Writing Standards 2008 Final
Kindergarten Exit Writing Expectations
Conventions
Transition to phonetic spelling
Spells 1st 10 Aspen School District high-frequency words
Word Choice
Matches text to pictures
Uses descriptive words for images
2nd Grade Exit Writing Expectations
Conventions:
Uses capital correctly
Use end-of-sentence punctuation correctly
Spells 100% of the 1st 35 Rebecca Sitton priority words correctly
Spells 80% of the 1st 170 Rebecca Sitton core words correctly
Misspelled words use phonetic conventions.
Handwriting
Correct formation and usage of lower-case print including the size of letters and their location on the line.
Word Choice
Uses descriptive vocabulary and power verbs
Fluency
Uses complete sentences
Uses a variety of sentence lengths
Begins sentences in a variety of ways
Uses basic subject-verb agreement
Writing flows naturally when read aloud
Organization and Ideas
Stories have a beginning, middle and end
Expository writing has a clear topic, supporting details and a conclusion
Voice
Reader senses the writer behind the work
Writing in response to literature
Story maps
Event maps
Response journals
Character maps
Before and after, cause and effect comparisons
Character changes
Students are able to engage in sustained writing for 30 minutes with the goal of completing a finished piece.
Students are able to work with a piece over a period of days to edit and revise their work through self-checking protocols and conferencing.
4th Grade Exit Writing Expectations
Conventions
Correctly spells 100% of Level 4 Rebecca Sitton priority words correctly (1-75)
Correctly spells 80% of the 1st 500 Rebecca Sitton core words correctly
Uses and spells common contractions correctly.
Uses and applies basic spelling rules for pluralization
Uses end punctuation correctly
Uses commas correctly in compound sentences and in lists
Knows and uses correct pronoun case
Handwriting
In the 3rd grade, students will be introduced to and will practice cursive.
By the end of the 4th grade, 1st semester, students will have mastered cursive and all final work will be in cursive.
Word Choice
Identifies and uses adjectives and adverbs correctly
Uses descriptive vocabulary and power verbs
Uses a natural writing style which is concise
Identifies and avoids overused words, vague words and clichés
Fluency
Uses short, medium and long sentences
Uses a variety of sentence beginnings
Uses adjectives and adverbs appropriately
Uses effective word economy (trash or treasure)
Identifies subject and predicates in sentences
Applies noun/verb agreement correctly
Uses helping verbs correctly
Uses out-loud-reading as a revision technique
Organization and Ideas
Uses a story map effectively to write a complete story
Applies literary elements of setting, protagonist (good character), antagonist (bad character), problem, climax (turning point) and solution to original writing. Stories contain more than one problem
Introduce summary techniques
Uses Step Up to Writing t-chart to plan and write 11-sentence paragraph papers and multi- paragraph papers.
Uses common transition words (first, second, third – first, next, finally)
6th Grade Exit Writing Expectations
Conventions
Correctly spells 100% Level 6-8 Sitton priority words correctly (1-130)
Correctly spells 80% of the 1st 850 Sitton core words correctly
Uses and spells singular and plural possessives correctly
Uses and spells regular and irregular plural nouns correctly
Knows and uses correct capitalization, punctuation and abbreviations
Knows and uses correct pronoun case
Uses correct paragraph structure
Uses MLA citation format
Uses proofreader marks
Handwriting
All handwritten work completed in cursive
Demonstrates word processing skill at 20 wpm
All final pieces are typed
Word Choice
Uses adjectives and adverbs correctly
Chooses precise vocabulary
Uses a variety of figurative devices to convey meaning:
Personification
Symbolism
Simile
Metaphor
Fluency
Writes in complete sentences varying the types such as compound and complex, and using appropriately punctuated dependent clauses.
Maintains consistent tense
Applies standard English usage in writing, including subject-verb agreement and pronoun referents
Organization and Ideas
Uses a variety of techniques to create well-developed thesis statements
Uses a variety of techniques to create appropriate concluding statements
Buries transitions
Uses Step Up to Writing format to develop ideas in writing five paragraph essays
Revises work for organization, ideas, word choice, and sentence fluency
Edits work for conventions
Voice
Uses original, creative, expressive style and perspective appropriate for genre
8th Grade Exit Writing Expectations
Conventions
Correctly spells 100% Level 6-8 Sitton priority words correctly (1-130)
Correctly spells 80% of the 1st 1200 Sitton core words correctly
Uses resources such as spell checkers and dictionaries to demonstrate conventional spelling in final work
Punctuate and capitalize titles and direct quotations
Handwriting
All handwritten work completed in cursive
Demonstrates word processing skill at 30 wpm
All final pieces are typed
Word Choice
Identify and use parts of speech writing: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections
Uses correct pronoun case, regular and irregular noun and verb forms and subject-verb agreement involving comparisons
Uses modifiers, homonyms, and homophones
Uses precise, vivid vocabulary
Uses technical vocabulary from content areas
Fluency
Identify and use parts of speech writing: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections
Uses correct pronoun case, regular and irregular noun and verb forms and subject-verb agreement involving comparisons
Uses simple, compound, complex, and compound/complex sentences
Maintains consistent tense
Applies standard English usage in writing, including subject-verb agreement and pronoun referents
Organization and Ideas
Plans, revises, edits and proofreads a five to ten paragraph piece for a final copy in a two hour sustained session
Writes in a variety of genres with specific attention to essays, personal narratives, reports and letters.
Uses Step Up to Writing format to develop ideas and content with significant details, examples and/or reasons
Uses background information to create defendable thesis statement
Incorporates source material into writing
Applies skills of explanation, synthesis, analysis and evaluation to writing
Voice
Write with a voice appropriate to purpose and audience
