A teacher grades written work. Which writing behavior would lead the teacher to wonder if a student lacks literacy motivation?

• A. The student has only completed half the assignment.
• B. The student has holes on the paper from erasing too much in one spot.
• C. The student leaves a note at the top that says I think I got an A+.
• D. A parent note explains that the student worked on the assignment for two hours but was unable to complete it.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing how motivation shows up in a student’s writing behavior. When a learner is motivated, they tend to stay with a task and complete it. So finishing only half of the assignment is a strong signal that the student may not be fully engaged or persistent enough to see the task through, which can indicate a literacy motivation issue.

Other behaviors describe different dynamics. Eroded pages from heavy erasing suggest editing attempts or a careful drafting process, not necessarily low motivation. A note at the top claiming “I think I got an A+” reflects self-perception or confidence, not how motivated the student is to complete the work. A parent note about spending two hours but still not finishing points to possible difficulty or struggle, which is about challenge level or support needs rather than a lack of motivation to start or persist.