2019 MCAS
Grade 8 English Language Arts
Question 8

The essay insightfully articulates the significance of the shoes to both Douglas and Mr. Sanderson. The introduction includes a purposeful summary to address how Douglas "feels trapped in his little town" and to explain how wearing the shoes "makes him feel free." By describing what Douglas imagines it would be like to wear the shoes, the essay shows how seemingly mundane activities, such as "'wading in the slow waters of the creek'" or "go[ing] on adventures and see[ing] all parts of his town" help the shoes "act as a symbol of freedom." Although the analysis of Douglas is stronger than that of Mr. Sanderson, the essay shows how the sneakers might make Mr. Sanderson "feel like a kid having fun again," connecting the two characters' experiences. Skillful organization and selection of details from the story help to create an astute analysis of how each character is affected by wearing the shoes, revealing full awareness of the task.

The essay reveals consistent control of grammar, usage, and mechanics. Despite occasional awkwardness, sentence structures show overall control: "When Douglas asks his dad for the shoes and his dad tells him he needs to pay for them himself, he comes up with a creative idea." Minor errors in spelling and punctuation throughout do not detract from the student's demonstration of consistent control of Standard English conventions for this grade level.