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PSSA TDA Student Checklist
A one-page student checklist for the PSSA Text-Dependent Analysis: the holistic 1 to 4 ladder, what separates analysis from summary, and a planning space for evidence and explanation.
For students · Grades 4–8 · 1 page · PDF
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How to use it: The PSSA Text-Dependent Analysis Explained: A Guide for Pennsylvania Teachers
What's on the sheet
How your TDA is scored
One holistic score from 1 to 4, the same guideline in grades 4–8. The biggest difference between score points is the analysis:
| Score | Analysis | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | In-depth | Substantial, accurate, direct |
| 3 | Clear | Sufficient, accurate, direct |
| 2 | Weak or inconsistent | Vague |
| 1 | Insufficient or none | Insufficient |
Summary is not analysis
An essay that tells what happens in the text can sit at a 2 even with good quotes. Explain how or why.
Don’t copy the passage. A response made solely or almost solely of copied text can’t be scored.
Task and analysis
- I answered every part of the prompt.
- I made inferences from what the text says directly and what it suggests.
- After each piece of evidence, I explained how or why it supports my point.
- My essay leads to a conclusion about the text, not a retelling of it.
Evidence
- I referred to the text directly and accurately, with quotes or specific details.
- I used enough evidence to support each paragraph.
Organization and language
- My essay has a clear introduction, body and conclusion.
- I used transitions to connect my ideas.
- My words are precise, and I proofread for errors.
Plan it: evidence, then explanation
Evidence (quote or detail, with paragraph number)
How or why it supports my point
During the test you can open the scoring guidelines from the Help menu, and the Writer's Checklist reminds you to plan, focus and proofread. Student summary based on PDE's PSSA TDA Scoring Guidelines; not an official PDE document.