The following 8 Anchor Papers represent a range of score points and are used in conjunction with the rubrics to assess student responses.

Score for Anchor Paper #1: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The student's analysis of the box-and-whisker plot correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median. Justification for this solution is not provided. The student incorrectly identifies the second ending as the ending with the wider range; an attempt to justify this solution is invalid ("...there is more data in Q1-Q3 in the second ending then the first.") In addition, the student does not provide any appropriate justification for disagreeing with the producer's conclusion. This response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #2: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The student's analysis of the box-and-whisker plot correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median. The student also correctly identifies the first ending as having the wider range. However, justification is not provided for either solution. ("From the data given the movie producer was justified in making that conclusion" is not a justification for agreeing with the movie producer.) This response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #3: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. The student correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median. Also correct is the student's choice of the first ending as having the wider range. There is no justification provided for either solution. The student justifies the producer's conclusion by comparing the maximum values of the endings {"The highest ratings for the first ending was 98 which is only two points away from 100 (the highest). The highest rating for the second ending was 91."}. Although this assessment is plausible, simply comparing the maximum values does not provide a complete justification. This response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. The student correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median. However, the statement ("because it is closer to 100") is synonymous with "higher" and, therefore, does not justify the choice. The student's choice of the first ending as having the wider range is correct. The justification ("...because it goes from 54-98") is plausible but is not complete since it does not provide a comparison with the second ending's range. The student justifies the first ending as the better one by comparing the minimum values of the endings ("...the firsts lowest is high then the second"). Although this is correct, simply comparing the minimum values does not provide a complete justification. This response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #5: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution. The student's analysis of the box-and-whisker plot correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median. The justification for this solution is fully developed ("...the median was 78 compared to the first endings 72"). The student's choice of the first ending as having the wider range is correct; however, the justification is not complete because it does not provide a comparison with the second ending's range ("...the minimum was 52 and the maximum 96"). The student disagrees with the producer's conclusion and provides some appropriate justification using the medians as a measure of which ending is better ("...the median score was higher for the first ending"). Overall, this response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #6: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution. The student correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median and provides a complete justification ("...the second ending had a median of 78 and the first ending had a median of 72..."). The student's choice of the first ending as having the wider range is correct; however, justification for this solution is not provided. The student justifies the second ending as the better one by interpreting the significance of the position of the median and third quartile ("...second ending had a median of 78 and the first ending had a median of 72 and a third quartile of 73...So half the ratings for the second ending were 78 or better and one fourth of the first endings ratings were 73 or better"). This justification is fully developed and supports the solution. This response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #7: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution within the context of the problem. The student correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median. The justification for this solution is clearly presented ("The first ending only has a median of 72, while the second one only has 78."). Also correct is the student's choice of the second ending as the one with the wider range. The student provides a complete justification for this solution ("It ranges from 54 to 96, a range of 42, while the other ending has a range of 38."). The student justifies the second ending as better by comparing the positions of the median and the third quartile. ("Because the median is higher in the 2^nd ending than Quartile 3 for the first ending, half the 2^nd ending ratings are at or more than 78..."). This justification is logically sound, clearly presented, and supports the solution. This response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Anchor Paper #8: Rubric Score 4

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution within the context of the problem. The student's analysis of the box-and-whisker plot correctly identifies the second ending as having the higher median. The justification for this solution is fully developed ("I chose the second ending because the median is 78 and the first ending's median rating is 71."). The student's correct choice of the first ending as having the wider range is also fully justified ("The first ending had the wider range because its range went from 54 to 98. Compared to the second ending range of ratings which was from 52 to 90"). The student disagrees with the producer's conclusion and provides appropriate justification by using the medians and the ranges as measures of which ending is better. Overall, this response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.

Additional Scored Student Responses