Level of Expertise: 5
I. RAFT Assignment Instructions
Directions: To demonstrate your knowledge of computing decimals, you will create an original written piece following the description of the RAFT in the chart below. The writing piece is worth 40 points.
You will have time in class on Monday to work on this assignment. On Wednesday you will turn in a rough draft to me. On Friday I will hand back your draft with comments as well as provide time to meet with me to go over any questions or concerns you have. The final piece is due on Friday.
In this writing assignment you will show your new knowledge of adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and estimating decimals.
ROLE | AUDIENCE | FORMAT | TOPIC |
Decimal | Panel of judges at the U.S. Supreme Court | Letter | Why decimals are or aren’t a useful tool to have as part of the |
II. 6+1 Writing Traits RUBRIC for the R-A-F-T.
Student’s Name:_____________________________
Writing Traits | Great Work 4-3 points | Needs Improvement 2-1 points | Points Earned |
Ideas/ Word Choice | The letter accurately describes the details of the process of adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and estimating decimals. The author uses vocabulary from the math unit to describe the computation of decimals. The letter successfully persuades the reader that decimals are or are not valuable to have as part of our U.S. metric system. | The letter does not accurately describe the process of adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing and estimating decimals. The author uses minimal or no vocabulary from the math unit to describe the computation of decimals. The author does not provide substantial reasoning behind the importance of decimals. | ___ x5=___ |
Organization/ Voice | The letter is written using the conventions of Standard English. The author uses language that is clear. Ideas are presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow. | Much of the letter is not written using the conventions of Standard English. The author’s language makes it hard for the reader to follow. The organization of the letter makes it difficult to understand. | ___ x3=___ |
Conventions/ Sentence Fluency | The conventions follow formal letter writing standards. The appropriate heading, salutation and signature is used. Sentences are varied in length and flow smoothly together. Sentence structure does not interfere with readers understanding. | The conventions are not appropriate for formal letter writing. The appropriate heading, salutation and signature is not used consistently. Sentence fluency is sometimes confusing for the reader. | ___ x1=___ |
Presentation | The letter is word processed using size 12, Times New Roman font. | The letter is not word processed using size 12, Times New Roman font. | ___ x1=___ |
III. Sample of Student Writing
The Decimal
555 Main Street
Pittsford, NY 14534
(555) 893- 8349
December 8, 2010
Re: Supreme Court Hearing of whether to eliminate decimals from our metric system.
Personal Mail
U.S. Supreme Court Judges
Supreme Court of the United States
One First Street N.E.
Washington, DC 20543
One First Street N.E.
Washington, DC 20543
Dear U.S. Supreme Court Judges:
I am writing you today to discuss a current issue that is under debate of whether or not to keep me, the decimal, as part of our country’s metric system. I believe strongly that by continuing to use me as a way of computing numbers, we would be greatly benefiting our mathematicians in being able to calculate numbers. Before making your decision regarding this issue, I would like to draw your attention to a few benefits I bring to the table.
I would like to first identify what I signify. I am a mathematical term to recognize an exact portion of a whole number. This holds particular value in being able to understand exactly what fraction of a whole number is being evaluated. This allows mathematicians to more accurately analyze numbers as well as discuss them with a higher degree of accuracy.
I also carry value when it comes to adding and subtracting numbers. In order to solve these types of problems, my number digits must be aligned so that the numbers being computed as well as the answer makes a line from top to bottom. Also, when subtracting numbers, zeros may need to be added to the right side of me to hold place value. This is called “Annexing Zeros,” which is helpful for the person doing the calculations in being able to visualize a number from which to regroup.
When multiplying numbers, the calculations would greatly change if I were not added. How a person completes the process, he/she must first multiply the two factors. Once an answer is found, the mathematician must count the amount of places I must move to be to the right of the last number for each factor. The number of places over for the first factor must be added to that of the second factor and the result is the amount of places over from the right I must be placed in the answer.
Dividing numbers with decimals would also be greatly effected if I were taken out of the equation. To complete this process, the divisor and dividend are computed as if I were out of the equation. My placing is determined by counting how many spots I must be moved to get to the far right in the divisor and moving me the same number of places in the dividend. The new placing of me in the dividend is the corresponding spot of where I am placed within the answer.
I also have a great impact when it comes to estimating. When estimating to the nearest whole number, you must analyze the numbers to the right of me to decide whether the whole number should be rounded up or stay where it is. If the tenth place value is five or greater then the whole number in the ones place must be rounded up to the next digit. If the tenth place value is less than five then the ones place value stays the same. This is significant when analyzing food items at the grocery store. This allows you a strategy to help you keep a mental tab of how much the groceries are. Without me, a mathematician would not be able to estimate parts of a whole numbers.
With this information my hope is that you realize my significance in the mathematical world. My role within the computation process is invaluable for mathematicians to accurately interpret data as shown above. I would like to thank you for taking into consideration the attributes I provide to mathematicians and hope that this information will help you in your decision of whether to eliminate me from the metric system.
Sincerely,
The Decimal
The Decimal, Ph. D
