| 0 | Answer is unresponsive, unrelated, or inappropriate. |
| 1 | Answer states what the student would have done if he or she had captured the two strange creatures. The explanation, if present, is sparse, confusing or literal. (e.g., I would have them for pets and play with them.) |
| 2 | Answer states what the student would have done if he or she had captured the two strange creatures. The explanation references the story but is brief or has minor errors. |
| 3 | Answer states what the student would have done if he or she had captured the two strange creatures. The explanation specifically references the story and is clear and developed. |
WHAT STARS ARE LIKE
Late one night a Cherokee hunting party sat around their mountain camp. They noticed two lights moving along near the top of a distant mountain ridge. They watched until the lights disappeared.
The next two nights they again watched the bright lights on the same mountain ridge. This was a wonder. No one had ever seen anything like it before. After discussing for some time what these lights could be, they decided to investigate.
The next morning they set out for the distant ridge. Arriving at the place, they searched and searched for the source the lights. They saw no lights, but, after looking for some time, they finally found two large, furry creatures about as big as two outstretched arms. The creatures had tiny heads, and when the wind blew, their fur parted to show downy feathers from which sparks flew.
The men were delighted with these strange beings and decided to take them back to camp. They kept them for several days and noticed how tame and docile the creatures were. Every night they shone bright like stars. When daylight approached, they turned into dull balls of gray fur, except when a gust of wind stirred their feathers. Then their sparks flew.
None of the men thought the creatures might try to escape, so no one was prepared for what happened on the seventh night. As the men busied themselves with their tasks, the odd creatures began to rise from the ground. Soon they were bright, shining balls above the tops of the highest trees. Higher and higher they went until they were just two glowing spots in the night sky.
That is how the hunters knew they had captured two stars.
"What Stars are Like" from They Dance in the Sky. by Jean G. Monroe and Ray A. Williamson. Copyright 1987 by Jean Guard Monroe and Ray A. Williamson. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Study the following question and student responses and decide for yourself the student's score (0-3) based on the grading rubric provided above. Then briefly print out this page, use the lined spaces below and indicate why you chose this score, including what the student should have and should not have included in their answer. When you have completed this part, choose the answer section to compare your results with the state scorers.