Assessing the Complexity of Literacy Tasks - Rating Guide

Assessing the Complexity of Literacy Tasks

Exercise 7 - Answers

Finding the names of two people who developed models of childhood development is a cycle task. The information requested is the names of two developers. Locating the first reference to Jean Piaget’s and his ‘model’ depends on a direct match on the word ‘model’. Some inference is needed to see that the synonymous words ‘concept’ and ‘framework are acceptable substitutes for ‘model to make the final match. All three acceptable answers are found in the same paragraph. Weak distractors for given and requested information appear in the paragraph preceding.

Type Prose		Level 2
ToI 2	ToM 5	PoD 2

This is a ‘large idea’ question and the answer can be inferred from several places in the text. Because we are looking for a ‘relationship’ the type of information is likely to be something about causes and effects - fairly abstract information. Inference is needed to match ‘past experience’ and ‘present health’ in all cases where the relationship is described. The answer will also have to be restated in terms that fit the question as none of the text in the passage offers a ready made answer. This is a polished, well-organized piece of text and offers no distractors for given or requested information.

Type Prose		Level 4
ToI 4	ToM 7	PoD 1

Finding two differences is an integration task which requires the reader to locate information about the two models and identify two contrasting features. The ladder model is described in the third paragraph and given the attributes of being ‘predictable stages,’ ‘a single route to adulthood,’ and, like a ladder ‘sequential steps.’ The ‘pathway’ model is described in the fifth paragraph and given the attributes of being ‘varied and personal,’ presenting ‘many detours,’ and having ‘innumerable routes and outcomes.’ Integrating these two lists we find contrasts in the areas of ‘sequential-random, single-multiple paths, and predictable-varied and personal. The only references to ‘ladder’ or ‘pathway’ are productive matches, so no distractors for the given information; with so much information to choose from, assume some distractors for requested information in the same paragraph as the answer.

Type Prose		Level 5
ToI 5	ToM 8	PoD 2


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