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The purple loosestrife, a wetland plant, was imported to North America from Europe. Since its introduction, the
loosestrife has spread to many wetland ecosystems in the United States.
Picture #1: Before the introduction of purple loosestrife:
Observations by scientists:
Observation #1:
The purple loosestrife grows twice as fast as
the winged loosestrife (a native plant in these
wetlands)
Picture #2: After the introduction of purple loosestrife
Observation #2:
The winged loosestrife has 10 different
species of insect that eats its leaves. The
purple loosestrife has 3 different species of
insect and 2 species of bird that eats its
leaves.
Photo courtesy of USDA Forest Service
1. Which is an example of an herbivore in this ecosystem?
(1) winged loosestrife
(2) purple loosestrife
(3) insect
(3) snake
Note: The numerical scores indicated in the scoring rubrics were for research
purposes. Higher scores indicate higher quality argumentation. We encourage
you to use a scoring scheme that matches your present goals for students.
Item #1
Content
Level Description
1
Student selects “C”.
0
Students does not select “C.”
Why do you think the purple loosestrife is such a successful invader in this ecosystem?
2. I think the purple loosestrife is a good invader because . . .
3. My evidence is . . .
4. This evidence supports my claim because . . .
Item #2
Argumentation Level 0a: Stating a Claim
Level
4
3
Description
Example
States a claim that provides an explanation for why the loosestrife
thrives.
-The purple loosestrife grows more quickly
States a claim that provides an explanation for why the loosestrife
thrives.
-Fewer species eat the purple loosestrife
I think the loosestrife is able to establish itself
easily because it does not have as many species
eating its leaves as the Winged loosestrife so it
has the advantage to produce more of its
species, which is why the Purple loosestrife
quickly occupies a lot of space in a ecosystem.
it has less species of insects that eat it
2
1
0
-Loosestrife grows more quickly and has fewer predators
Other valid claim:
-The loosestrife is adapted to the wetland ecosystem
-The environment/ecosystem is not “used to” the purple loosestrife
-The loosestrife has the resources it needs
Does not state a claim that explains why the loosestrife thrives
No credit for:
-The insects and birds like it/recognize it
Item #3
Argumentation Level 0c: Providing evidence supporting a claim
Level
1
0
Description
Example
Identifies a piece of data from the prompt or from prior knowledge
References evidence from prompt. If student references evidence
from prior knowledge, then check to see that it relates to claim
the pictures that show the water and the plants
Common responses given credit:
-“The picture”
-The data about species that prey on purple loosestrife
-The data about growth rate
-“the data table”
Does not identify a piece of evidence from prompt or prior
knowledge
because based on observation #2, the purple
loosestrife has less insect species predators, and
more predators that can help populate the species
(birds)
observation #1
“thinking about trees, you have trees everywhere”
Item #4
Argumentation Level 1a: Constructing reasoning that links claim and evidence
Level
1
Description
Example
Provides reasoning that connects the claim and
evidence
With less useless predators, the species can grow
more, and with birds they are able to move
around more too
since there are less species of animals eating the
purple loosestrife, the plant is able to grow more
quickly that the winged loosestrife
0
The claim is about why the loosestrife is
successful. So not sufficient to just explain
what the evidence shows. Student need
connect claim to evidence—e.g. “if the plant is
from a wetland, and it is placed in a wetland,
then it will be successful because it is adapted
to a wetland environment”
No credit for illogical reasoning
It tells us that the purple loosestrife is a wetland
plant
As the plant grows at a faster rate, this expresses
the adaptation that it acquired in order to be able
to survive the changes within an environment.
This demonstrates that the species was able to
interact with other biotic factors within the
ecosystem as well
Sophie says:
I think the purple loosestrife is a successful invader
because there are very few herbivores that eat it.
Tina says:
I think the purple loosestrife is a successful invader
because it grows much faster than other plants.
Only 5 different species eat the purple loosestrife.
The purple loosestrife grows twice as fast as a native plant.
Since it was so few things that eat it, it can just keep
growing and it can take over the ecosystem.
If the purple loosestrife grows faster than other species,
then it can compete better for light, nutrients, and space.
5. Which argument do you agree with more? Sophie’s/Tina’s
6. Why do you agree with this argument more?
I agree with this argument more because . . .
7. Why do you think the other argument is not as good?
The problem with the other argument is . . .
Item #5
Argumentation Level [2c] *
Level Description
TINA, grows faster
1
SOPHIE, fewer herbivores
0
*Student does not provide explicit two-sided comparative argument, but must engage in that cognitive task to select
the stronger argument
Item #6
Argumentation Level 2b: Constructing a one-sided comparative argument
Level
3
Description
Example
Defends one position (explaining how there
is more evidence, better evidence, better
connection between claim and evidence, or a
more scientifically accurate claim based on
students’ prior knowledge)
Defends Sophie: evidence from observation #2.
Although Tina's arguement is valid, Sophie's is
stronger because she has quantitive data, and
qualitative data argues for superiority of
evidence for Sophie
2
Critiques the other argument
Defends TINA: “Although that there are only five
different species that eat the purple loosestrife, it
does not mean that only a few insects feed off of
it. There can be hundreds of the same species. I
agree more with Tina's argument because it
makes more sense and provides accurate and
specific information” critiques Sophie
Note: This level of
performance corresponds
to argumentation level 2a:
Providing a countercritique
1
0
Defends argument by saying it aligns with
students’ claim. Essentially, “this argument
is better because it is closer to mine”
Does not defend one position or critique
another
Item #6
Argumentation Level 2a:Providing a counter-critique
Level
2
Description
Example
Provides counter-critique
CRITIQUE OF SOPHIE: Sophie's argument
does not state how many organisms are in
each specie. Therefore even if there are less
species that eat the plant, there is no
evidence about whether or not the amount of
organisms that eat it
e.g. Fewer species, but not necessarily
fewer organisms predating on purple
loosestrife
CRITIQUE OF SOPHIE: it doesn't
necessarily matter how many species of
organisms eat something, but rather how
many of those organisms there are
1
Note: This level of performance
corresponds to Argumentation
Level 1d: Providing an
alternative counter argument
Provides counter-alternative
0
Does not provide counter-critique or
counter-alternative
Basically, “this argument is wrong
because the other argument is right”
No credit for general critiques, e.g. “not
enough evidence” or “better reasoning”
No credit for “doesn’t take into account the
other idea”
CRITIQUE OF SOPHIE: The problem with
the other argument is that they state that
there are only five species. However, there
can be hundreds of insects from one species
feeding off the tree. The five species does
not necessarily mean that there are a few
insects that eat it.
The problem with the other argument is that
growth rate is really the one that is more
important.
The problem with the other argument is that it
is not as good.