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Brief Constructed Response Item for Grade 4

Standard 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text

Topic A. Comprehension of Literary Text

Indicator 6. Determine important ideas and messages in literary texts

Objective a. Identify and explain main ideas and universal themes

Assessment limits:

  • Main ideas of the text or a portion of the text
  • Message, moral, or lesson learned from the text
Read this play titled "The King and the Cleaner." Then answer the question below.

What other title would help a reader understand an important idea in this play? In your response, use details from the play that support your answer. Write your answer in the box below.


Sample Student Response #1

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #1: Rubric Score 0

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response is completely incorrect. The King did not lose his place of being King.


Sample Student Response #2

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #2: Rubric Score 0

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response is irrelevant to the question. The student simply repeats the original title with no explanation as to why this is an appropriate title.


Sample Student Response #3

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #3: Rubric Score 1

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the text. The student states an appropriate new title for the play.


Sample Student Response #4

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #4: Rubric Score 1

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the text. The student suggests a title “King’s Idea” and uses minimal information to explain why this is an appropriate title, “…the king come with idea to switch places….”


Sample Student Response #5

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #5: Rubric Score 2

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a general understanding of the text. The student suggests a title, “The foolish King” and uses text-relevant information to explain why this is an appropriate title, “…the King let the cleaner trick him into letting him switch places…To teach him a lesson.”


Sample Student Response #6

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #6: Rubric Score 2

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates a general understanding of the text. The student suggests a title, “How the Cleaner Helped the King” and uses text-relevant information to explain why this is an appropriate title, “…gets the king to see how much easier he has it by getting the king to try cleaning.”


Sample Student Response #7

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #7: Rubric Score 3

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text. The student suggests a title, “The King’s Lesson” and effectively uses text-relevant information to explain why this is an appropriate title, “…king did learn his lesson…being a king wasn’t so bad…being a cleaner was hard work…clean a whole palace….”


Sample Student Response #8

image of student response

Score for Sample Student Response #8: Rubric Score 3

Annotation, Using the Rubric: This response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text. The student suggests a title, “The King Learns A Lesson” and effectively uses text-relevant information to explain why this is an appropriate title, “…learns a lesson about appreciating what you have…Cleaner tricked him…everything a cleaner has to do.”


Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Rubric

Print: Scoring Rubric

Score 3

The response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text.

  • Addresses the demands of the question
  • Effectively uses text-relevant1 information to clarify or extend understanding

Score 2

The response demonstrates a general understanding of the text.

  • Partially addresses the demands of the question
  • Uses text-relevant1 information to show understanding

Score 1

The response demonstrates a minimal understanding of the text.

  • Minimally addresses the demands of the question
  • Uses minimal information to show some understanding of the text in relation to the question

Score 0

The response is completely incorrect, irrelevant to the question, or missing.2

Note 1:

Text-relevant: This information may or may not be an exact copy (quote) of the text but is clearly related to the text and often shows an analysis and/or interpretation of important ideas. Students may incorporate information to show connections to relevant prior experience as appropriate.

Note 2:

An exact copy (quote) or paraphrase of the question that provides no new relevant information will receive a score of "0".

Rubric Document Date: June 2003

/share/rubrics/msa/reading/xml/bcr.xml
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_ela_4_072.xml