Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of some understanding of the question. The supporting details are only minimally effective. The student identifies two types of RNA (mRNA and tRNA) and briefly mentions the role of mRNA (to copy the DNA sequences).

Score Level 1 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of some understanding of the question. The student identifies the three types of RNA (transfer RNA, ribosomal RNA, and messenger RNA), and partially describes the role of ribosomal RNA (rRNA is found in the ribosome, it recieves information from the messenger RNA). The role of messenger RNA is not provided, and the role of transfer RNA is incorrect. The supporting details are only minimally effective.

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of a basic understanding of the question. The student correctly names all three types of RNA (messenger RNA, transfer RNA, and ribosomal RNA) and uses adequate supporting details to describe the roles of messenger RNA and transfer RNA (mRNA copies the information from the DNA sequence in the nucleus … and brings it to the ribosomes; transfer RNA then brings the appropriate amino acids to the ribosome). The role of ribosomal RNA is omitted. More elaboration about the role of each type of RNA in protein synthesis and more scientific terminology is needed for a higher score.

Score Level 2 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of a basic understanding of the question. Two types of RNA are named (messenger RNA: ribosome RNA), and all three types are correctly identified by their acronym (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA). Adequate supporting details are used to generally describe the role of each type of RNA in protein synthesis (mRNA which carries the code for making protiens to the ribosome; tRNA which translates the code into amino acid placed together in specific patterns, ribosome RNA is what ribosomes are made out of).

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of a good understanding of the question. Two of the three types of RNA are correctly named (messenger RNA; ribosomal RNA). The student uses adequate supporting details to describe mRNA's role (messenger RNA is made directly from the DNA, then goes into the ribosome) and ribosomal RNA's role (ribosomal RNA is used in making ribosomes). The role of tRNA is more thoroughly explained through the use of generally complete supporting details and some synthesis is evident in the overview of translation (transport RNA is also made right from the DNA; amino acids match up with triplets of tRNA; protein synthesis occurs with the amino acids with the tRNA matching up with the mRNA and joining together to make a protein). More elaboration and synthesis of information, particularly with regard to the role of the mRNA and rRNA in the process of making proteins, as well as the use of additional scientific terminology is needed for a higher score.

Score Level 3 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of a good understanding of the question. All three types of RNA are correctly named. The role of mRNA and tRNA in protein synthesis is briefly described (This make a copy of the DNA in a gene and then reports to the ribosome; ribosomal RNA which is what ribosomes are made of). The description of translation is more comprehensive (tRNA carry amino acids and anti-codons which match the codons on the mRNA; the amino acids bond together forming a polypeptide chain which will eventually be converted into a protein). The supporting details are generally complete and the use of accurate scientific terminology (transcription, ribosomes, translates, and amino acids) strengthens the response.

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of a full and complete understanding of the question. The supporting details are pertinent and complete and demonstrate a synthesis of ideas. The student correctly names all three types of RNA, accurately describes the chemical make-up of RNA, and through a discussion of the role of each type of RNA, provides a thorough explanation of how protein synthesis occurs. (mRNA produces a complimentary base pair of the DNA strand…transports the genetic information from the nucleus to the cytosol; attached to the tRNA are amino acids, tRNA carries anti-codons…to the mRNA, the amino acids…attach. This produces a certain protein). The extensive use of accurate scientific terminology (cytosol, complementary base pair, anticodons, amino acids, nucleotides, codons, organelles, ribose, cytosine, adenine, guanine, uracil translation) enhances the response.

Score Level 4 Anchor Paper

This response contains evidence of a full and complete understanding of the question. Through a complete synthesis of pertinent supporting details, the student names and gives the acronym for each type of RNA and provides a complete elaboration of their roles in protein synthesis. (DNA…is split and the… mRNA is formed; once it leaves…the cell nucleus…it travels through the cytoplasm and attaches to a ribosome; the ribosome reads…a group of three bases…called a codon; corresponding tRNA match with the original mRNA codon; attached to this tRNA is an amino acid; every time a new amino acid joins the previous…form a polypeptide chain). Accurate scientific terminology (exons, introns, ribosome, codon, and polypeptide chain) enhances the response.