1.    The student writes clearly and effectively.

Component 1:1
Develops concept and design.

1. Demonstrates consistency in focus and constructs a logical and defensible argument.
2. Gathers useful information to illustrate a point.
3. Demonstrates elaboration through examples, details, facts, and/or reasons and justification.
4. Uses effective organizational structure; constructs sequenced paragraphs using effective transitions with a clear introduction and conclusion.
5. Writes coherent paragraphs with attention to organization of ideas.
6. Writes analytically using basic and clear logic linked to prior knowledge, previous experience, and current issues.

Component 1:2
Uses style appropriate to audience and purpose.

1. Chooses voices appropriate to different genres and audiences and utilize persuasive devices.
2. Chooses language that is precise, engaging, and well-suited to the topic and audience.
3. Uses accurate and precise language relevant to content area, different contexts, cultures, and communities.
4. Uses figurative language, sound patterns, irony, humor, exaggeration, and dialogue.
5. Seeks words appropriate to the chosen purpose and appropriate to specific fields of academic study.
6. Varies sentence length, structure, and complexity.

Component 1:3
Applies writing conventions.

1. Uses compound and complex sentences, varying the style and types of sentences.
2. Employs conventional grammar such as subject/verb agreement and verb tense agreement.
3. Applies capitalization and punctuation rules correctly.
4. Spells correctly in final draft utilizing word processing technology.
5. Uses paragraphing, stanza division, and other textual markers such as table of contents, title and subtitle, and bullets and beginning reference notations.
6. Produces legible handwriting.

2.    The student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes.

Component 2:1
Writes for different audiences.

1. Writes for distant audiences such as pen pals, community members, specific fields of academic study such as science, social studies, mathematics, and the arts and for the district's writing assessment.
2. Determines and writes for the needs of different audiences.

Component 2:2
Writes for different purposes.

1. To express him/herself.
2. To inform others.
3. To create.
4. To explain ideas or procedures.
5. To persuade others.
6. To entertain.
7. To debate.
8. To question.

Component 2:3
Writes in a variety of forms.

1. Writes in a variety of forms and genres (narratives, journals, poems, essays, stories, research reports).
2. Varies form, detail, and structure of writing in accordance with intended audience and purpose.

Component 2:4
Writes for career applications.

1. Identifies particularly forms one might be required to use when writing in career settings (software programs or research reports).
2. Produces technical and non-technical documents using resources from career settings.
3. Uses different forms to cite sources when writing reports or technical documents (references, footnotes, and endnotes).

3.    The student understands and uses the steps of the writing process.

Component 3:1
Prewrites

1. Uses a variety of prewriting strategies (story mapping, listing, webbing, jotting, outlining, freewriting, brainstorming, Venn diagrams).
2. Uses available tools and technology such as word processing or Power Point.
3. Gathers information from a variety of sources such as interviews, multimedia, periodicals, reference materials, biographies, and the Internet.

Component 3:2
Drafts

1. Elaborates on initial idea.
2. Coordinates ideas and perspectives and takes variables into account.
3. Constructs a clear narrative or argument.

Component 3:3
Revises

1. Confers with others to improve text; evaluates suggestions from others.
2. Adds and deletes information and graphics as needed to enhance text and style.
3. Revises writing for the traits:  Organization, Sentence Fluency, Word Choice, Ideas, and Voice.

Component 3:4
Edits

1. Uses applicable reference tools.
2. Corrects errors independently utilizing word processing language options.
3. Adjusts word choice and sentence structure.
4. Corrects mechanics and grammar.
5. Edits for the trait of Conventions.

Component 3:5
Publishes

1. Selects from a variety of publishing options (school newspaper, bulletin boards, multimedia formats, and reference papers).
2. Produces a legible, neat final product.
3. Uses different technologies to produce a finished product.

4.    The student analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of written work.

Component 4:1
Assesses own strengths and needs for improvement.

1. Establishes and applies own criteria to improve writing.
2. Analyzes the works of effective writers to improve editing.
3. Articulates the qualities that make a piece of writing effective.
4. Evaluates writing with Six Trait Writing parameters.

Component 4:2
Seeks and offers feedback.

1. Accepts feedback and edits to revise own writing when appropriate.
2. Offers feedback with guidance on others' writing with regard to concept and design, style, and conventions.
3. Evaluates others' work according to Six Trait Writing.