Group+2+-+Week+2

Group 2 Members: **__ 1. Use the DISCUSSION tab above to find your discussion questions and/or tasks. __**
 * Lauren Peters
 * Matt Murphy
 * Kristen Kuzanek

//** 2. **// //** POST the selected response items created collaboratively with your discussion group here (as a group decide who will take the lead and post each item): **//

** · ** ** 1 binary-choice assessment item **


 * Correct or Incorrect**

The shortest possible sentence contains a subject, a verb and an object.

Answer: Incorrect

** · ** ** 1 multiple binary-choice assessment item **


 * Read the sentence below and answer true or false to the questions that follow.**

The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.

1. 'students' is a subject. 2. 'are studying' is a adjective. 3. 'because' is a noun. 4. 'they' is a adjective 5. 'have' is a verb. 6. This is a complex sentence.

Answers: 1.) True 2.) False 3.) True 4.) False 5.) True 6.) True

** · ** ** 1 multiple-choice assessment item **


 * __Directions:__ Read the statement below and answer true or false to the questions that follow. It may be easier to make a drawing of the problem.**

There are 4 chairs in a row. Chair # 1 is yellow. Blue and green are next to each other. Blue is the same distance from Red as Green is from Yellow.

Answer True or False:

1.) Chair # 2 is blue. 2.) Chair # 4 is green. 3.) Chair # 3 is red. 4.) Chair # 3 is green.

Answers: 1.) True 2.) False 3.) False 4.) True

· ** 1 matching item **

__**Directions:**__ **Review the States in column A, then choose the State Capital from column B that corresponds with the State in column A.**


 * ** Column A ** || ** Column B ** ||
 * 1. Wyoming || A. Albany ||
 * 2. Florida || B. Austin ||
 * 3. Texas || C. Boston ||
 * 4. New York || D. Cheyenne ||
 * 5. California || E. Sacramento ||
 * || F. Springfield ||
 * || G. Tallahassee ||

Answers: 1.) E 2.) G 3.) A 4.) B 5.) D

3**__ . POST YOUR GROUP CONSENSUS HERE (The group leader for these 4 Short Answer activities will be the member whose middle name comes earliest in alphabetical order.): __**

Short Answer Item # 1 - flaw(s)? As a group, we agree that the first blank is poorly placed. We also believe that this sentence is worded in a confusing way.

Evidence: The fact that this sentence is worded poorly goes against Commandment 4 Though shall not employ complex syntax in assessment items.

Short Answer Item # 2 - flaw(s)? A sentence should not begin with a blank. The sentence needs to be reworded so the blank is not longer at the beginning of the sentence.

Evidence: The Item Writing Guidelines say that "Placing blanks in the margin (for direct questions) or at the end of incomplete statements helps by lining up student responses nicely for scoring purposes." Therefore, instead of placing the blank at the beginning of the sentence, it would be better to place it at the end of the sentence.

Short Answer Item # 3 - flaw(s)? We believe that this sentence is way too wordy. Also, this question requires the students to know the answer to more than one question.

Evidence: The Item Writing Guidelines state that teachers need to structure their short-answer questions in a way that requires a concise response from the students. Also, the question should be broken down into two separate questions in order for this short answer item to be less confusing. This is how we broke down the question to ask two different questions.

1.) Tardy Turtle is referred to as a _ turtle. 2.) Sea turtles, like Tardy Turtle, live for _ years.

__ Short Answer Item # 4 - flaw(s)? __ We believe that this item is written in a confusing way. It is also repetitious.

__ Evidence: __ This short answer item goes against Commandment 4 Though shall not employ complex syntax in assessment items.

**4. POST YOUR GROUP CONSENSUS HERE (The group leader for these 4 Essay activities will be the member whose birthday is closest to Independence Day, July 4th.):**

__ Essay Item # 1 - flaw(s)? __ This test item is going to be very hard for the teacher to grade. Not only is the teacher asking the students to choose and discuss one of three branches, but this is also an opinion question.

__ Evidence: __ The Item writing Guidelines for Essay questions say that it is better not to offer optional items. Doing this makes the teachers job much more difficult than it has to be. Considering that each student gets to choose one of the branches and state his or own opinion about it, the teacher will be grading entirely different exams.

__ Essay Item # 2 - flaw(s)? __ We agree that this question is filled filled multiple choices for the students to make. Also, the amount of points that this item is worth is not shown.

__ Evidence: __ Offering students several choices to make is going to make the exam very hard for the teacher to grade. Also, the Item Writing Guidelines strongly encourage teachers to tell the students directly next to the question how many points the item is worth.

__ Essy Item # 3 - flaw(s)? __ We agree that this item is way too confusing. Once again, the point value is not shown.

__ Evidence: __ This item strongly goes against Commandment 5 Though shall not use vocabulary that is more advanced than your audience. This question was absolutely impossible to understand. The vocabulary is way too confusing and needs to be changed to meet the needs of the audience.

__ Essay Item # 4 - flaw(s)? __ The length of time is not appropriate.

__ Evidence __ The teacher is only giving the students 15 minutes to respond to this question. This is definitely not enough time. The students are being asked to evaluate material that they have been using for 2 months. 15 minutes is too restricting. In order to respond to this question, the students will need to reflect on the information first.

**5. POST YOUR INDIVIDUAL DESIGNS HERE:** __ ** Your own design - LAUREN ** __


 * __** 1 short-answer assessment item **__

The United States of America has _ States. Answer: 50


 * __** 1 essay assessment item **__

Briefly describe Kinetic Energy and Potential Energy. Give one example for each type of energy. Use no more then 4 sentences when describing each energy. This essay is worth 15 points.

__ ** Your own design - **** MATT ** __


 * __** 1 short-answer assessment item **__

__Respond to the following statement using__ one__ word.

Pigs, Cows, Sheep, Goats, and Chickens are usually found at this place.

Correct Response = Farm


 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

Briefly describe the three branches of Government. Use no more than 5 sentences when describing each branch. This essay item is worth 15 points.

** Your own design - KRISTEN **
 * ** 1 short-answer assessment item **


 * Read the sentence below and fill in the blank.**

The United States of America celebrates Independence Day on July _.

Answer: July 4th
 * ** 1 essay assessment item **

Briefly describe the difference between a Democracy and Capitalism. Use no more than 7 sentences when describing each. Then provide one example of a country who has a Democracy and one country that has Capitalism. You have 30 minutes to complete this essay and it will be worth 20 points.