You have been given a reading.At the exam you will be given a second, shorter text to read that is related in some way to the first.You will also be given a writing assignment that directs you to write a “clearly focused and organized essay” discussing the readings.It is essential that you respond to all parts of the assignment. The assignmThe writing assignment typically asks students to:
Writing Assignment for “The
Central Puzzles of Learning” by Howard Gardner and “To Err Is Human” by Lewis
Thomas
With these reading selections
by Howard Gardner and Lewis Thomas in mind, write an essay in which you discuss
error and learning.In your essay
summarize Howard Gardner’s criticism of the schools. Draw a relationship between
Writing Assignment for “Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs” by Stephen Jay Gould and “The Naked Source” by Linda Simon
With these reading selections
by Stephen Jay Gould and Linda Simon in mind, write an essay in which you
discuss the way scientists and historians work to discover and analyze new
ideas. In your essay summarize Gould’s
thinking about testable hypotheses in science.
Draw a relationship between Gould’s ideas and what you have just read
about the way historians work. In light
of the reading selections, discuss your own experience of learning new ideas or
skills and the degree to which students need to understand the methods
described by either or both of these authors.
The essay is scored by two readers.Each reader grades each category on a scale of 1 to 6, giving four grades to each paper.The paper is judged on these four points: coherence and organization, understanding the text, use of source material, and clarity and correctness of expression.
Coherent,
well- Understands the Uses source Writes clearly
organized essay texts material and correctly
6 S u
p e r i o r
5 G
o o d
4 A d
e q u
a t e
3 F
l a w
e d o r
I n c
o m p
l e t e
2 L
i m i
t e d
1 P
o o r
Your
Task 1 score will be the sum of the eight scores given by the readers. There are 48 possible points for Task 1.
You should have obtained a copy of the long reading
selection (
PREVIEW:
Read the title, introduction (if there is one), and headings. What do you think the selection is
about? What do you already know about
this subject?
READ: Read
through the whole selection quickly to get a general idea of what it is
about. Underline vocabulary or phrases
that you do not understand so that you can look these up later. Put
question marks next to sections that are unclear.
CHECK THE VOCABULARY: Use a dictionary to look up any words you did not
understand. Make sure that the meaning
you have found makes sense in the passage.
Try to paraphrase difficult sections in your own words so that you
understand them.
READ AGAIN: Read
the selection slowly and carefully the second time. Try to understand all of the points; try to
figure out what the thesis or main point is and what examples or details are
used to support the thesis.
ANNOTATE: At
this point you might want to make notes in the margin to indicate the main
point and/or function of each paragraph.
Sometimes the main point is clearly indicated in one sentence and you
can underline or highlight it; other times you need to write the main idea in
your own words. In either case, try to
determine what the author is doing with each paragraph: stating a main point,
expanding and supporting the previous point, presenting an opposing view,
making a comparison or analogy.
PREPARE A “MOCK” EXAM: Use the typical prompt format below as an aid to
generating ideas and organizing data that are likely to be demanded in the
actual prompt. (see page 5)
READ YET AGAIN:Read the selection for the third time.
The ideas should be familiar; the thesis, support and organization
should be clear. Make any additional
notes necessary in the margin.
1 A is the author of Reading
Selection A. B is the author of Reading Selection B.
2 Make a list of some logical themes (“big ideas”) for
the writing assignment, and fill in
3 What portion of the text might you be asked to
summarize? It will be some aspect of the
4 B and B's ideas are unknown.
However, the more possible themes that you investigate,
5 How can you relate this reading and its themes to
your own personal experiences,
6 In the previous part of the assignment, you describe
your personal experiences,
Filling
in the blanks above as best you can, you will have created a possible writing
assignment. Look at the text and make
notes as to how you would answer each part.
Decide what information from the text you could use in your
answers. If you can, do this for a
number of themes. Even if you don't
guess the BIG IDEA correctly, your
familiarity with the material will make it easier for you to think in your seat
at the exam.
If
you have time, you might use a possible prompt as a practice exam. If you do so, write and proofread your essay
within the 2-hour time period you will be allowed at the actual test.
At the exam you will receive a shorter reading that is
related in some way to Reading Selection A and the Writing Assignment that you
are to address for Task 1. You must include information from both
reading selections in your essay.
READ THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Read the entire Writing Assignment. Underline the key words that indicate the
topics you are to deal with in your essay.
Notice the general theme for the essay, the portion of Reading Selection
A you will be summarizing, and the aspect of Reading Selection B you will be
comparing to Selection A.
READ SELECTION B: Read through the whole selection quickly. Check the meaning of words you do not
understand in the dictionary that you have brought. Underline main points and mark sections that
relate to the writing assignment.
PLAN YOUR ESSAY: Begin planning your essay by planning the body. Review the writing assignment and consider
what sections of the readings you will use to complete each part of the
assignment.
Now prepare your essay’s introduction. The first sentence of the “Writing Assignment” indicates the general theme that your essay is supposed to comment on. Thinking about the ideas in that first
sentence and what you have planned to write in the rest of the
essay, write a few sentences that relate the theme of the two passages and your
own ideas.
NOTE: This is ONE WAY, BUT
CERTAINLY NOT THE ONLY WAY, to organize the essay.
WRITE YOUR ESSAY: Try to make your writing neat and legible; leave larger spaces between
words or print if you know your handwriting is especially difficult to read.
PROOFREAD: Read
over your work and edit to make sure that your writing is clear and correct.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAM—TASK 2
Task 2 consists of a short reading (about a half page) and two figures (graphs, tables, charts, maps, etc.). You are asked to:
identify
at least two claims
(statements that can be proved or disproved) from the reading
decide
what the relationship is
between one figure and each claim (whether it supports or contradicts the claim)
show
how the data in the
figure relate to the claim (provide data from
the figures, in the form of numbers, if possible)
You must use both figures. Your claims, your
statements about the relationships, and the data you use to show the
relationships must be accurate. You should assume that the reading and the
figures come from different sources and are not necessarily in agreement. You have one hour to complete Task 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SCORING
The essay is scored for accuracy, completeness and clarity.A scale of 1 to 6 is used. To receive an “adequate” grade (4) you must:
To obtain a higher score (5 or 6) you must:
Your Task 2 score is the sum of two readers’ scores doubled.There are 24 possible points for Task 2.
AT THE EXAM
Reading the Passage and Graphics
How can you understand graphic material?
3. Reread the text and mark claims that
deal with the figures. Notice the
details of the claims made in the reading: who or what, when, where, and how
much.
4. Compare claims made in the reading with data presented in the figures.
5. Write a claim from the reading that
relates to the data in Figure 1. State the relationship of Figure 1 to the
claim (supports/contradicts).Write some of the data from Figure 1 that illustrate the relationship. Give specific numbers if possible.
7. If time, find additional claims and relate the data from the figures to them.
Writing the Exam
Responses to Task 2 can be simple. For example:
The reading passage and the figures all deal with the subject of ______________.
The passage makes the claim that _____________________________________.Figure 1 supports (does not support) this claim because __________________________.
The reading claims that _____________________________________________. Figure 2 supports (does not support) this claim by showing _______________________.
Repeat this for additional claims.
If figures contain some data that support and other data that contradict a claim, you can write that figure “partially supports,” “supports,” or “contradicts” the claim, but you must use data (numbers) from the figure that explain your position. There is no penalty for incorrect information, so write and discuss as many claims as you can .
CUNY Proficiency Examination Task 2 Scoring Guide
Score
Mini-Practice Task 2
READING :
In the past most Americans got their news from the morning newspapers. Then when television came into most homes, the nightly news on the three major networks became the prime source of news for most people. Since the early 1990's, ABC, NBC and CBS have lost a significant portion of the viewership for their evening news programs. In 2003, fewer than 30 million people viewed the evening news shows on these major networks. While some of the viewers may have switched to the networks' morning news shows, fewer people are watching network news shows (morning and evening) than in 1991.
FIGURE:
Source: Nielsen Media Research (Based on 33-week periods from the beginning of each broadcast season for ABC, CBS, and NBC)
Claim: __________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Relationship: ____________________________________________________________
Relevant data: ____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Practice Task 2
Analyzing and Integrating Information from Graphs and Text (1 Hour)
DIRECTIONS
On the following pages, you will see a brief reading selection and two graphs. You should assume that the reading and graphs come from different sources and therefore may not be consistent with one another.
Your task is to identify the claims made in the reading selection and to determine how relevant data in the graphs support, partially support, and/or contradict claims in the text. In your response, you should describe two or more claims from the reading and explain how specific numerical data in the graphs support, partially support, and/or contradict the claims. At least one claim must be discussed using relevant numerical data from the first graph, and at least one other claim must be discussed using relevant numerical data from the second graph.
Time Allotted
You will have one hour to read the test, examine the figures, and write your response. You may use your dictionary at any time.
How to Prepare Your Response
You should use your time in this way:
How Your Response Will Be Evaluated
Your response on the lined pages will be evaluated based on your ability to:
Drug Testing
The following is an excerpt from a newspaper report.
Many people feel that drug use among junior high and high school students has become a troubling problem in the United States . In the past few years several schools have instituted a drug testing program to combat drug use.
Recent surveys of junior high and high school students have shown that schools with mandatory, random drug-testing policies have lower rates of illicit drug use than schools without such testing. In schools with drug testing, there was reduced drug use among the youngest students. In schools with drug testing, eighth graders had less than one-third of the drug use of 12 th graders; while in schools without testing, eighth graders admitted to using drugs at half the rate of their 12 th grade counterparts. Drug usage rates among male athletes showed a greater reduction than any other group, with five percent fewer using drugs in schools that had drug testing than in schools without testing. Drug testing was ineffective in discouraging drug use by older students (those in grade12) and students who categorized themselves as “regular drug users.”
Most schools are anxious to reduce drug use, in part, because they believe that drug-free students perform better academically. A comparison of grades earned by all high school students with grades of students who reported using drugs confirmed that students who used drugs received consistently lower grades. Students who used drugs were more than five times as likely as the general student body to obtain grades below C. They were also much less likely to have grades in the A and B range. The percent of all high school students who earned A's was more than triple the percent of drug users who earned A's. Interestingly, similar percentages of all high school students and students who reported using drugs had grades in the C range.
Figure
1: PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO ADMITTED
TO USING DRUGS
Source: Journal of School Health
Figure 2:STUDENT GRADES
Source: The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse
TASK 2 MODELS
EXAMPLE OF A STRONG RESPONSE (SCORE 6)
The reading selection, "Drug Testing," and Figures 1 and 2 all deal with the troubling problem of drug use among junior high and high school students.
According to the passage, surveys comparing schools that had drug testing program with schools without drug testing found “lower rates of illicit drug use compared with schools without such testing.” However, Figure 1 only partially supports this claim. The graph shows that there was less drug use in schools with drug testing in the eighth grade (10 percent with testing and 15 percent without testing) and among male athletes (30 percent with testing and 35 percent without testing). But sometimes the schools with no drug test have the same percent of admitted drug use or even less. For instance in the 10 th grade, both schools with drug tests and schools without drug tests had about 25% of the students who admitted drug use, and in the 12 th grade more students used drugs in schools with drug testing (35%) than students in schools without drug testing (30%).
The passage makes other claims that relate to Figure 1 as well. It states that “In schools with drug testing there was reduced drug use among the youngest students.” This is supported by the data from eighth graders—10% used drugs when there was testing in school and 15% used it when there was no testing.
The passage states that “In schools with drug testing, eighth graders had less than one-third of the drug use of 12 th graders; while in schools without testing, eighth graders admitted to using drugs at half the rate of their 12 th grade counterparts.” Figure 1 supports this because 10% of eighth graders in schools with testing used drugs while 35% of 12 th graders did. This is less than one-third. Also, 15% of eighth graders in schools without testing used drugs, but 30% of twelfth graders did. This is half, as claimed in the passage.
Drug use may also affect students' grades. The reading claims that “students who used drugs received consistently lower grades.” This is supported by Figure 2 which indicated that students who reported using drugs did much more poorly in school: only 7.1% got A's compared to 23% for all high school students and only 13.5% got B's compared to 45%. Also, there were more low grades among the drug users; 32.7% got D's or lower, while the percent among all high school students was only 10%.
Another claim made by the passage was that students using drugs were five times more likely to get grades below C. This is not supported by Figure 2. They were only three times more likely (32.7% of students using drugs compared to 10% of all high school students had a D average or below).
Since there is no data given for 26.5% of drug-using students, this might suggest that the percentages given in the second pie chart are not accurate and therefore do not support the passage's claims conclusively. However, even if this information were known, it would not alter the fact that the percentage of drug users receiving grades of D or lower is nearly a third of all those students reporting.
Explanation: The writer mentions three claims from the passage that directly relate to Figure 1 and gives data to correctly explain the relationships. Still, if the writer had not included information from Figure 2, he would have only gotten a score of 3. The writer mentions two claims from the passage and gives data that show their relationship with Figure 2. FOUR claims accurately stated and related to figures would be sufficient for a score of 6. The writer also attempts to do some “insightful analysis” by discussing the “no data” section of Figure 2.
EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE (SCORE 4)
The passage concerns a drug testing in schools in an effort to reduce drug use in junior high and high schools.
The passage claims that “In schools with drug testing, there was reduced drug use among the youngest students.” Figure 1 supports this claim. The graph shows that for eighth graders in schools with drug testing only 10% used drugs, but in schools without testing 15% admitted using drugs.
The reading also claims that “students who used drugs received consistently lower grades.” This is supported by Figure 2 which indicated that students who used drugs did much more poorly in school: only 7.1% got A's compared 23% for all high school students and only 13.5% got B's compared to 45%. Also, there were more low grades among the drug users; 32.7% got D's or lower, while the percent among all high school students was only 10%. Clearly the students using drugs received worse grades than high school students in general.
Explanation: Two claims from the passage that directly relate to the figures are accurately stated; the relationship of each figure to one of the claims in the passage is stated clearly; data from the figures are correctly cited and serve to illustrate the relationship between figure and claim.
ALTERNATE FORMAT – EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE (SCORE 4)
The passage and the figures concern drug use by students in junior high and high schools.
Explanation: The information is the same as the previous response, but it is presented in bullets instead of paragraphs. Still, it accurately states two claims that directly relate to the figures, the relationship of each figure to one of the claims, and data from the figures to support the relationship.
EXAMPLE OF AN ALMOST SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE (SCORE 3)
According to the passage, there are surveys comparing drug use at schools that have a drug testing program with those that don't. They hope this will solve the troubling problem of drug use in the United States .
The passage claims that with male athletes five percent fewer used drugs in schools that had drug testing than in schools without testing. Figure 1 agrees with this.
The reading also says that students who use drugs “were much less likely to have grades in the A and B range.” Figure 2 supports this because you can see a lot fewer A's and B's in the circle with “students who reported using drugs.” But another claim is wrong. “Students who used drugs were more than five times as likely as the general student body to obtain grades below C.” This claim isn't supported by Figure 2. In Figure 2, 32.7% of students who use drugs got D average or below and only 10% of all high school students did. This is not five times as many—only about 3 times as many.
Explanation: The writer correctly states three claims from the passage: one that relates to Figure 1 and two that relate to Figure 2. But since the writer only gives supporting data for the third claim, he cannot get more than a three. He gets two points for the claim about grades below C that is correctly related to Figure 2, and one point for including at least one other claim that he fails to relate to a figure.
EXAMPLE OF A VERY POOR
RESPONSE (SCORE 1)
The reading discusses the serious problem of drug use in our schools. There are surveys that compare schools with drug testing programs with schools that do not test for drugs, and those that test have “lower rates of illicit drug use.”
Figure 1 shows drug use at schools with a drug test compared to schools with no drug test. In some grades, like eighth, fewer students used drugs when there was testing, but for the other grades there was not much difference. Figure 2 shows average grades of all high school students and average grades of students (12 to 17) who reported using drugs. “All high school students” got better grades. The second graph shows the percents of students earning each grade. Students who reported using drugs had worse grades, and there is no data for 26.5%
Explanation: The writer's information is accurate, but the task is not addressed. Although the writer states a claim by writing “those that test have ‘lower rates of illicit drug use,'” it seems almost accidental. There is no attempt to relate the data from the figures to claims in the reading.