ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT
Writing paragraph points
Assessment Criteria and What A Good One Looks Like
Below you will find the Skill Check assessment criteria for this skill, and underneath you will find two examples of what a good one looks like, with a brief explanation of how each fits the criteria.
Assessment Criteria for Writing paragraph points
minus
any of these things
Doesn’t address the question
Doesn’t mention the writer
Uses the phrase “presents ideas about” in a theme question
equals (just) to plus (secure)
all of these things
Addresses the question directly
Uses the writer’s name
Uses ‘presents’ or ‘suggests’ wording, or another suitable equivalent
star
all of these things
All the + criteria
Makes an interesting, thoughtful or detailed point
What a good one looks like 1
Example task
Write a point for a paragraph in response to the following question: How does George Orwell present Winston in the opening of ‘1984’?
Example response
In ‘1984’ Orwell presents Winston as worn down by life.
Notes on this response
It addresses the question by discussing Winston.
It uses the writer’s surname.
It uses the ‘presents’ wording, which is good for a simple character question like this.
It makes a thoughtful inference about Winston as a character, drawing on not just how he acts but why he acts that way.
What a good one looks like 2
Example task
Write a point for a paragraph in response to the following question: How does Charles Dickens present ideas about Christmas in ‘A Christmas Carol’?
Example response
Throughout the novel, Dickens suggests that Christmas time creates a kind of universal spirit that brings people together.
Notes on this response
It addresses the question by discussing Christmas and uses the author’s surname.
It uses the ‘suggests’ wording, which is good for a theme-based question like this. It doesn’t use the clunky phrase ‘presents ideas about Christmas as’ which is to be avoided in theme questions.
It says something interesting and detailed as a point.