ATCHESON ELA 

Think Question

Sample Question And Student Response

According to Lincoln, which issue is dividing or splitting the nation, and why? Cite evidence from the text in your response.

Exemplar Response (5)

1/2 According to Lincoln the issue that splitting or dividing the nation is slavery because he doesn't think that it is good for the nation to have half slave-free states, and to have half slave states. 3 It states in the text, "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved but I do not expect it will cease to be divided." (Lincoln, 5,6,7). 4 This shows that the point he is trying to make is that if we keep slavery in half the states and have half free states, we will eventually be dividing the nation, instead coming together and being one.

The student answers the question(s), integrates textual evidence in their response, and demonstrates an adequate command of conventions.

(4)

According to Lincoln the issue that is dividing the nation is slavery. Lincoln believes that "this government can not endure permanently half slave and half free" (Lincoln). He believes that we will fail unless the "opponents of slavery arrest the further spread of it" (Lincoln), or its "advocates will push forward" (Lincoln) and make slavery a permanent feature in the United States. 

The student attempts to answer the question(s), integrates textual evidence in their response, provides little to no analysis of the evidence, and demonstrates an adequate command of conventions.

(3)

The issue that is dividing our country is we could be a slave country or a free country. "Confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation "This shows these are what Lincoln wants to do but there still is a conflict if we should enforce this law or not. 

Student attempts to address the question(s), attempts to integrate textual evidence, and has adequate command of conventions. 

(1-2)

The issue that is dividing the nation and the house is slavery. " of putting an end to slavery agitation." 

the student does not answer the question(s), poorly integrates textual evidence, and demonstrates a partial command of conventions.