The following 12 Sample Student Responses represent a range of score points.

Score for Sample Student Response #1: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution. The student provides a correct description of the changes in family size as indicated by the graph, although the year "1990" rather than "1992" is a more accurate choice for the year the decrease leveled off, and the student does not indicate what year the increase begins. The analysis of the graph correctly identifies "about 3.23" as the family size in 1998; however, the explanation is incomplete. ("I got this answer by using the graph.") The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit. The justification is generally well developed and supports the solution ("...the curve can change up or down at any time. So it may not keep going up, and it is to far in the future to be able to tell.") This response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #2: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. The student describes the overall change in family size between the years 1972 and 1996 ("In 1972, it was 3.5 and in 1996 it was 3.2. As you can tell, the family sizes have decreased..."), but does not address the decrease and increase in size or the years of occurrence. The estimate of "a little over 3.2 people" as the average family size in 1998 is within the range indicated by the graph. The explanation supports the solution. ("I simply looked at 1998 on the x-axis and traced up to the curve of best fit and found the curve to be slightly over 3.2 people.") The student's response to the third part of the question is incorrect. This response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #3: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution. The student provides a general description of the changes in family size indicated by the graph. ("From the year 1972 the number of people in a family lower fairly fast and is slowly raising again. This shows that the family sizes were going down and now are going up again.") The student's analysis of the graph correctly identifies "about 3.23" as the average family size in 1998. The explanation is generally well developed ("...looking at the graph and finding where the curve hit in the year 1998"). The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit. The justification supports the solution ("...many things could happen in the 12 years between 1998 and 2010. Also, because it is a curve and it wont just start go straight up after 1998"). This response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #4: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. The student provides a correct description of the changes in family size indicated by the graph for the years 1972 through 1996. The student's analysis of the graph correctly identifies "about 3.23." as the family size in 1998. The explanation is incomplete ("acorting to the curve of best fit"). The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit; however, the justification is incorrect. This response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #5: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The student provides a general description of the changes in family size indicated by the graph; however, the reference to years is inaccurate. The decrease spans "18" years rather than "10 years," and the increase does not begin "after 12 years." An estimate of "3.25" for the family size in 1998 is outside the range indicated by the graph. An explanation is not provided. There is no indication that the student has responded to the third part of the question. This response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #6: 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 description of the changes in family size that are indicated by the graph for the years between 1972 and 1996 is fully developed, clearly presented, and supports the solution. The student correctly identifies "around 3.22" as the average family size in 1998 and explains this conclusion. ("I just looked on the graph at 1998, and then went up along the x until my finger touched the curve of best fit. I just kind of estimated about where the curve was.") The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit and provides a fully developed and clearly presented justification. This response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #7: Rubric Score 2

Annotation: This response indicates an incomplete application of a reasonable strategy. The student provides a correct description of the changes in family size as indicated by the graph for the years between 1972 and 1996. The student's analysis of the graph correctly identifies "about 3.235" as the family size in 1998. The explanation is incomplete. ("I no this by the line of best fit on the graph!") The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit. The justification is not well developed ("...it isn't a strait line graph, it is a curved graph which means it can curve again"). This response demonstrates a conceptual understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #8: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The student describes the overall change in family size as indicated by the graph for the years between 1972 and 1996 ("Family size is getting small as the years go up there are less family.") but fails to address the decrease and the increase in size or the years of occurrence. An estimate of "3.4" for the family size in 1998 is outside the range indicated by the graph. An explanation is not provided. The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit. The justification is incorrect. This response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #9: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution. The student describes the overall change in family size between the years 1972 and 1996 ("The family size from 1972 until 1996 has declined. The amount of people in each family has gotten smaller."), but does not address the decrease and the increase in size or the years of occurrence. The student correctly identifies "about 3.23" as the average family size in the year 1998. The explanation is well developed ("...seeing where the line of best fit hit the 1998 line and went over to the y axis to see how many people would be per family"). The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit. The justification supports the solution. ("If the data ends at year 1995, that's a 14 year difference and most likely the data would change pretty quick by then.") This response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #10: 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 description of the changes in family size for the years between 1972 and 1996 is fully developed and clearly presented. The student's analysis of the graph correctly identifies "3.23" as the family size in 1998. The explanation is logically sound, fully developed, and supports the solution (...seeing what increments on the x and y axis intercepted with the curve of best fit, for the year 1998"). The student then indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit and provides a fully developed justification. This response demonstrates a complete understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #11: Rubric Score 1

Annotation: This response indicates little application of a reasonable strategy. The student describes the general change in family size as indicated by the graph for the years between 1972 and 1996 ("Starts going down then heads back up."), but fails to address the specific years the changes occurred. The student's estimate of the average family size in 1998 is incorrect. The response to the third bullet ("No") has no justification. This response demonstrates a minimal understanding and analysis of the problem.

Score for Sample Student Response #12: Rubric Score 3

Annotation: This response indicates application of a reasonable strategy that leads to a correct solution. The student provides an overall description of the changes in family size as indicated by the graph ("The family size from 1972 to 1996 is going down.") and then adds a clarification ("But it is starting to go up a little bit more each year from 1993."). The student's analysis of the graph correctly identifies "3.23" as the average family size in 1998. The explanation is generally well developed ("...looking at the graft and the line. Then taking it over and esomating the average # of people..."). The student indicates that it would not be reasonable to use this curve of best fit, and the generally well developed justification supports the solution ("...because each year is different and you never know what might happen to incress or decress that gusse"). This response demonstrates a clear understanding and analysis of the problem.

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