1. Georgia Department of Education Assessment and Accountability Division
Assessment for Learning Series Module 2: Understanding and Using Constructed Response Items in Middle School Classrooms
Georgia Department of Education
Assessment and Accountability Division

2. Definition
Constructed response is a general term for items that require the student to generate a response as opposed to selecting a response. Constructed response items require more elaborate answers and explanations of reasoning. They allow for multiple correct answers and/or varying methods of arriving at the correct answer.
Examples of skills required on constructed response tasks include, but are not limited to:
English Language Arts
Utilize close analytic reading
Compare and contrast ideas and themes
Synthesize ideas and concepts across a single or multiple texts
Mathematics
Apply mathematical procedures and skills to real world problems
Express mathematical reasoning by showing work or explaining an answer

3. Using Assessment for Learning in Classrooms: A Continuous Cycle
Assess Current
Knowledge
Provide Feedback
Create Lesson & Assessment
Deconstruct
Standard
Redesign and Teach
Teach
Assess Learning

4. English Language Arts (ELA) Sample Item Set
Grade 7

5. Standards to be Assessed
ELACC7.RL4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone. ELACC7.RL1: Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. ELACCL7.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. ELACCL7.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

6. Passage: “CHAPTER XIV Anne’s Confession” an excerpt from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

7. Constructed Response Task ELACC7.RL4; ELACC7.RL1; ELACCL7.1; ELACCL7.2
Read this sentence from the passage.
The birches in the hollow waved joyful hands as if watching for Anne’s usual morning greeting from the east gable.
Identify the literary device used in the sentence. Then explain the author’s use of this device in the sentence.
Use details from the text to support your answer.
Answer with complete sentences, and use correct punctuation and grammar.

8. Rubric Rubric Score Designation Description 4 Thoroughly Demonstrated
The student demonstrates with a thorough explanation that he/she recognizes where and how the author uses personification, applying it to the birch trees. The student uses complete sentences, correct punctuation and grammar. 3
Clearly Demonstrated
The student demonstrates with a complete explanation that he/she recognizes where the author uses personification, applying it to the birch trees. The student uses complete sentences, correct punctuation and grammar in most of the writing. .2
Basically Demonstrated
The student demonstrates a basic understanding of personification with a basic explanation, and is able to recognize where the author uses personification, applying it to the birch trees. The student may describe the motion of the birch trees and the image they create. The student uses complete sentences, correct punctuation and grammar in some of the writing. 1
Minimally Demonstrated
The student recognizes that the birch trees are personified, but has little commentary concerning the author’s purpose for using personification in this sentence. The student response has significant errors in constructing complete sentences, and/or using correct punctuation and grammar.
Incorrect or Irrelevant
The response is incorrect or irrelevant.

9. Exemplar Response
The author uses personification in this sentence. The birch trees are personified because they are blowing in the wind with a motion that looks like they are waving. The author describes the “hands” as “joyful,” and describes the trees as if they are eager to greet Anne.
The student demonstrates a thorough explanation that he recognizes where and how the author applies personification to the birch trees.
Remember: There can be multiple correct responses for constructed-response items, just as there can be more than one way at arriving at a correct answer.

10. Sample Student Response Score 3
The student demonstrates a clear understanding of the task.
Part A The literacy device used in the sentence is personification.
Part B The author used this device to make the story come alive as if birches can watch and are waiting for Anne to come out to greet them.
They provide a clear explanation that recognizes where the author uses personification.
The student then applies that explanation to the birch trees.
The student would have received the higher score point if they had been more specific when describing the parts of the tree assuming that mirrors the movements of a person.

11. Teacher Feedback for Score Point 3
The teacher commends the student for understanding personification.
The teacher commends the student for being able to apply the concept of personification with the action in the story.
The teacher advises the student that more specific details are needed to make it a “4” paper.

12. Sample Student Response Score 2
part A The literacy device is personafication part B It acts as if the hollows had the human capabilitie to wave.
The student demonstrates a basic understanding of the task.
They give a basic explanation of personification, and then apply that explanation to the birch trees.
The student uses complete sentences, correct punctuation and grammar in some of the writing.

13. Teacher Feedback for Score Point 2
The teacher tells the student that they know how to identify personification.
The teacher tells the student they have correctly linked personification to some of the actions in the passage.
The teacher indicates that English conventions need improvement.

14. Sample Student Response Score 1
Part A The literary device used in this sentence is Personification Part B The author used Personification when he said "The birches in the hollow waved joyful hands..."
The student demonstrates a minimal understanding of the task.
They recognize that the birch trees are personified but they have little commentary concerning the author’s purpose for using personification in this sentence.
Instead, the student just repeats what the author said in the text.

15. Teacher Feedback for Score Point 1
The teacher commends the student for correctly identifying personification as the literary device in the sentence.
The teacher informs the student that their attempt to explain the use of personification in the response is a restatement of what is in the item stem.

16. Mathematics Sample Item Set
Grade 6

17. Standards to be Assessed
MCC6.NS.7: Understand ordering and absolute value of rational numbers. MCC6.EE.2: Write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers. MCC6.EE.7: Solve real-world and mathematical problems by writing and solving equations of the form x + p = q and px = q for cases in which p, q and x are all nonnegative rational numbers.

18. Constructed Response Task MCC6.NS.7, MCC6.EE.2 and MCC6.EE.7
Tanya played a computer game in which the score was calculated using the equation s = t – c, where s is the score, t is the number of points Tanya earned, and c is the number of points her computer opponent earned. Tanya recorded her scores for one week on the number line shown in the diagram. The winner is determined by the highest score. Part A On Tuesday, Tanya’s computer opponent scored 33 points. How many points did Tanya score? Explain your answer or show your work. Part B On which day were the scores of Tanya and the computer the closest, but not the same? Who won that day? Explain your answer. Part C Explain what Friday’s score means about the number of points Tanya and the computer earned. Justify your answer using words and a mathematical statement. Part D On which day(s) did Tanya win? Using t and c, write a mathematical statement to support your answer.

19. Rubric Score Designation Description 4 Thoroughly Demonstrated
The student successfully completes all elements of the item by demonstrating an understanding of ordering and absolute value of rational numbers (6.NS.7), in particular those related to number line comparisons (6.NS.7a, 6.NS.7c). The student demonstrates the ability to write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers (6.EE.2), and to solve real-world and mathematical problems by solving equations (6.EE.7). 3
Clearly Demonstrated
The student shows clear understanding of the skills listed above, but one of the explanations is weak or insufficient Or
All parts of the item are correctly done except for a minor computational error
The student successfully completes three of the four parts of the item. 2
Basically Demonstrated
The student shows basic understanding of the skills listed above, but provides insufficient explanations
The student successfully completes two of the four parts of the item. 1
Minimally Demonstrated
The student shows minimal understanding of the skills listed above by completing only one of the four parts of the item
The student had some correct answers, but provided no explanations.
Incorrect or irrelevant
The response is incorrect or irrelevant to the skill or concept being measured.

20. Exemplar Response
Part A Tanya scored 25 points. Substitute the values into the equation and solve. Part B Their scores were closest on Saturday, and the computer won. The difference on Saturday is 6 points. Since t – c is negative, c is greater than t. This means the computer’s score was higher. Or To compare scores, use the absolute value of the difference, which is The absolute value of all of the scores is the smallest on Saturday. Since is negative, c is greater than t. This means the computer’s score was higher. Part C On Friday Tanya and the computer earned the same number of points (or, they tied). This is true because if then Part D Tanya won on Thursday, Monday, and Wednesday. Tanya will win whenever her score is greater than the computer’s, or whenever t > c.
All elements of the item are successfully completed, showing an understanding of ordering and absolute value.

21. Student Response Score 3
Part A has the correct answer of 25, with support.
Part B has the correct answer, Saturday, with explanation.

22. Student Response Score 3 (continued)
Part C correctly explains the meaning of a zero on the graph with a correct justification but is missing a mathematical statement.
Part D has the correct answer, with correct support.

23. Teacher Feedback for Score Point 3
The teacher commends the student on having correct responses in parts A, B and D.
The teacher feedback states that the student gives a good explanation in Part C but failed to provide a mathematical statement .

24. Student Response Score 2
Part A has a correct answer, with work shown.
Part B has the correct answer of Saturday, indicates the winner as the computer but does not provide a sufficient explanation.
Part C correctly interprets the zero score on the graph as a tie, but lacks a sufficient justification.
Part D has the correct answer of Thursday, Monday, and Wednesday and gives mathematical statements for each day as support, but not a general statement.

25. Teacher Feedback for Score Point 2
The teacher commends the student for providing correct answers for the math content for each part.
The teacher states that for each part, the student fails to provide adequate explanations and justifications.

26. Student Response Score 1
Part A has a correct answer, but no explanation or work shown.
Part B is incorrect.
Part C correctly interprets the meaning of the zero score on the graph but the justification is insufficient.
Part D has the correct answer, but with no support.

27. Teacher Feedback for Score Point 1
The teacher commends the student for providing correct responses for the math content in Parts A, C and D.
The teacher informs the student that the explanations, justifications and support are insufficient for Parts A, D and D.
The teacher states that Part B is completely incorrect.

28. Ways to Use Constructed Response Items
Demonstration lesson with active discussion
Whole class instruction/direct instruction
Small, cooperative group activity where students examine sample responses and their rubric components
Parent conferences
Inclusion classes with multiple adult supervisors/coaching
Homework (only following extensive explanation and experience with open-ended items provided by the teacher in the classroom)
Parent Night activity where parents and their children work together
No grades----rubric score accompanied by written and/or oral feedback highly suggested because students are in the process of learning the standards and improving based on feedback

29. How Teachers Use Student Responses
Determine students’ progress towards mastery of standards and readiness to proceed to next level
Provide students with oral and written feedback specific to the standard
Design instructional next steps, which includes re-teaching, remediation, and differentiation
Self-assess professional growth needs, such as additional professional learning, collaboration, classroom materials and resources

30. Close-out
Constructed response items require students to construct an answer for the formative task and are scored based on criteria defined in rubrics.
Constructed response items can be used formatively to learn how well students are progressing in mastery of standards.
Student performance on constructed response items gives teachers information to adjust instruction and know if students are able to demonstrate complex thinking.

31. References
Ericsson, K. A., & et al., (1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3),
Georgia FIP Module 4: Analyzing evidence and providing effective feedback.
Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium General Item Specifications. (April 2012). Retrieved from:
Universal design for learning. Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)