Organize to Inform Assessment

Step 1: Identify the prompt you selected for this assessment. Remember, you could choose from the
following prompts:
• Prompt 1: Everyday people can become heroes when they are called to action.
• Prompt 2: There are factors that contribute to people surviving extreme situations.

Selected • Prompt 1: Everyday people can become heroes when they are called to
Prompt action.

Step 2: The Introduction

By now, you should have carefully read each of the three sources in your prompt's text set. Using what
you know about the topic, write the components of your essay's introduction below. Remember – the
thesis statement should convey your essay's central idea. This will be supported in each body paragraph.
Write a hook to introduce your topic and get your reader’s attention:
Anyone can be a hero! Every day, people save lives whether they're a doctor or
police, or even a student at school.
Write a two- to four-sentence bridge to connect the hook and the thesis
statement: You don't need to be an important person in today's society to save
Introduction a life. Anyone can save a life when the time calls for it.

Write a thesis statement with a clear controlling idea: Heroes are often
portrayed as individuals with exceptional qualities and extraordinary
backgrounds. However, history and real-life events show us that heroes can
emerge from ordinary people when circumstances call for action.

Step 3: The Plan

Using information from your sources, map and plan your essay using the guide below. Take note: this
plan will help you to write your body paragraphs later in the writing process.

Body Paragraph 1

This is your first paragraph's topic One example of an everyday hero is

Topic Sentence sentence. It should reflect an idea
from your thesis statement will be
supported by information from
the text set.
Example: Through platforms that
can reach millions, social media
can spread awareness about issues
like illnesses.
Provide a piece of evidence from
Evidence the text set that supports the idea
from your topic sentence.
Example: "Yeah," Josh says. "We realized
we had the opportunity to actually shine a
light on this disease that a lot of people
Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker
during the Holocaust. She provided
false documents to Jewish children
so that they could get out of the
ghettos and be placed with Polish
families for protection, despite the
risk of death.
Paste evidence from your text set
here: disguised as an infectious
disease nurse, Irena Sendler made
her way into the ghetto and
smuggled out children. Her
organization created false documents
 deal with but that a lot of other people and placed them with Polish families
don't know about. If you haven't had first- who could protect them from harsh
hand experience, you don't understand." conditions and possible transport to
concentration camps.

Title and author of source: "Heroes

and History" By Alice Dogood
How does the above text evidence Type your explanation here: It
Explanation support the topic sentence? explains how Irena Sendler helped
Example: Through social media, those who the Jewish children out of the
may have been unaware of the symptoms ghettos.
or effects of chronic or terminal illnesses
are provided with knowledge about these
conditions.

Provide another piece of evidence
Evidence from the text set that supports
the idea from your topic sentence.
Example: "A lot of people praise us for how
we respond and make her happy and how
we interact with her," says Josh, who has
posted more than 200 TikTok videos of
Betty since the mirror one (which currently
sits at more than 25 million views). "People
will say, 'This is the role model for how you
need to interact with dementia patients.'"
Paste evidence from your text set
here: Although the law stated that
helping the Jewish community was
punishable by death, Irena assumed
the risk. She was arrested and
sentenced to death for her actions. A
payoff, or bribe, to the prison's
warden, freed her. After finding
freedom, Irena returned to risking it
all to save others.

Title and author of source: "Heroes

and History" By Alice Dogood
How does the above text evidence Type your explanation here: This
Explanation support the topic sentence? explains how she risked everything to
Example: Not only does social media help these Jewish children.
spread awareness to others about the
disease, but it also provides comfort to
content creators when they are recognized
for their caregiving style.

Body Paragraph 2

Topic Sentence This is your first paragraph's topic
sentence. It should reflect an idea
from your thesis statement will be
supported by information from
the text set.
Example: Social media also creates
connected communities of people with
similar interests, allowing them to share
experiences and network with one another.
Provide a piece of evidence from
Evidence the text set that supports the idea
from your topic sentence.
Abraham Galloway, born into slavery,
risked his life as a Union spy,
gathering crucial information on
Confederate troops during the Civil
War. His efforts contributed to the
Union's success and recruited
thousands of Black Americans to
fight against slavery.
Paste evidence from your text set
here: Galloway was crucial to the
success of the Civil War and even
 recruited thousands of Black
Americans to fight with him and the
Union against slavery.

Title and author of source:"Heroes

and History" By Alice Dogood
How does the above text evidence Type your explanation here:
Explanation support the topic sentence? Galloway stood up and fought with
many to fight against slavery
Provide another piece of evidence Paste evidence from your text set
Evidence from the text set that supports here: Galloway risked his life for his
the idea from your topic sentence. freedom and boarded the cargo hold
of a boat headed for Philadelphia.
Despite the toxic fumes meant to
keep men from stowing away, he
made it to Pennsylvania and,
eventually, Canada. Galloway joined
the abolitionist movement and chose
to work as a Union spy during the
Civil War.

Title and author of source:"Heroes

and History" By Alice Dogood
How does the above text evidence Type your explanation here: This
Explanation support the topic sentence? explains that he risked his life to save
thousands of others.

*Repeat the evidence/explanation pattern as many times as necessary to effectively develop

your central idea.

**You may need additional paragraphs to support your central idea. Follow the same pattern
for each new paragraph.

Organize to Inform Rubric

On Target Almost There Needs Improvement
Prompt 5 points 5 points
(5 points)
The student identified The student identified
their selected prompt. their selected prompt.

Introduction 20-18 points 17-14 points 13-0 points

(20 points) The introduction
includes: The introduction The student may be
includes: missing an
introduction or may
 • an engaging hook • an adequate hook need work on two or
more of the following:
• a bridge that is • a bridge that is • an engaging hook
two to four two to four
sentences in sentences in • a bridge that is
length and length and two to four
includes enough includes some sentences in
background background length and
information for information for includes
the reader to the reader to background
understand the understand the information
topic topic necessary for the
reader to
• a thesis • a thesis understand the
statement that statement that topic, including a
effectively partially potential problem
communicates communicates with the
the central idea of the central idea of opposition's
the essay the essay position

• a thesis
statement that
effectively
communicates
the central idea of
the essay
The Plan 25-20 points 19-15 points 14-0 points
(25 points)
The student's plan The student's plan The student may be
includes: includes: missing an
introduction or may
• a topic sentence for • a topic sentence for need work on two or
each paragraph that each paragraph that more of the following:
clearly and effectively mostly states a reason
states a reason for my for my position that • a topic sentence for
position that supports supports the thesis each paragraph that
the thesis statement's statement's central clearly and effectively
central idea idea states a reason for my
• evidence from the • evidence from the position that supports
provided text set that provided text set that the thesis statement's
clearly and effectively mostly supports the central idea
supports the topic topic sentence and • evidence from the
sentence and central central idea provided text set that
idea • explanations that clearly and effectively
• explanations that mostly connect the supports the topic
clearly and effectively evidence to the topic sentence and central
connect the evidence sentence and central idea
to the topic sentence idea • explanations that
and central idea • title(s) and author(s) clearly and effectively
• title(s) and author(s) of some of the text- connect the evidence
of all of the text-set set source(s) are to the topic sentence
source(s) are provided provided for each and central idea
for each piece of piece of evidence • title(s) and author(s)
evidence of all of the text-set
source(s)