[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-447467-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":80,"doc-detail-447467-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":73,"head_meta":75,"extra_data":77,"updated_unix":79},105,"en","mcap-ms-ss-faq-evidence-based-argument-set-ebas","MCAP MS-SS FAQ - Evidence Based Argument Set (EBAS)","","Overview of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) explains how the MCAP MS-SS middle school social studies assessment supports educators, families, and the public by reporting student progress toward Maryland state content standards. It outlines the rationale for adding a middle school social studies assessment, the four-session forty-minute structure, and the Evidence Based Argument Set (EBAS) that measures historical thinking, source evaluation, and argument construction using claims and evidence from multiple sources.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/mcap-ms-ss-faq-evidence-based-argument-set-ebas/447467/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/mcap-ms-ss-faq-evidence-based-argument-set-ebas/447467.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"dbqoiu","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-05","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":30},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What is MCAP and what subjects does it cover?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"MCAP includes all state and federally mandated assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Government, and Kindergarten Readiness, plus Alternate Assessments for select students.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"How is the MCAP MS-SS middle school social studies assessment structured?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"It is divided into four forty-minute sessions. Two sessions are dedicated to the Evidence Based Argument Set (EBAS), and the other two include selected response, technology enhanced items, and four-point constructed response items focused on United States History.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"What does the EBAS assess and how do students respond?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"EBAS measures historical thinking by evaluating sources, identifying credible information, and constructing arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources. Students answer two point constructed response questions and one four point constructed response item based on a compelling question and source-based evidence.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},447467,1790800850,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",[83,87,91,94,99,104,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":84,"show_sort_weight":85,"slug":86},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":88,"show_sort_weight":89,"slug":90},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},70,"exam",{"id":95,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":100,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":105,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":95,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":131},{"doc_id":78,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":30,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":110},3985747862462,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","Background  \nWhat is MCAP?  \nThe Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) encompasses all state and federallymandated assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Government, and Kindergarten Readiness. MCAP also includes Alternate Assessments for select students. It provides information to educators, parents and the public on student progress towards proficiency on the Maryland state content standards.  \nWhy do we have a middle school social studies assessment?  \nIn 2017, the Maryland General Assembly amended Md. Ed. Art §7-203 Education Accountability Program. The amendment called for the creation of a middle school grade band assessment in social studies. The law states that the assessment shall be developed in collaboration with county boards, curriculum specialists, teachers, and academics with expertise in social studies education. It further defined the assessment by stating that it should,“Consist to the greatest extent possible, of criterionreferenced, performance-based tasks that require students to utilize critical and historical thinking skills and analyze primary sources.”  \nAssessment Format  \nHow is the middle school social studies assessment structured?  \nThe assessment will be divided into four forty-minute sessions. Two of those sessions will be dedicated to an Evidence Based Argument Set (EBAS) . The remaining two sessions will be comprised of selected response, technology enhanced, and four-point constructed response items that measure student understanding of United States History content.  \nWhere can I find out more about what is included on the assessment?  \nThe assessment limits are delineated in the State Framework for Middle School United States History which was released in December, 2018. The framework is located at:  \n[http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DCAA/SocialStudies/8thGrade/MiddleSchoolUnited](http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DCAA/SocialStudies/8thGrade/MiddleSchoolUnited)[ ](http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DCAA/SocialStudies/8thGrade/MiddleSchoolUnited)[StatesHistoryFramework.pdf.](StatesHistoryFramework.pdf.)  \nWill one time period between the years 1763-1890 in the Middle School United States History course get more coverage than another?  \nNo, the content in the state framework will be assessed equally across all time periods ensuring a chronological balance to the test questions.  \nWhat skills will be assessed?  \nStandard 6.0: Social Studies Skills and Processes will be assessed on the Evidence-Based Argument Set (EBAS) . The EBAS will measure a student’s ability to:  \n● Evaluate the relevance and utility of a historical source, based on information such as authority, origin, type, context, and corroborative value of each source.  \n● Identify credible, relevant information contained in the sources.  \n● Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.  \nHow will these skills be assessed?  \nThe Evidence Based Argument Set (EBAS) will assess the student’s historical thinking skills and processes. These items will provide students with an overarching compelling question, background information, and source-based evidence including pertinent details regarding the sourcing information. Using this information, students will answer two point constructed response questions and one four point constructed response item.  \nShould these skills be taught only in Grade 8?  \nNo, the grade band nature of the middle school social studies assessment requires that the skills assessed on the MCAP MS-SS assessment be introduced in grade 6, expanded on in grade 7 and refined in grade 8. The data from the skills portion of the assessment should help inform the entire middle school social studies program, not just grade 8.  \nAssessment Administration  \nHow should the middle school social studies assessment be administered in schools?  \nThe assessment is designed to be administered sequentially, however local school","cbCaibrnOoRGJLri","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibrnOoRGJLri","pdf",151390,"English","# Background\n## What is MCAP?\n## Why do we have a middle school social studies assessment?\n# Assessment Format\n## How is the middle school social studies assessment structured?\n## Where can I find out more about what is included on the assessment?\n## Will one time period between the years 1763–1890 get more coverage?\n## What skills will be assessed?\n## How will these skills be assessed?\n## Should these skills be taught only in Grade 8?\n# Assessment Administration\n## How should the assessment be administered in schools?\n## When will it be administered?\n## What is a field test?\n# Assessment Support Tools\n## Will scoring rubrics be provided?\n## Will a practice test be available online?\n## Will anchor papers be made available?","[{\"question\":\"What is MCAP and what subjects does it cover?\",\"answer\":\"MCAP includes all state and federally mandated assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Government, and Kindergarten Readiness, plus Alternate Assessments for select students.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the MCAP MS-SS middle school social studies assessment structured?\",\"answer\":\"It is divided into four forty-minute sessions. Two sessions are dedicated to the Evidence Based Argument Set (EBAS), and the other two include selected response, technology enhanced items, and four-point constructed response items focused on United States History.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the EBAS assess and how do students respond?\",\"answer\":\"EBAS measures historical thinking by evaluating sources, identifying credible information, and constructing arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources. Students answer two point constructed response questions and one four point constructed response item based on a compelling question and source-based evidence.\"}]","MCAP MS-SS FAQ - Evidence Based Argument Set (EBAS) | PDF",1790720613]