A Math Forum Project

How Algebra PoW Submissions are Scored We look for good problem solving and strong mathematical communication when reading submissions to our Problems of the Week. Your solution should include enough information to help another student understand your steps and the decisions that you made in solving the problem. Submissions are scored with a rubric in the following categories: Problem Solving Interpretation: Did you interpret the problem correctly and attempt to solve all of the parts? Strategy: Did you pick a good strategy and apply it well? did you achieve success through skill instead of luck? Accuracy: Did you get the calculations and details correct, including writing correct statements and equations? Communication Completeness: Did you explain all the steps taken to solve the problem? Clarity: Did you explain the steps in such a way that another student would understand? Did you make an effort to use correct math language, and good formatting and spelling? Reflection: Did you check the answer? reflect on its reasonableness? summarize the process? connect it to another problem or experience? In each category, submissions are scored using four levels of performance. Novice - "Just starting out" Apprentice - "On the right track, but not quite there" Practitioner - "Got it" Expert - "Wow! Above expectations in some way" You can see a complete scoring rubric for Algebra PoWs in grid form. It is available in two formats: PDF - suitable for printing on a single page GIF Getting Help and Feedback We will have a limited amount of free mentoring available this year, mainly from volunteers and groups of pre-service teachers who are mentoring as part of their classes. If you are hoping to receive free mentoring, you will have a better chance of getting a response if you do the following: (These instructions are on the submission pages as well.) First, check the box on the submission page to request free mentoring if it's available. After submitting your solution, use the Check Answer feature to see if you're correct. Finally, follow the rest of the instructions carefully. Revise your solution if you can improve it, or leave us a comment telling us how you did, or asking us for help with a specific part. That all sounds like a lot of work, but it provides good information, and mentors can give you much better feedback this way. It may also help you to think more about your problem solving techniques and habits. If a mentor scores your submission, they'll also write some feedback that suggests ways to improve your submission. You'll receive their reply as an email message, which will contain a URL that you can use to revise your answer or leave us some comments. Please revise your work if you receive a response! The greatest learning comes through revision. If you request mentoring and don't revise your work, you will be less likely to receive free mentoring in the future. To learn more about subscriptions for mentoring, please see our mentoring information page. Student Recognition We will acknowledge student achievement at two levels on the archive page for each problem. Remember that we can't read and score every solution. You might have done a very good job, but if we did not select your submission as one to score and reply to, your name won't be on one of these lists. The Gold List This is a list of students who have achieved at least the following levels: Problem Solving Interpretation Practitioner   Strategy Practitioner   Accuracy Practitioner   Communication Completeness Practitioner   Clarity Practitioner   Reflection Apprentice The Silver List This is a list of students who achieved the levels listed above, except that they only achieved apprentice in completeness or clarity.