Block G: Cornerstone Assessment Instructions

Dear Block G,

This is just a reminder that we are taking the Cornerstone Assessment this Thursday, 10/31. Please read what follows:

The instructions below will help you login to Go Formative for the Cornerstone Assessment, as well as how to navigate the site once you have logged in. Please read these instructions carefully and ask questions if you need help.

Reminder: Phone use or extracurricular use of the computers during this assessment is prohibited. If you do not follow this rule, you will be asked to log out of the assessment and will have to take it after school, on your own time.

Instructions:

1. Go to Go Formative. Click the link below to access the assessment:

Block G

2. Click on Cornerstone 1

3. You are now in! You will notice the text boxes labeled 1-7. The first one is where you will write your response to the prompt. Boxes 2-7 go along the passages and are for you to summarize what is happening, annotate important information, type out the quotes that you want to use as evidence. Don’t worry about the points along the notes boxes. These are for your use only.

4. In order to receive the maximum points (50), you need to have multiple paragraphs pertaining to the topic (think long comp/4-6 paragraphs). Review your rubric and writing when you are finished your essay.

5. There is no tab key to indent paragraphs. For a new paragraph just skip a line between starting your new paragraph and don’t worry about indenting. Simply skip a line in between paragraphs.

6. You can press the zoom button at the top right to see larger text. If you need the notes box to be present as well, you can hit control + to zoom in and control – to zoom out.

7. In the text box while typing, if you want anything to be underlined/bold/italic just select what you would like to change and a little pop-up box will appear.

8. You cannot highlight information within the passages to copy and paste, only within your own text.

9. Once you have finished and completely sure you are ready to turn it in, click submit.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you,
Ms. F

Block G: Cornerstone Rubric

Dear Block G,

Below is the rubric for the Cornerstone Assessment. This will be used in order to grade your writing. You may use this as a reference during the assessment.

Idea Development

–Quality and development of central idea/thesis –Selection and explanation of evidence and/or details –Organization/ expression of ideas –Awareness of task or mode

5	-Central idea/thesis is insightful and fully developed. -Skillful selection and explanation of evidence and/or details -Skillful and/or subtle organization -Rich expression of ideas -Full awareness of the task and mode

4	-Central idea/thesis is clear and well-developed -Effective selection and explanation of evidence and/or details -Effective organization -Clear expression of ideas -Full awareness of the task and mode

3	-Central idea/thesis is general and moderately developed -Appropriate selection and explanation of evidence and/or details -Moderate organization -Adequate expression of ideas -Sufficient awareness of the task and mode

2	-Central idea/thesis may be present and is somewhat developed -Limited selection and explanation of evidence and/or details -Limited organization -Basic expression of ideas -Partial awareness of the task and mode

1	-Central idea/thesis is not developed -Insufficient evidence and/or details -Minimal organization -Poor expression of ideas -Minimal awareness of the task and mode

0	The response shows evidence the student has read the text, but does not address the question or incorrectly responds to the question

*For narrative writing (Standard 3), the quality and development of narrative elements will be assessed in place of a central idea. Narrative elements should include but are not limited to: plot, character, setting, dialogue, action, and/or description. Students should use evidence/details to demonstrate understanding of text.

Standard English Conventions

-Sentence structure -Grammar, usage and mechanics

3	-Consistent control of a variety of sentence structures relative to length of essay -Consistent control of grammar, usage and mechanics relative to complexity and/or length of essay

2	-Mostly consistent control of sentence structures relative to length of essay -Mostly consistent control of grammar, usage, and mechanics relative to complexity and/or length of essay

1	-Little control and/or no variety in sentence structure and/or -Little control of grammar, usage, and mechanics relative to complexity and/or insufficient length

0	-Sentences are formed incorrectly with no control of grammar, usage and mechanics and/or insufficient length.

Again, this Cornerstone Assessment rubric will be used in order to determine the quality of your writing, based on the prompt given to you. You may use this as a guide as you write.

If you have any questions, please see me.

Thank you,
Ms. F