2010 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) Wave 1

THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF
EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

Wave 1 Submittal for 2010
VOLUME II
Part 2b
BACKGROUND QUESTIONS
FOR 2010 ASSESSMENT

Student Grade 8 Writing Questions

Part 2b contains:
Student Grade 8 Writing Questions
The amount of time estimated to complete this form is 15 minutes.

April 23, 2009

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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Student Questionnaire
Writing — Grade 8
SECTION 4
This section has 13 questions. Select only one circle for each question except where
instructed otherwise.
1. In a typical school day, about how much time do you spend on writing
assignments of a paragraph or more during each of the following classes? The
writing could be on paper or on a computer. Select one circle on each line. (New)
[8/12]

a. English/language
arts class
b. Social studies class
such as history,
civics,
government, or
geography
c. Science class
d. Mathematics class

I don’t take
this class.

0 minutes

Up to 15
minutes

Between 15
and 30
minutes

Between 30
and 60
minutes

More than
60 minutes

A

B

C

D

E

F

A

B

C

D

E

F

A
A

B
B

C
C

D
D

E
E

F
F

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2. In a typical day, about how much time do you spend writing on your own and not
for school—for example, writing stories or keeping a journal at home? The
writing could be on paper or on a computer. [8/12]
A 0 minutes
B Up to 15 minutes
C Between 15 and 30 minutes
D Between 30 and 60 minutes
E More than 60 minutes

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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3. How often do you write, in and out of school, for each of the following activities?
Include only the writing that you do on paper. Select one circle on each line.
(New) [8/12]

a. Writing for school
assignments (for
example, reports,
essays, or letters)
b. Writing that is not
part of your
schoolwork

Never or
hardly ever

Once or
twice a
month

Once or
twice a
week

Every day or
almost every
day

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

NEW

NEW

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4. For school this year, how often do you write for each of the following purposes?
The writing could be on paper or on a computer. Select one circle on each line.
[8/12]
Never or
hardly ever

A few
times a
year

Once or
twice a
month

At least
once a
week

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

a. To explain something that
you know or have read
b. To convince or persuade
someone
c. To convey a real or imagined
experience

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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5. For school this year, how often do you write for each of the following audiences?
The writing could be on paper or on a computer. Select one circle on each line.
(New) [8/12]

a. Family members
b. School officials
c. Other students
d. Community
organizations
e. Government
officials
f. Businesses
g. Other (please
specify):
_______________
_______________

Never or
hardly ever

A few
times a
year

Once or
twice a
month

At least
once a
week

A
A
A
A

B
B
B
B

C
C
C
C

D
D
D
D

A

B

C

D

A
A

B
B

C
C

D
D

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6. For school this year, how often do you write each of the following? The writing
could be on paper or on a computer. Select one circle on each line. (New) [8/12]
Never or
hardly ever

A few
times a
year

Once or
twice a
month

At least
once a
week

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B

C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C

D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D
D

a. Informational essays
b. Letters
c. Speeches
d. Personal essays
e. Stories
f. Poems
g. Journal entries
h. Job applications or résumés
i. Explanations of how you
solved a mathematics or
science problem

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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7. Did you use the paper and pencil you were given to make notes, plan, or organize
your writing for this test? Select one circle on each line. [8/12]
Yes

No
a. For the first writing task on this test
A B
b. For the second writing task on this test A B

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8. Did you use the computer to make notes, plan, or organize your writing for this
test? Select one circle on each line. [8/12]
Yes

No

a. For the first writing task on this test
A B
b. For the second writing task on this test A B

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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9.

For school this year, how often do you use each of the following when you write
a paper or report? Select one circle on each line. [8/12]

a. Use the Internet to look for
information to include in the
paper or report
b. Use a computer from the
beginning to write the paper
or report (for example, use a
computer to write the first
draft)
c. Use a computer to make
changes to the paper or
report (for example, spellcheck or cut and paste)
d. Use a computer to complete
your writing

2010 OMB Wave 1
Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

Never or
hardly
ever

Sometimes

Very
often

Always or
almost
always

A

B

C

D

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A

B

C

D

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A

B

C

D

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A

B

C

D

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10. How often do you use a computer, in and out of school, for each of the following
activities? Select one circle on each line. (New) [8/12]

a. Writing for school
assignments (for
example, reports,
essays, or letters)
b. Writing that is not
part of your
schoolwork
c. Writing e-mails
d. Writing using the
Internet (for
example, for blogs
or personal web
pages)
e. Sending text
messages (using a
computer)

Never or hardly
ever

Once or twice a
month

Once or twice
a week

Every day or
almost every
day

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

A
A

B
B

C
C

D
D

A

B

C

D

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11. In a typical week, about how many pages do you write for English/language arts
homework? [8/12]
A None
B Up to one page
C One to three pages
D Four to five pages
E More than five pages

2010 OMB Wave 1
Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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12. Please indicate how much you disagree or agree with the following statements
about writing. Select one circle on each line. [8/12]

a. Writing is one of my
favorite activities.
b. Writing allows me to
express my ideas.

Strongly
disagree

Disagree

Agree

Strongly
agree

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

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13. If you had a choice, which of the following would you most prefer to write?
(New) [4/8/12]
A Stories
B Letters or e-mails
C Plays
D Poems
E Song lyrics
F Comic books

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Grade 8 -Part 2 of 3

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