Grade 4 Third Prompt - Departments

1 Grade 4 Third Prompt Informational Reports Writing a newspaper article English/Language Arts Content Standards: Writing Strategies Create multiple-paragraph compositions. Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics) Write information reports: a. Frame a central question about an issue or situation. b. Include facts and details for focus. Writing Situation A fad is a fashion in dress, actions, items, or speech that is popular for a brief time. ( , Pokemon, baggy jeans, break dancing, scooters.) Think about some of the fads that students on your own campus follow.

2 Which ones are acceptable at your school? Which fads have been banned by school officials? Think back to last year s fads and note which ones are still in. (Allow an opportunity for discussion.) Directions for Writing A student from the state of Virginia is seeking information for her school newspaper about popular elementary school fads that occur in other states. The California school that she has chosen is yours. Write an article for her newspaper in which you report on the current acceptable fads at your school. Include information on which fads were popular last year but are no longer in.

3 Writing Conventions For this writing task, students will write an informational essay that: a. is written to an identified audience. b. establishes and supports a central idea. c. concludes with a paragraph that summarizes the points. d. uses fluid and legible cursive or joined italic. e. demonstrates Grade -level appropriate sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Resources: Reading/Language Arts Framework for California Public Schools, pp. 115-116 Writers Express Handbook, pp. 72-77 Writers Express Lessons and Assessments, pp. 38-41 Writers Express Program Guide, pp.

4 75-82 Grade 4 Third Prompt rubric Informational Report Writing a newspaper article 4 Fully addresses the Prompt . Is clearly organized in a logical sequence that frames a central question about an issue or situation. Is appropriate for the intended audience. Is a multi-paragraph composition with an introduction that establishes a central idea, supporting details that include facts and details for focus, and an effective summary conclusion. Has a variety of sentence patterns that include compound and complex sentences. Has effectiveness and variety of word choice.

5 Has descriptive language that uses well-chosen sensory details. Has Grade -level appropriate spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation; contains few, if any, errors that do not interfere with understanding the writing. Has fluid, legible handwriting using cursive or joined italic. 3 Responds to the Prompt . Is organized in a logical sequence. Is appropriate for the intended audience. Is a multi-paragraph composition with an introduction, some supporting details, and a summary conclusion. Has more than one sentence pattern that include compound and complex sentences.

6 Has some variety in word choice. Has some descriptive language and sensory details. Has mainly Grade -level appropriate spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation; contains some errors that do not interfere with understanding the writing. Has legible cursive or joined italic handwriting with appropriate spacing and most letters formed correctly. 2 Attempts to respond to the Prompt . May lack organization. May be inappropriate for the intended audience. May lack proper paragraphing and/or details that support a central idea. Contains mainly one sentence pattern; may use some compound sentences.

7 May have little or no variety in word choice. May contain little or no descriptive language or sensory details. Has handwriting that is difficult to read with errors that may interfere with meaning. 1 May not respond to the Prompt . (May be off topic.) Lacks organization; may not support a central idea. May be inappropriate for the intended audience. Has mainly incomplete and/or incoherent sentences. Contains mainly basic sight words with no descriptive language. May contain frequent and numerous errors in spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation that interfere with the understanding of the writing.

8 Handwriting may be mostly illegible. BP Blank Paper Grade 4 Third Prompt - Student Page Informational Report Writing a newspaper article Writing Situation A fad is a fashion in dress, actions, items, or speech that is popular for a brief time. ( , Pokemon, baggy jeans, break dancing, scooters.) Which ones are acceptable at your school? Which fads have been banned by school officials? Think back to last year s fads and note which ones are still in. Directions for Writing A student from the state of Virginia is seeking information for her school newspaper about popular elementary school fads that occur in other states.

9 The California school that she has chosen is yours. Write an article for her newspaper in which you report on the current acceptable fads at your school. Include information on which fads were popular last year but are no longer in. Writing Conventions For this writing task, you will write an informational essay that: a. is written to an identified audience. b. establishes and supports a central idea. c. concludes with a paragraph that summarizes the points. d. uses fluid and legible cursive or joined italic. e. demonstrates Grade -level appropriate sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

10 District Writing Sample Scoring Rationale Third Prompt , Grade 4 Informational Reports Writing a newspaper article rubric Score Point: 4 high Characteristics that make the paper a high 4: a. Fully address the Prompt . b. Has legible cursive handwriting. c. Contains a variety of sentence patterns. d. Is appropriate for the intended audience. e. Has descriptive language that uses well-chosen sensory details. f. Is a multi-paragraph composition with a strong introduction, supporting details, and conclusion. g. Includes some spelling errors. Additional instructional steps for the writer s growth would include: a.