Benchmarks (5 - 7)
A.
Generate writing topics and establish a purpose appropriate for the audience.
B.
Determine audience and purpose for self-selected and assigned writing tasks.
C.
Clarify ideas for writing assignments by using graphics or other organizers.
D.
Use revision strategies to improve the overall organization, the clarity and consistency of ideas within and among paragraphs and the logic and effectiveness of word choices.
G.
Apply tools to judge the quality of writing.
Benchmarks (8 - 10)
A.
Formulate writing ideas and identify a topic appropriate to the purpose and audience.
B.
Determine the usefulness of organizers and apply appropriate pre-writing tasks.
C.
Use revision strategies to improve the style, variety of sentence structure, clarity of the controlling idea, logic, effectiveness of word choice and transitions between paragraphs, passages or ideas.
E.
Apply tools to judge the quality of writing.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 6)
1.
Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.
2.
Conduct background reading, interviews or surveys when appropriate.
3.
Establish a thesis statement for informational writing or a plan for narrative writing.
4.
Determine a purpose and audience.
5.
Use organizational strategies (e.g., rough outlines, diagrams, maps, webs and Venn diagrams) to plan writing.
6.
Organize writing, beginning with an introduction, body and a resolution of plot, followed by a closing statement or a summary of important ideas and details.
8.
Group related ideas into paragraphs, including topic sentences following paragraph form, and maintain a consistent focus across paragraphs.
9.
Vary language and style as appropriate to audience and purpose.
10.
Use available technology to compose text.
16.
Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 7)
1.
Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.
2.
Conduct background reading, interviews or surveys when appropriate.
3.
Establish a thesis statement for informational writing or a plan for narrative writing.
4.
Determine a purpose and audience
5.
Use organizational strategies (e.g., rough outlines, diagrams, maps, webs and Venn diagrams) to plan writing.
6.
Organize writing with an effective and engaging introduction, body and a conclusion that summarizes, extends or elaborates on points or ideas in the writing.
8.
Group related ideas into paragraphs, including topic sentences following paragraph form, and maintain a consistent focus across paragraphs.
10.
Use available technology to compose text.
16.
Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 8)
1.
Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.
2.
Conduct background reading, interviews or surveys when appropriate.
3.
Establish a thesis statement for informational writing or a plan for narrative writing.
4.
Determine a purpose and audience and plan strategies (e.g., adapting focus, content structure and point of view) to address purpose and audience.
5.
Use organizational strategies (e.g., notes and outlines) to plan writing.
6.
Organize writing with an effective and engaging introduction, body and a conclusion that summarizes, extends or elaborates on points or ideas in the writing.
8.
Group related ideas into paragraphs, including topic sentences following paragraph form, and maintain a consistent focus reinforced by parallel structures across paragraphs.
10.
Use available technology to compose text.
16.
Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 9)
1.
Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.
2.
Determine the usefulness of and apply appropriate pre-writing tasks (e.g., background reading, interviews or surveys).
3.
Establish and develop a clear thesis statement for informational writing or a clear plan or outline for narrative writing.
4.
Determine a purpose and audience and plan strategies (e.g., adapting focus, content structure and point of view) to address purpose and audience.
5.
Use organizational strategies (e.g., notes and outlines) to plan writing.
6.
Organize writing to create a coherent whole with an effective and engaging introduction, body and conclusion, and a closing sentence that summarizes, extends or elaborates on points or ideas in the writing.
8.
Use paragraph form in writing, including topic sentences that arrange paragraphs in a logical sequence, using effective transitions and closing sentences and maintaining coherence across the whole through the use of parallel structures.
10.
Use available technology to compose text.
16.
Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.
Grade Level Indicators (Grade 10)
1.
Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material, and keep a list of writing ideas.
2.
Determine the usefulness of and apply appropriate pre-writing tasks (e.g., background reading, interviews or surveys).
3.
Establish and develop a clear thesis statement for informational writing or a clear plan or outline for narrative writing.
4.
Determine a purpose and audience and plan strategies (e.g., adapting focus, content structure, and point of view) to address purpose and audience.
5.
Use organizational strategies (e.g., notes, outlines) to plan writing.
6.
Organize writing to create a coherent whole with an effective and engaging introduction, body and conclusion, and a closing sentence that summarizes, extends or elaborates on points or ideas in the writing.
8.
Use paragraph form in writing, including topic sentences that arrange paragraphs in a logical sequence, using effective transitions and closing sentences and maintaining coherence across the whole through the use of parallel structures.
10.
Use available technology to compose text.
16.
Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing.