Acceptable

These responses identify whom they thought would win the race and explain why with specific information from the story or with an appropriate observation about the story genre.

Unacceptable

These responses contain inappropriate information from the story, personal opinions about the story, or merely list a character's name. Unacceptable responses may also only answer one part of the question (i.e., Who? or Why?).

NOTE: Some acceptable responses may simply state that the fact that the beetle has wings indicated the beetle would win the race.

Also, some acceptable responses may simply state that the similarity between this story and other stories (does not have to be written text) led the student to conclude who would win the race.

Evidence of full comprehension

These responses compare someone they know or a fictional character to either the rat or the beetle using a character trait as the basis of comparison. Responses at this level may include comparisons to the Tortoise or the Hare that are based on story action but the connection is fully explained in terms of character and plot.

Evidence of partial or surface comprehension

These responses provide some information about the rat or the beetle, but fail to make a comparison to someone they know or to a fictional character. Or, they attempt a comparison based on a character trait or some aspect of the story, but fail to link the trait to either the rat or beetle. (e.g., My friend is well-mannered.) Responses at this level also include comparisons that are based on a superficial aspect such as action (a race) or a physical characteristic (fast, slow, gray).

Evidence of little or no comprehension

These responses do not relate someone else to the rat or the beetle; or they make a comparison based on inappropriate characteristics; or they provide inappropriate information such as story summaries or personal opinions about the characters. These responses may also merely state that a character or person is like the rat or the beetle without giving a characteristic (e.g., Tweety is like the beetle. The rat is like the hare. My friend is like the beetle.)

NOTE:  If the response compares the beetle and the rat to the tortoise and the hare, it should specify who is being compared to whom and provide specific character traits.