Code Talker Final Exam Writing Practice

​Code Talker Final Exam Prep

John Welkener, M.Ed.

Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Fall 2022​

Open Ended

COMPREHENSION. In 3-5 sentences, summarize what you have learned from reading Code Talker so far.

To receive full credit, your answer must show:

- proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation

- thoughtful comprehension of the text

Open Ended

ANALYSIS. In 3-5 sentences, explain how Ned Begay’s experience as a Native American changes throughout the story.

To receive full credit, your answer must show:

- proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation

- thoughtful analysis of the text

ned goes to a school where they don’t let him speak his native language, but later they let him speak it

​D response (60-69%):

​WHAT'S MISSING?

ned goes to a school where they don’t let him speak his native language, but later they let him speak it

​D response (60-69%):

​WHAT'S MISSING?

• Capitalization

• Punctuation

• Needs more specific examples

Multiple Choice

Choose the best edit for the following response:

ned goes to a school where they don’t let him speak his native language, but later they let him speak it

• ned goes to a school where they don’t let him speak his native language. but later they let him speak it.

• Ned goes to a school where they don’t let him speak his native language, but later they let him speak it.

• Ned goes to a school where speaking his native language is forbidden. Later in life, he is encouraged to use his Navajo language as a Code Talker for the Marines.

• Ned goes to a school where they don’t let him speak his native language. But later they let him speak it (the Navajo language).

At first, Ned is mistreated because of his Native American heritage. Later, he is accepted because he is a navajo code talker and helps them win the war.

​c response (70-79%):

​WHAT'S MISSING?

​WHAT'S MISSING?

​

• Navajo should be capitalized

• More specific examples

• Strong conclusion​

​c response (70-79%):

At first, Ned is mistreated because of his Native American heritage. Later, he is accepted because he is a navajo code talker and helps them win the war.

Multiple Select

What could be added to the following response to make it stronger? Select all that apply.

At first, Ned is mistreated because of his Native American heritage. Later, he is accepted because he is a navajo code talker and helps them win the war.

• Navajo should be capitalized

• More specific examples

• Strong concluding sentence

• Does not address the prompt

​Why is this an A (90 - 100%)?

As a child, Ned is mistreated because of his Native American heritage. At the boarding school, he is punished if he speaks his native language. Later, when he joins the Marines, he is encouraged to use his native language as a Code Talker. In the end, the respect he gains as a Navajo Code Talker proves what he knew all along: to be proud of his Native heritage.

​Why is this an A (90 - 100%)?

As a child, Ned is mistreated because of his Native American heritage. At the boarding school, he is punished if he speaks his native language. Later, when he joins the Marines, he is encouraged to use his native language as a Code Talker. In the end, the respect he gains as a Navajo Code Talker proves what he knew all along: to be proud of his Native heritage.

• Specific examples

• Directly addresses the prompt

• Strong concluding statement

Multiple Choice

Read the following B-level exam response and answer the question that follows:

Ned’s parents send him to boarding school to learn the ways of the white man. At the boarding school, he is forbidden to speak his native language, but he still speaks the language in secret with his friends. Later, during WW2, Ned becomes a Navajo Code Talker, where he uses his native language as a secret code to help the U.S. Marines defeat the Japanese in battle.

The above Exam response would receive a grade of B (80 - 89%).

What could be added to the following paragraph to make it an A-level (91 - 100%) response?

• A quote with page number citation

• A strong concluding sentence

• More specific examples

• Nothing

Open Ended

ANALYSIS (Take 2). In 3-5 sentences, explain how Ned Begay’s experience as a Native American changes throughout the story.

To receive full credit, your answer must show:

- proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation

- thoughtful analysis of the text