July 7: GED Predictor

On July 7, I didn't assist with any teaching. Instead, I assisted Wynne in proctoring the science, reading, and writing (parts 1 & 2) sections of the GED predictor for the students. 

Of the 30 students in the CYAP GED class, 20 are expected to pass the GED and two are boarder line based on the predictor exam. This is a total of 22 possible success stories from the program. The other eight students, because of attendance, participation, and poor GED predictor score, will not be allowed to take the GED exam. Basically, we expect approximately 73% of the students to pass. I am proud to have been part of the transformative process in these burgeoning lives.

I thought the grading process would have been a little more tedious but it was streamline and, therefore, was executed quickly. At least, this was the case for the multiple-choice sections. The essay section was slightly more grueling, both more enjoyable. I was able to see clearly how the essay and composition workshops conducted improved the writing of many students.

The minimum score needed to pass the writing section of the exam is a 2 and the maximum is a 4. Wynne and I graded the each essay and averaged out scores. Most of the time we were within .5 to 1 point range. To get the final score we did an average. This was an interesting process for me because I had to account for all the components of the GED Essay Scoring Rubric. This includes the following criteria: 

1.     Response to the prompt. This simply answering the question with a clearly focused main idea (including the thesis statement and supporting examples.)

2.     Organization. The essay must establish clear and logical organization (sequencing of ideas).

3.     Development and Details. The essay should be coherent and developed with specific and relevant details and examples.

4.     Follow Conventions of EAE. The essay should demonstrate consistent sentence structure and the conventions of Edited American English (EAE).

5.     Word Choice. The essay should exhibit varied and precise word choice.

I felt my scoring of the essays were a little lenient when I began because I’d focus on specific aspects, but after I discussed it with Wynne I became more conscience about identifying if the essay met all the GED requirements.