Writing

Writing instruction focuses on communication through writing, listening and speaking. Teachers may vary the materials used for instruction, designing lessons suitable for individual students.

All third grade students utilize the writing process during Writing Workshop activities. For expository writing, Step-Up to Writing Program will be used to enhance organization skills. Students receive direct instruction in the mechanics of language including spelling, grammar and punctuation as well as cursive penmanship. Students actively engage in various writing exercises to strengthen ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions and presentation. Activities may include:

· Writing in daily journals to express personal thoughts

· Creating collections of poetry, using various poetic devices and forms

· Writing a variety of short stories, showing evidence of

o a good beginning, middle and end

o description (using the five senses)

o detail

o dialogue (using quotation marks appropriately)

· Writing research-based reports

Rubrics such as the following are used to help students evaluate and improve their writing.

Stylistic & Rhetorical Aspects of Writing Topic/Idea Development
1	2			3		4		5			6
Little topic development and/or organization, few details Possible evidence of voice Simplistic language (wording and sentence structures.	Limited topic development, focus, and/or details Evidence of voice Limited variety in language used (wording and sentence structures)			Moderate topic development, focus, and details Some voice Some variety in language used (wording and sentence structures)		Well developed with control and relevant details Consistent voice Variety in language used (wording and sentence structures)		Fully developed with strong details Sustained voice and/or tone with emerging style Effective use of language			Topic and details richly developed Distinctive voice, tone and style Rich use of language
Analytic Annotations
							Commendations			Needs
Topic Development			The overall effect of the paper				TX sustained development throughout TY creative and/or original			TJ less repetition of ideas TK more development of ideas/topic
Organization			The degree to which the response is: Focused Clearly and logically ordered Clarified by paragraphs				OX clearly focused OY good beginning and/or middle			OJ more effective use of paragraphing OK a stronger ending
Details			The degree to which the response includes examples that develop the main points				DX details support focus DY uses interesting details			DJ to avoid simply listing details DK more/relevant details
Language/Style			The degree to which the use of language, including vocabulary, word choice, word combination and sentence variety is effective				LX word choice enhances meaning LY sentence variety is used effectively			LJ more variety in word choice LK more variety in sentence structure
Standard English Conventions
1			2				3			4
Errors seriously interfere with communication AND Little control of sentence structures, grammar and usage and mechanics.			Errors interfere somewhat with communication and/or Few or no errors in simplistic text				Errors do not interfere with communication and/or Few errors relative to length of essay or complexity of sentence structure, grammar and usage and mechanics			Control of a variety of sentence structures, grammar and usage and mechanics Length and complexity of essay provides opportunity for student to show control of standard English conventions
Analytic Annotations
					Commendations				Needs
Sentences		The degree to which the response includes sentences that are correct in structure			SP correct sentences				SR correct sentence structures
Grammar and Usage		The degree to which the response demonstrates correct Use of standard grammatical rules of English Word usage and vocabulary			GUP correct application of grammatical rules GUQ control of vocabulary and word usage				GUR correct application of grammatical rules GUS greater attention to correct word usage
Mechanics		The degree to which the response demonstrates correct Spelling Capitalization Puctuation			MP control of mechanics aids clarity MQ correct mechanics in sophisticated constructions				MR greater control of mechanics MS more careful proofreading

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