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TaskIII : Reading and Writing for Literary Response and Expression
- a) Extended written response to two texts from different genres
- b)Multiple-choice questions on key ideas, details, and vocabulary(8-10)
Performance Indicators
- Read independently and fluently across many genres of literature
- Identify the distinguishing features of different literary genres and use those features to interpret the work
- Reorganize and understand the significance of a wide range of literary elements and techniques, and use those elements to interpret the work.
- Produce literary interpretations that explicate the multiple layers of meanings
- Use standard English skillfully.
The Purpose of the Assessment
The purpose of Task 3 is to assess how well students are able to:
- read two works of literature;
- interpret these works in light of a common theme;
- analyze the use of language and structure in these works;
- present their interpretations and analysis in a well-develpoed essay.
This task provides us with information about how well students are able to interpret and analyze literary texts and how well they are able to produce a unified essay, developed using appropriate information from their interpretation and analysis(Standard 2: Reading and Writing for Literary Response).
Summary of Specification
- Texts represent two different genres
- Texts are accessible to a wide range of students
- Both texts are free from gender, ethnic, and cultural bias; stereotyping; and treatment of controversial or emotionally-charged topics(e.g., death , violence, homelessness, criticism of authority figures)
- The unifying theme is immediately evident to the reader
- The texts include some dissonance that will need to be accommodated in order to establish a controlling idea
- Literary elements and techniques can be easily identified for discussion
- Taken together, the texts do not exceed 1000 words
Administration
3-hour session: TaskIII & Task IV
Status
Prototype--Spring 1998
First administration: June 1999