Released Writing Prompt and Rubric

LCPS 2023-2024 Released Writing Prompt Directions: Read the passage carefully. Plan and write a response according to the guidance below. Use this document to write your response. ● Your response will be evaluated on the strength of your argument(s) and the ideas presented. ● Your response may be structured in any way as long as it is thorough and comprehensive. For example, you may opt to utilize detailed bulleted phrases, outlines, paragraphs, etc... ● Grammar, spelling, and syntax will not count against you. ● You will have 45 minutes to submit your response. The US Fish & Wildlife Service wants to remove 23 animal species from the Endangered Species List. The agency wants to remove these animals from the list because they are believed to be extinct, which means all individuals of that species have died out. Affected animals include the ivory-billed woodpecker (bird) and eight species of mussels (shellfish). A. Imagine you are a wildlife biologist working to update the Endangered Species List and make recommendations to the US Fish & Wildlife Service. What questions do you need to ask to assess whether these species are, indeed, extinct? B. What types of information might you use to support your findings? What criteria would you use to judge the accuracy and authenticity of the evidence you gather? C. How would you present your arguments to the US Fish & Wildlife Service? How would you acknowledge differing points of view? 2023-2024 Writing Prompt Rubric Indicators 0 1 2 No Evidence Limited Evidence Full Evidence (Response indicates majority of the criteria below) (Response indicates the majority of the criteria below) No evidence Questioning/ Processing ● ● ● No evidence Information Gathering/ Analysis ● ● ● No evidence Fluency/ Originality of Ideas ● ● ● No evidence ● Presentation/ Reasoning ● ● No evidence Point of View/ Perspective Total 10 ● Questions/processes are basic and lack specificity Poses closed-ended questions Basic exploration of thought ● ● ● Questions/processes are probing and specific Poses opened-ended questions Highly developed/purposeful exploration of thought which challenge assumptions Irrelevant, illogical, and/or confusing thought processes Superficial information gathering including limited and/or unreliable resources Minimal analysis of topic ● Relevant and logical thought processes based on evidence Information gathering includes multiple methods of collection including valid and reliable resources In-depth analysis and synthesization of topic Generates multiple ideas (3 or more) specific to the topic Provides clear and concise explanation of ideas Ideas are original and demonstrate unique viewpoints Presents ideas in a clear and well-organized manner which directly addresses and can be applied to the topic Presentation provides detailed/clear descriptions of meaningful possibilities Clearly presents and/or pursues counter argument(s) Describes impact a wide range of audiences or one where the solution would have a major impact Generates few ideas (1 or 2) specific to the topic Minimal explanation of ideas Ideas lack originality Presents ideas in a poorly organized manner which does not directly address the topic and/or has minimal practical application Presents vague evidence of meaningful possibilities Minimal acknowledgement or pursuit of a counter argument Describes potential impact on limited audiences or audiences that would only be minimally impacted ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Score (Record Score in this column)