The following excerpts come from the writing samples of 11th-graders, written as part of Wisconsin’s Pupil Assessment Program. Students were told to write about a photograph of a burning house.
Score: 1
This Morning I pass my this house it was on fire, and someone had call the fireman. They had to put everyone, and thing out the window because there was to much Smoke in the other room.
The Chief told to of the fire man to go in the front door with the water hose, and they got the fire out before it could hurt anybody.
Score: 5
Yesterday afternoon as I was walking down Main St., I noticed a fire at the Lueptow home. I was on my way to the store, but when I saw what was going on I decided to stick around and see how the fire3started.
When I was standing there a neighbor lady came over by me and told me what happened.
Score: 8
...Terry looked up at his father and bereaved mother then he went back to the TV.
“Hey mom, ‘Psycho’ is on. You should watch it. Janet Leigh. John Gavin. Anthony Perkins. All sorts of people.” Terry talked as he stared at the screen. “Look!” he screamed. His parents jumped. “There’s Alfred Hitchcock! Right outside the real estate office!”
Montgomery and Wilma retreated from the doorway and held each other as they walked to the living room.
“I’m going to do it, Wilma! I will! I will not be stopped this time!”...
(Editor’s note: The story continues for several more paragraphs and eventually works in the burning house.)
