Student Work Samples-Main Idea

Students were given many different opportunities to practice finding the main idea of various written and visual sources over the course of several weeks.  Main idea was the focus area during Unit 3 in the Reading Street Curriculum, and during the reading of the novel The Mixed-Up File of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsburg.  Instruction was scaffolded by initially leading the creation of the main idea and 3-4 supporting details with the whole group.  Students and instructor discussed and agreed upon all points.  Students were then guided to write a summative paragraph, using complete sentences and appropriate transitions.  As students grew more comfortable with determining the main idea, less guided instruction was given.  Eventually, students were required to individually decide upon the main idea and supporting details, as well as write up the paragraph.

Due to the individual nature of writing styles, a rubric was used to determine a grade of 1, 2, 3, or 4.  Students were monitored over several weeks, with growth noted.  Student progress was used as formative assessment.  The students' meaningful growth over the entire unit was used as summative assessment.

This student work sample received a 3.5, based on the rubric below.  The sample writing is clear and does what the prompt asked, all supporting details connect to the main idea, and sentences are well written.  However, there were a few conventional errors, and sentences could have been varied.

This student received a 3 out of 4 based on the rubric below.  The sample did what the prompt asked, but more information could have been given.  There were several conventional errors, and the writing was difficult to read at times.

This shows scores 3 and 4 out of the rubric.  Although scores of 1 and 2 were available as an option, most students received a minimum of 3.