Page 1
OSSLT: Writing Rubrics and Strategies
(Based on 2015 Test)
The 10 Writing Tasks for the OSSLT are divided as follows:
Short Writing Tasks
(Open-Response to a Reading Selection)
Form: Information Paragraph
Task appears 4 times
(estimated worth 10%)
Form: Summary Paragraph
Task appears twice
(estimated worth 5%)
Short Writing Tasks continued
(Open-Response to Short-Writing Prompt)
Form: Opinion Paragraph
Task appears twice
(worth 9% of total score)
Long Writing Tasks
(Open-Response to Long-Writing Prompt)
Form: News Report
Task appears once (worth 16.5% of total score)
Form: Series of Paragraphs Expressing an
Opinion
Task appears once (worth 16.5% of total score)
Total of 8 m/c questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
Responding to questions related to structuring (worth 7% of total score)
content, organization of ideas and using
conventions when writing
The Reading/Multiple-Choice questions are divided as follows:
Read and respond to questions related to
understanding of an information paragraph
6 multiple-choice
(estimated worth 6%)
Read and respond to questions related to
understanding of a news report
5 multiple-choice
(estimated worth 5%)
Read and respond to questions related to
understanding of a dialogue
10 multiple-choice (Task appears twice)
(estimated worth 10%)
Read and respond to questions related to
understanding of real-life narrative
9 multiple-choice
(estimated worth 9%)
Read and respond to questions related to
understanding of a graphic text
6 multiple-choice
(worth 6% or total score)
Page 2
The Rubric and Implied Strategies for
The News Report (Long Writing Task)
News Report - Rubric for Topic Development
Criteria
Descriptor
0 points
Fail
Blank: nothing written or drawn in the space provided
or
response is illegible, off-topic or irrelevant
10 points
Fail
The response is related to the headline and/or photo but it is not a news report.
OR
The response is a news report related to the headline and/or photo. It identifies an event, but provides no
supporting details, or provides details that are unrelated to the event. There is no evidence of organization.
20 points
Fail
The response is related to the headline and/or photo but only partly in the form of a news report,
OR
The response is a news report related to the headline and/or photo, but the focus on an event is unclear or
inconsistent. There are insufficient supporting details, or provides details: too few or repetitious. There is
limited evidence of organization.
30 points
Fail
The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an
event. There are sufficient and/or vague supporting details or the connection of the details to the event is
not always clear. There is evidence of organization, but lapses distract from the overall communication.
40 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an
event. There are sufficient supporting details, however, only some are specific. The organization is
mechanical and any lapses do not distract from the overall communication.
50 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an
event. There are sufficient supporting details to develop the news report. The organization is logical.
60 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an
event. There are sufficient specific supporting details, which are thoughtfully chosen to develop the news
report. The organization is coherent demonstrating a thoughtful progression of ideas.
News Report - Rubric for Conventions (Grammar/Spelling)
0 points
Blank: nothing written OR drawn in the space provided OR response is illegible
10 points
There is insufficient evidence to assess the use of conventions. OR Errors in conventions interfere with communication.
20 points
Errors in conventions distract from communication
30 points
Errors in conventions do not distract from communication.
40 points
Control of conventions evident in written work
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Advice to Students
Use the rough note space to think about the Who did What and When, Where, Why and How
Write about an event (something that happened in the past) that is related to the headline and/or photo
Have details that answer- in the order of most to least important
Add a quote
Stay focused
Proofread your work
Page 3
To meet the criteria of “somewhat developed” with “sufficient details...simply and mechanically
organized” in which “errors in conventions do not distract from communication” follow these steps:
1.
Look at the picture and read the headline.
2.
Is this about one thing, or a group of things (people, animals....)?
3.
Make up a fact sheet as follows:
FACT SHEET
MAKE UP THE FACTS
What happened? & Why?
To Whom?
When?
Where? & How?
What happened first?
name
age
address
occupation
At what time today did
this occur?
What town?
What happened second?
Then what happened?
or other details
describing “who”:
Why?
Street?
What happened just
before?
Next to what?
What happened just
after
What important places
where close by?
Who said what about it?
Details describing the
“how”:
4.
Write your news report in one-sentence paragraphs.
5.
Leave a blank line between each paragraph.
In paragraph (sentence) one: Answer What happened? To whom? Where? When?
Leave a line
In paragraph (sentence) two: Supply more detail on What and Who.
Leave a line, etc.
In three more one-sentence paragraphs; make sure the reader gets 3 more important
things they should know (from any of the columns) on Why and How?
Include one direct and one indirect quotation.
Do NOT include your opinion.
Page 4
Here is a sample Code 30 News Report:
The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear focus on an event. There are insufficient
and/or vague supporting details or the connection of the details to the event is not always clear. There is evidence of
organization, but lapses distract from the overall communication.
Page 5
Here is a sample Code 60 paper:
The response is a news report related to the headline and photo with a clear and consistent focus on an event. There are
sufficient specific supporting details, which are thoughtfully chosen to develop the news report. The organization is
coherent demonstrating a thoughtful progression of ideas.
Page 6
The Rubric and Implied Strategies for
Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion (Long Writing Task)
Opinion Paragraphs - Rubric for Topic Development
Criteria
Descriptor
0 points
Fail
Blank: nothing written or drawn in the space provided OR
response is illegible, off-topic or irrelevant
10 points
Fail
The response is related to the prompt but does not express an opinion, OR
The response expresses an opinion with no supporting details or provides details unrelated to the opinion.
There is not evidence of organization.
20 points
Fail
The response is related to the prompt, but only part of the response expresses and supports an opinion. OR
The response is related to the prompt, and expresses and supports an opinion, but the opinion is unclear or
inconsistent. There are insufficient supporting details: too few or repetitious. There is limited evidence of
organization.
30 points
Fail
The response is related to the prompt and expresses a clear opinion. There are insufficient and/or vague
supporting details or the connection of the details to the opinion is not always clear. There is evidence of
organization, but lapses distract from the overall communication.
40 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
The response is related to the prompt. A clear and consistent opinion is developed with sufficient details,
however only some are specific. The organization is mechanical and any lapses do not distract from the
overall communication
50 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
The response is related to the prompt. A clear and consistent opinion is developed with sufficient
supporting details. The organization is logical.
60 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
The response is related to the prompt. A clear and consistent opinion is developed with sufficient
supporting details that are thoughtfully chosen. The organization is coherent demonstrating a thoughtful
progression of ideas.
Opinion Paragraph - Rubric for Conventions (Grammar/Spelling)
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0 points
Blank: nothing written OR drawn in the space provided OR response is illegible
10 points
There is insufficient evidence to assess the use of conventions. OR Errors in conventions interfere with communication.
20 points
Errors in conventions distract from communication
30 points
Errors in conventions do not distract from communication.
40 points
Control of conventions evident in written work
Advice to Students
Write 3 paragraphs (indent or leave a line)
Express a clear opinion
Use your personal voice “I”
Add specific supporting details by thinking about your experiences and knowledge
The middle paragraph should have 3 reasons for your opinion, and after each reason one more
sentence supporting the reason from your personal experience
Stay focused
Proofread your work
Page 7
Here is a sample Code 30 Opinion Piece:
Should every student be required to take a Physical Education class every year of high
school?
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The response is related to the prompt and expresses a clear opinion. There are insufficient and/or vague supporting details or
the connection of the details to the opinion is not always clear. There is evidence of organization, but lapses distract from the
overall communication.
Page 8
Here is a sample Code 60 Opinion Piece:
Should every student be required to take a Physical Education class every year of high school?
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The response is related to the prompt. A clear and consistent opinion is developed with sufficient specific supporting details. The
organization is logical.
Page 9
The Summary and Information Paragraph - Response to Readings:
Rubric and Implied Strategies
The Summary and Information Paragraph (which are responses to a reading selection) share the same
rubric:
Summary/Information Paragraph Rubric
Criteria
Descriptor
0 points
Fail
•
or
•
blank: nothing written or drawn in the space provided
10 points
Approaching EQAO Standards
•
•
response indicates minimal reading comprehension
response provides minimal or irrelevant ideas and information from the reading selection
20 points
“Just” meeting EQAO
Standards
•
•
response indicates minimal reading comprehension
response provides vague ideas and information from the reading selections; it may include irrelevant ideas and
information from the reading selection
30 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
•
•
response indicates considerable reading comprehension
response provides accurate, specific and relevant ideas and information from the reading selection
response is illegible, off-topic or irrelevant
Summary/Information Paragraph - Rubric for Conventions (Grammar/Spelling)
Insufficient
Insufficient  response provides insufficient evidence to assess use of conventions
Inadequate
Inadequate control of conventions  serious errors in syntax
10 points
20 points
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Limited control of conventions  rules of syntax, grammar, usage, spelling and/or punctuation are
applied without accuracy and/or consistency
Competent control of conventions  rules of syntax, grammar,
Advice to Students
Write something
Repeat key words from the question in your answer
Print if your writing is hard to read
Don’t cross out work you want markers to read
Make sure you relate your answer to the assigned reading
Proofread your work
Here is a template for the Summary Paragraph:
The main idea of this passage is ____________________(Remember to reread the passage again, paying close
attention to the beginning and end)________________________________________________________.
The author supports this main idea by___________________________________(Select one piece of
information from the body of the passage that expands, illustrates, or proves the main idea. Remember to rewrite this in your own
words _________________________________________________________.
In conclusion, I learned
___________ ________________________(restate the main idea) ___________________________.
Here is a template for the Information Paragraph:
Opening Sentence (using some of the language from the question) __________________________
________________. Supporting Detail _______________________________________________
______________________________________. Supporting Detail _________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence ___________________________________________________________________.
Page 10
The Information/Opinion Paragraph –
Response to Short Writing Prompts:
Rubric and Implied Strategies
Opinion/Information Paragraph - Rubric for Topic Development
Criteria
Descriptor
0
Fail
•
or
•
blank: nothing written or drawn in the space provided
•
response is not developed or is developed with irrelevant ideas and information
20 points
“Just” meeting EQAO
Standards
•
response is developed with vague ideas and information but may contain some irrelevant ideas and
information
30 points
Meeting EQAO Standards
•
response is developed with clear, specific and relevant ideas and information
10 points
Approaching EQAO
Standards
response is illegible, off-topic or irrelevant
Opinion/Information Paragraph - Rubric for Conventions (Grammar/Spelling)
Insufficient
Inadequate
Code 10
Code 20
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Insufficient  response provides insufficient evidence to assess use of conventions
Inadequate control of conventions  serious errors in syntax
Limited control of conventions  rules of syntax, grammar, usage, spelling and/or punctuation are
applied without accuracy and/or consistency
Competent control of conventions  rules of syntax, grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation are
applied with accuracy and consistency
Advice to Students
Write something
Repeat key words from the question into your answer
Print if your writing is hard to read
Don’t cross out work you want markers to read
Make sure you relate your answer to the writing prompt
Stay focused
Proofread your work
The student can follow the same outline as the previous Information Paragraph:
Opening Sentence (using some of the language from the question) _________________________
________________. Supporting Detail _______________________________________________
______________________________________. Supporting Detail _________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________.
Page 11
Example of the Writing Prompt:
State one of your goals in life. Explain why it is important to you.
Here is a sample Code 10 Short Written Response:
Here is a sample Code 20 Short Written Response:
Here is a sample Code 30 Short Written Response: