the steps you used to make your Oaxacan clay animal. Include the following steps in the correct order:
  • Firing
  • Painting
  • Shaping
Be sure to write neatly and use complete sentences: grammar, punctuation, and spelling count.

Time limit:

15 minutes

Total points possible:

8


Analytic Scoring Guide


Requirement


Inadequate


Developing


Understanding


Points

 

0

1

2

 

Firing

Does not describe this step

Describes the step of firing, but not in the correct order

Describes the step of firing in the correct order

 

Painting

Does not describe this step

Describes the step of painting, but not in the correct order

Describes the step of painting in the correct order

 

Shaping

Does not describe this step

Describes the step of shaping, but not in the correct order

Describes the step of shaping in the correct order

 

Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation

4 or more spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors

1–3 spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors

No spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors

 

TOTAL

POINTS