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Achievement First Achievement First

Contextualization 

There are two primary criteria that make up Contextualization:

Framing:
The framing criterion is the broader umbrella within contextualization. Framing occurs often occurs within the introduction, thesis statement, and around evidence. Does the author include only the basic frame (novel, historical event) or is their argument framed within the greater discourse of historical ideas and movements?

Content:
Context is more specific and concrete than framing; it refers to the background information around the evidence chunks. Does the author set up the reader with enough background information for the paragraphs to be read smoothly and cohesively?

Selection 

Selection primarily evaluates evidence selection—relevance, persuasiveness, and concision. Included in this strand is evidence presentation—how smoothly is argument incorporated into the paragraph.

Choice:
When we evaluate choice, we are analyzing the type of evidence selected—is it pertinent, is it relevant, is it authoritative?

Presentation:
Evidence must be presented clearly within an essay; this criterion addresses the blending, chunking, and overall weaving of evidence into an argument.

Interpretation 

Interpretation deals with logic, analysis, and reasoning. The Ideas strand within Argument is comprehensive and evaluates the synthesis of ideas. The interpretation strand is much more specific to the paragraph level.

Analysis:
Analysis evaluates the discussion of evidence. At the lower level, is the interpretation accurate and focused? At higher level, students are expected to analyze thoughtfully, including subtle nuances while retaining clarity.

Justification:
Justification evaluates a student’s ability to develop a link from evidence to assertion. As readers and teachers, we often find that students almost prove their argument but fail to fully land on their point: this criterion addresses that logic gap.

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  • Framing

  • Context

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    • Mostly reasonable, basic background of text/ content
    • Mostly reasonable background of text/ content
    • Primarily accurate, general background of text/ content
    • Clear, sufficient background of text/ content
    • Presents larger frame of argument
    • Clear, sufficient background of text/ content
    • Precisely, articulately frames larger argument and, when appropriate, larger discourse
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    • Mostly plausible basic background about most evidence
    • Primarily accurate basic background about almost all evidence
    • Primarily accurate background when necessary
    • Most context appropriately incorporated into paragraph – is not clunky
    • Clear, sufficient evidence background when necessary
    • Most context appropriately incorporated into paragraph – is not clunky
    • Sometimes previews/ hints at interpretation
    • Precise, clear, sufficient evidence background when necessary
    • Most context smoothly incorporated into paragraph
    • Generally previews/ hints at interpretation
    • Concise, precise, sufficient evidence background when necessary
    • Almost all context smoothly incorporated into paragraph
    • Effectively previews/ hints at interpretation
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  • Choice

  • Presentation

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  • Analysis

  • Justification

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    • Connected to assertion
    • Adequate in amount
    • Some basic analysis
    • Generally plausible analysis
    • Some adequate analysis
    • Mostly plausible analysis
    • Roughly incorporates some key words
    • Almost all adequate analysis
    • Generally focused, logical, accurate
    • Roughly incorporates key words
    • Some thoughtful analysis
    • Mostly focused, logical, clear analysis
    • Appropriately incorporates key words when appropriate
    • Mostly thoughtful, articulate analysis
    • Largely focused, logical, clear analysis
    • Effective key word analysis incorporated when appropriate
    • Almost all thoughtful, articulate analysis
    • Largely focused, clear, nuanced analysis
    • Effective key word analysis incorporated when appropriate to substantiate assertion
    • Almost all thoughtful, articulate analysis
    • Comprehensive analysis demonstrates thorough, critical thought while retaining clarity
    • Effective key word analysis substantiates position
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    • Generally understandable interpretation/ reasoning
    • Most explanation related to assertion
    • Mostly understandable interpretation/ reasoning
    • Some rough word glue, some rough logic glue
    • Connects evidence to assertion
    • Mostly understandable, sound interpretation/ reasoning
    • Generally effective word glue, rough logic glue
    • Links evidence to assertion
    • Primarily understandable, sound, generally thoughtful interpretation/ reasoning
    • Generally effective word glue/ logic glue
    • Logically develops link from evidence to assertion
    • Primarily understandable, sound, generally thoughtful interpretation/ reasoning
    • Primarily effective word glue/ logic glue
    • Logically, mostly develops link from evidence to assertion
    • Primarily effective word glue/ logic glue when necessary
    • Largely convincing, thoughtful justification
    • Logically, fully develops link from evidence to assertion
    • Smooth, primarily effective word glue/ logic glue when necessary
    • Largely focused, convincing, thoughtful justification
    • Articulately, fully substantiates assertion
    • Smooth, masterful use of word glue/ logic glue when necessary
    • Primarily focused, compelling, thoughtful justification
    • Articulately, fully substantiates position