General

ScoringGuideforLevels2-4 Scoring Guidelines for Recognizable Letters

Poor letter formation, letter reversals, and upside-down or sideways letters are acceptable as long as the letter is
This section provides general scoring guidelines and an explanation of the error categories for Levels 2-4. Guidance
recognizable and does not form another letter. Accept upper- or lowercase letters or a mix.
for scoring the essay(story retelling) items is not included here; all information required for scoring the essaysis
included in the item-specific scoring rules for each of these levels.
Explanation of Error Categories
Scoring Rationale
The purpose of Written Expression at Levels2-4 is to measure the examinee's ability to communicate his or her
lt4i3
ideas on paper and to assessthe quality of the written responses. Spelling is not scored. Task refers to whether the response is on topic; makes sense; correctly uses required words, phrases, or ideas; and
follows all other instructions.
The Written Expression scoring rules require that responses follow standard rules of grammar unless otherwise
indicated. However, grammar is not necessarily scored to the highest level of editorial accuracy. Generally, the STRUCTURE
grammatical errors that are penalized would stand out in semiformal or formal communication such as speaking to
the class or writing a report. Sentence structure has to do with the organization of the sentence as a whole. Some items allow fused sentences,
but others do not. Some items require a particular kind of structure.
General Scoring Guidelines
If the examinee uses a word that is incorrect in meaning but is the correct part of speech for the way the sentence
Refer to Chapter 4 Language Glossary for definitions and examples of grammar terms, such as complexsentence, is structured, score as a Word Form error rather than a Structure error. If in doubt, try substituting a different word
that may be helpful for scoring. that is of the same part of speech.

Each item has one or more score categories, and each is scored 1 or 0. Score each category independently of the Structure errors include the following:
others. Try not to let poor performance in one category influence the scores for other categories in that item.

Sometimes a response is clearly erroneous, but it is not immediately evident which category/ies should be scored 0.
Fragment
In those instances, use your judgment to choose the category/ies that best fits the error. Missing the subject or verb

Some errors result in scores of O across multiple or all categories: Making too much noise.
A TVstudio with desksand lights and cameras.
■ If an examinee does not respond to an item or if the response is incomprehensible, score O on all categories
for that item.
Fused Sentence
■ On later items, misplacement of a part of the sentence is penalized on both the Task criterion (because
One or more independent clauses not separated by appropriate punctuation or a connecting word, or separated
the sentence does not make sense or says something false) and the Structure criterion (because of the
only by a comma
misplacement). In such cases, score O for both criteria.
Score a fused sentence as a Structure error except on some Level 2 items where indicated.
Scoring Extra Writing Nicolelost her script do you have it.
If the Taskcriterion specifiesa limited response (e.g., one word or one sentence),and the examinee produces a response, Nicolelost her script, do you have it.
part of which satisfiesthis criterion, ignore any additional material the examinee has written when scoring that item.
Run-On Sentence
If the Task criterion is open-ended (e.g., one or more sentences), score the entire response. For the Structure
criterion, scoring usually is based on the examinee's entire response, except when the scoring rule for an item Three or more clauses, joined by conjunctions, whose ideas are not closely linked
specifies otherwise.
Weseethe ants but therebigger and the chaseus and Emilystartswriteing.
My favoritemovieis Night of Nights and I saw it as a kid and I loved it but I want to know which
Readability of Responses movieis your favorite.
If a response is difficult to read due to poor spelling or poor handwriting, score as much of it as possible. Romelooks at all the rocksand Emilyjumps up and down and while Emilyis jumping Romeis
looking at the rocks.
Scoring Guidelines for Phonetically Readable Words
Phoneticallyreadableis not a technical term; it means that all sounds in the word are represented and in
the correct sequence even if the word is not spelled correctly. Missing letters, poor letter formation, letter
reversals, and upside-down or sideways letters are acceptable as long as the word is recognizable.

32 Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A KTEA-3 Scoring Manual KTEA-3 Scoring Manual Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A 33
Incorrect Word Order CAPITALIZATION
Misplaced parts of sentence: modifier cannot easily be linked to the word it modifies
On items that ask the examinee to circle letters that should be capitalized, circling the entire word rather than the
Incorrect: Ramonis on the moon who is looking at rocks. first letter or using a double underline or other such indication is acceptable.
Correct: Ram6n,who is looking at rocks,is on the moon.
In general, consider a capital letter to be an indication that the examinee intended to start a new sentence, but
Incorrect: Ritais going home, who livesin another neighborhood. exercise judgment in making this decision.
Correct: Rita, who livesin another neighborhood,is going home.
If an examinee's handwriting style uses mostly uppercase letters, give credit for correct capitalization unless there
Incorrect: In spite of knowing their lines well, they are veryyoung.
are obvious errors.
Correct: In spite of being veryyoung, they know their lines well.
When scoring a fused sentence, do not penalize for lack of capitalization where the second independent
Confusion between direct and implied questions: sentence starts as a statement and ends as a question
clause begins.
I'm wonderingif you know whereis the director'schair?
The following words must be capitalized.
Thedirectorwants to know whereis his chair?
I wonder whereare we going? ■ First word of a sentence
Nicolewants to know whereis her script? ■ Proper nouns
If the examinee combines a direct question with an implied question and does not indicate
through quotation marks or other punctuation that it is a quotation, score Ofor Structure. ■ Days of the week, months of the year

Kyraaskswhy areyou hurting people. ■ Book or movie titles

■ Titles of address
Extra Word
Sentence could be corrected by removing a word
YourMajesty(but the king)

Mayor Martin (but the mayor)

Nicolewants to know so whereher script is.
Thegirl droppedher toy, and Matt, he pickedit up. ■ The next word(s) following a salutation

DearAd Agency
Omitted Word
The next word following a form of address (e.g., King) may or may not be capitalized.
Sentence could be corrected by inserting a word

TheteacherIs and the childrenareglad. Capitalization is prohibited

He is telling to be quiet. ■ for any word that does not fit one of the above categories

Incorrect Part of Speech ■ following a semicolon

Most commonly, this error occurs when an adjective is used in place of an adverb and is intended to function PUNCTUATION
as an adverb.
At Level 2, score only for end punctuation and for apostrophes in contractions and possessives.
Incorrect: In spite of their youth, the actorsdid great rememberingtheir lines.
Correct: In spite of their youth, the actorsdid well rememberingtheir lines. At Levels 3 and 4, score all types of punctuation.
Incorrect: Eventhough they wereexcited,somekidssat quiet so otherscould sleep.
When scoring a fused sentence, do not penalize for lack of ending punctuation where the first independent
Correct: Eventhough they wereexcited,somekidssat quietly so otherscouldsleep. clause ends.

Did not identify the subject when the verb form changed Apostrophe
Incorrect: Nicolewants to know whereher script is and is askingthe man next to her.
An apostrophe is required in contractions and possessives,and prohibited everywhere else.
Correct: Nicolewants to know whereher script is and she is askingthe man next to her.
Possessives:Kyra'sdragon, Marty's picture,all stars' needs,his officers'safety
Contractions: can't, won't, isn't, shouldn't

34 Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A KTEA-3 Scoring Manual KTEA-3 Scoring Manual Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A
Comma A comma is optional

Score comma usage liberally. In situations not covered by the following rules, do not penalize comma usage unless ■ After introductory elements
the presence or absence of the comma makes the sentence ambiguous, difficult to understand, or misleading.
Despitethe weather,the crew did a great Job.
Some comma usage is governed by clear rules, as listed below. In many other instances, however, acceptable
Despitethe weatherthe crewdid a great job.
comma usage is variable (Chicago Manual of Style, 2003).
■ After a main clause and before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, for, so, nor, yet)
A comma is required
Emilyjumps, and Ram6nlooksat rocks.
■ In a series of two or more adjectives or nouns
Emilyjumps and Ram6nlooksat rocks.
If the adjectives are not interchangeable in sequence and they cannot be correctly separated
by and, a comma should not be used: ■ Before a subordinating conjunction when the subordinate clause is at the end of the sentence
I seea large,empty set. My job is fulfilling, although the deadlinesare stressful.
Thedinosaur has four sharpprongs on its tail. My job is fulfilling although the deadlinesare stressful.
I seedinosaurs,mountains,and shrubs.
Exclamation Point
I seedinosaurs,mountainsand shrubs.(The comma before the conjunction and is optional,
and it has been omitted in this example.) An exclamation point should be used to show emphasis or excitement. In most instances, an exclamation point is
acceptable in place of a period at the end of a sentence.
■ When providing dates and place names

May 2, 2004, is the releasedate. Hyphen

Brooklyn,New York,is home to the crew. Hypenation of compound adjectives is ignored in scoring.

■ Before or after titles of address scary-lookingdragon

DearDirector,(either a comma or colon is acc@ptabl@)
Question Mark
I seethe cave,Mr. Feathers.
A question mark is required after a direct question and prohibited after an implied question.
Prop Department,do you have the director'schair?
■ Direct Questions
■ After conjunctive adverbs
Incorrect: Whereis the director'schair.
However,the frequentchangesin anchorscan be distracting.
Correct: Whereis the director'schair?
Actually,he neverattendedacting school.
■ Implied Questions
■ After mild interjections or one-word commands
Incorrect: I'm wonderingif you know the location of the director'schair?
Well,what are you drawing now?
Correct: I'm wonderingif you know the location of the director'schair.
Look,my script is missing.
Incorrect: Thedirectorwants to know wherehis chair is?
■ To set off direct quotations
Correct: Thedirectorwants to know wherehis chair is.
Nicolesaid, "Haveyou seenmy script?"

"My script,'' Nicolesaid, "is missing." Semicolon

Nicolesaid, "Whereis my script?" If the examinee correctly uses a semicolon in an item calling for just one sentence, consider it
to be one sentence.
■ After a subordinate clause and before a main clause when the subordinate clause is at the beginning
of the sentence

Although they weretired, the crewdid a good job.

■ To indicate a nonessential clause

Night of Nights, which I saw as a kid, is my favoritemovie.

36 Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A KTEA-3 Scoring Manual KTEA-3 Scoring Manual Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A 37
 WORD FORM Incorrect Noun or Pronoun, Unclear Pronoun, or Missing Possessive
■ A singular noun is used where a plural is needed
Word form errors involve the form (tense, agreement, plurality) or usage of a word.
Whereare all the chair?
When scoring Word Form, do not penalize for the following.
Broadcastingfrom the Olympicswill increaserating and support local athlete.
■ That vs. which: in contexts where these words serve a broadly similar function, accept either as correct.
■ Incorrect pronoun
■ A vs. an: incorrect articles are considered spelling errors and are not penalized.
Her and him are walking together.
■ Yourvs. you're: writing your instead of you're, or vice versa, is considered a spelling error and
Thedragon scaredthey two.
is not penalized.
■ Unclear pronoun referent
■ Therevs. their vs. they're: writing the wrong form of there,their, or they're is considered a spelling error
and is not penalized. Theboy and her mom are looking at birds.

■ It's vs. its: Writing it's vs. its, or vice versa, is considered a spelling error and is not penalized. After shegot her popcorn, a scooterwas in her way and she droppedit.

■ Possessivenoun or pronoun case is not used where it should be

Word form errors include the following eight error types: Slang/colloquial word usage, subject-verb
disagreement, incorrect verb form, lack of parallel structure, issues with a noun/pronoun/possessive, Theyare going to put little Marty picture in the book.
incorrect preposition, word meaning, and double negative.
Hepickedup the little girl toy.

Slang and Colloquial Word Usage Do not penalize for the following pronouns:

Slang terminology, nonstandard usages such as anywaysfor anyway and alls for all that, and nonstandard ■ Using that to refer to a person
contractions such asgonna, woulda, and ain't
Shewas the one that fed the cat.
Do not penalize for use of 'ti/, which is an acceptable contraction for until.
■ Using they or their to refer to a single person

Subject-Verb Disagreement A child is doing their homework.

Subjects and verbs disagree in number (singular, plural) or person (first, second, third) Incorrect Preposition
They Is going into the library.
Thegirl is looking at the pictureswith the book. (with should be in)
After sheget her popcorn, she trip.
Word Meaning
Incorrect Verb Form
Using the wrong word for the context or nonwords
Wrong verb tense or wrong form of a verb
Incorrect part of speech is a Structure error, not a Word Form error.
Shetel/ed them to go.
He blowed up the toy. Shewasbesides the mirror. (besidesis used to mean beside)

I am go to bring a pencil so that we can get back home. Thegirl watersmy worst favoriteflowers.(worst should be least)

Shebuyed the T-shirt. Unlessyou don't help, I will have to carry all the laundry. (unlessis used to mean if)

He don't got a shirt.

Double Negative
I ain't going.
Two negative words cancel each other out.
Lack of Parallel Structure I don't want to go to no newsstation.
Verb tense changes inappropriately within a sentence Shedon't want no more.

Whilethey played music,people talk.

Thegirl finally picks up the script that had been laying there.

38 Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A KTEA-3 Scoring Manual KTEA-3 Scoring Manual Chapter 5 Scoring Written Expression Form A 39
 OTHERMECHANICALERRORS Level2: PamandDon'sAdventure
Score Ofor No Other Mechanical Errors if the examinee responded to the item with "don't know" or no response,
or made a capitalization or punctuation error not already covered elsewhere within the scoring criteria. Errors may GeneralScoringGuidelines
include the following. Refer to the General Scoring Guide for Levels 2-4 before scoring this level.

■ Lack of capitalization of the first word of a sentence or a proper noun Do not penalize for letter reversals.

■ Words or letters within a sentence inappropriately capitalized Fused sentences are acceptable on all items except Item 26.
■ Apostrophes in verbs, plural nouns, or possessivepronouns
When scoring Structure, ignore capitalization and punctuation errors. Read the response aloud to yourself to decide
■ Incorrect insertion or omission of quotation marks, commas, periods, or semicolons what the structure would be if capitalization and punctuation had been done correctly.

■ Don and pam went to the man he sadget out you mack too mutch nose.

This example contains two complete, structurally correct sentences, so the response receives credit
for Structure.

Item-Specific ScoringRules
Each item is scored for one or more criteria according to the following rules.

17. Write name

Phonetically Readable

To be considered phonetically readable, the examinee's name must contain more than a single letter.
Disregardcapitalization,minorspellingerrors,and letterreversals.

See Item 1 in Level 1 for scoring examples.

2 points: phonetically readable first and last name

1 point: phonetically readable first or last name only

0 points: neither first nor last name is phonetically readable

18-19. Write a dictated letter

Recognizable Letter

See Items 7-10 in Level 1 for scoring examples.

1 point: recognizable upper- or lowercase letter

0 points: unrecognizable upper- or lowercase letter

40 Chapter 5 Scorinq Written Expression Form A KTEA-3 Scorinq Manual KTEA-3 Scorinq Manual Chapter 5 Scorinq Written Expression Form A 41