- Kindergarten – Grade 5
- Grades 6–12 ELA
- Grades 6–12 Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, & Technical Subjects
Writing
Introduction
The following standards for K–5 offer a focus for instruction each year to help ensure that students gain adequate mastery of a range of skills and applications. Each year in their writing, students should demonstrate increasing sophistication in all aspects of language use, from vocabulary and syntax to the development and organization of ideas, and they should address increasingly demanding content and sources. Students advancing through the grades are expected to meet each year’s grade-specific standards and retain or further develop skills and understandings mastered in preceding grades. The expected growth in student writing ability is reflected both in the standards themselves and in the collection of annotated student writing samples in Appendix C.
Kindergarten
Text Types and Purposes
- K.W.1 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is…).
- K.W.2 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
- K.W.3 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.
Production and Distribution of Writing
- K.W.4 (Begins in grade 3)
- K.W.5 With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
- K.W.6 With guidance and support from adults, explore a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
- K.W.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).
- K.W.8 With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
- K.W.9 (Begins in grade 4)
Range of Writing
- K.W.10 (Begins in grade 3)
Grade 1
Text Types and Purposes
- 1.W.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
- 1.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
- 1.W.3 Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
Production and Distribution of Writing
- 1.W.4 (Begins in grade 3)
- 1.W.5 With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
- 1.W.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
- 1.W.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of “how-to” books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions).
- 1.W.8 With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
- 1.W.9 (Begins in grade 4)
Range of Writing
- 1.W.10 (Begins in grade 3)
Grade 2
Text Types and Purposes
- 2.W.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
- 2.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
- 2.W.3 Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure.
Production and Distribution of Writing
- 2.W.4 (Begins in grade 3)
- 2.W.5 With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing.
- 2.W.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
- 2.W.7 Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., read a number of books on a single topic to produce a report; record science observations).
- 2.W.8 Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.
- 2.W.9 (Begins in grade 4)
Range of Writing
- 2.W.10 (Begins in grade 3)
Grade 3
Text Types and Purposes
- 3.W.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
- 3.W.1.1 Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
- 3.W.1.2 Provide reasons that support the opinion.
- 3.W.1.3 Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, for example) to connect opinion and reasons.
- 3.W.1.4 Provide a concluding statement or section.
- 3.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- 3.W.2.1 Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.
- 3.W.2.2 Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
- 3.W.2.3 Use linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect ideas within categories of information.
- 3.W.2.4 Provide a concluding statement or section.
- 3.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
- 3.W.3.1 Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
- 3.W.3.2 Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations.
- 3.W.3.3 Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.
- 3.W.3.4 Provide a sense of closure.
Production and Distribution of Writing
- 3.W.4 With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
- 3.W.5 With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.
- 3.W.6 With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
- 3.W.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
- 3.W.8 Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
- 3.W.9 (Begins in grade 4)
Range of Writing
- 3.W.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Grade 4
Text Types and Purposes
- 4.W.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
- 4.W.1.1 Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
- 4.W.1.2 Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
- 4.W.1.3 Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition).
- 4.W.1.4 Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
- 4.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- 4.W.2.1 Introduce a topic clearly and group related information in paragraphs and sections; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
- 4.W.2.2 Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.
- 4.W.2.3 Link ideas within categories of information using words and phrases (e.g., another, for example, also, because).
- 4.W.2.4 Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.
- 4.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
- 4.W.3.1 Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
- 4.W.3.2 Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
- 4.W.3.3 Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
- 4.W.3.4 Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
- 4.W.3.5 Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Production and Distribution of Writing
- 4.W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
- 4.W.5 With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.
- 4.W.6 With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
- 4.W.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
- 4.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.
- 4.W.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
- 4.W.9.1 Apply grade 4 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions].”).
- 4.W.9.2 Apply grade 4 Reading standards to informational texts (e.g., “Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text”).
Range of Writing
- 4.W.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Grade 5
Text Types and Purposes
- 5.W.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
- 5.W.1.1 Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
- 5.W.1.2 Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
- 5.W.1.3 Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequently, specifically).
- 5.W.1.4 Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
- 5.W.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- 5.W.2.1 Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
- 5.W.2.2 Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.
- 5.W.2.3 Link ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, especially).
- 5.W.2.4 Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
- 5.W.2.5 Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.
- 5.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
- 5.W.3.1 Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.
- 5.W.3.2 Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, description, and pacing, to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
- 5.W.3.3 Use a variety of transitional words, phrases, and clauses to manage the sequence of events.
- 5.W.3.4 Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
Production and Distribution of Writing
- 5.W.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
- 5.W.5 With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
- 5.W.6 With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of two pages in a single sitting.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
- 5.W.7 Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
- 5.W.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.
- 5.W.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
- 5.W.9.1 Apply grade 5 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or a drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., how characters interact]”).
- 5.W.9.2 Apply grade 5 Reading standards to informational texts (e.g., “Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point[s]”).
Range of Writing
- 5.W.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
