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2017 MCAS
Grade 3 English Language Arts
Question 12

Idea Development - Score Point 4

The central idea of how Benjamin Franklin helped people is clear and fully developed. The essay is organized using details from throughout the passage with some explanation of how Benjamin Franklin's actions helped others. For example, his lightning rod helped people because it prevented houses from burning, and when he signed the Treaty of Alliance during the Revolutionary War, the French were convinced to send their army to help the colonies. The essay also expresses the idea that Benjamin Franklin "did really good things for America because he wanted to make America a better place" and includes many details that are clearly expressed and support the overall purpose of explaining how he helped people.

Standard English Conventions - Score Point 3

The essay contains a variety of sentences with proper grammar, usage, and mechanics. For example, "Ben made a lightning rod that you would put on top of a house so when lightning hits, the house wouldn't burn." The length and complexity of the essay provide an opportunity for the writer to clearly demonstrate consistent control of Standard English conventions for this grade level.
Answer for Idea Development Score Point 4, and Standard English Conventions Score Point 3 Benjamin Franklin helped people in many diffrent ways. In 1731 Benjamin Franklin helped start a library that lets you take books to your home and borrow them. 1736 was when Benjamin Franklin founded the Union Fire Company. He also helped start the first city hospital in the colonies. Ben ran the post office and he helped the mail get dilivered faster than it used to be. In 1775, Ben became the first postmaster which is some one who is in charge of every single post office in the colonies. He was one of the first people to work against slavery in the United States. When Ben was 81 years old, he became the president of the very first antislavery group in America. Benjamin did something very inportant too. He flew a kite in a storm with a key on the string and when lightning hit the kite, it went down the string and hit the key. It made a spark so it was electricty. Ben made a lightning rod that you would put on top of a house so when lightning hits, the house wouldn't burn. Back then, people didn't like wood-burning stoves so Ben invented a stove that burned less wood and the fire was even hotter than other stoves that used wood. Sometimes Ben got tired of taking his glasses off and on to read, so he made glasses that were called bifocals that helps you see both near and far. He also helped sign the Declaration of Independence and he signed the Treaty of Alliance with France to convince the French to send their army so they can help the colonies. Benjamin signed another Treaty so Paris can end the Revolutionary War. He signed lots of things including the Constitution of the United States. After the war, Ben helped make the first laws of the United States. That's what Benjamin Franklin did, he did lots of really important things and if he didn't we might of not have electricty or anything he made. He did really good things for America because he wanted to make America a better place. That's how Benjamin Franklin helped people all over the United States of America and maybe even people that don't live in America. Benjamin Franklin could of helped peole all over the world.



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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Print Now | Close Window