Writing

Writing is an integral part of the Holtzman classroom. In room 123 students will have writing workshop on a daily basis. Students will be asked to keep a writing journal that will coordinate with reading, language arts and math. Students will be asked to write reports, stories, poetry, essays, descriptive writing, etc.

Writing will be graded using the Pennsylvania Writing Assessment Scoring Guide (posted below) or another rubric specifically designed for a certain writing assignment.

THOMAS W. HOLTZMAN

FOURTH GRADE WRITING ASSESSMENT DOMAIN SCORING GUIDE

FOCUS	CONTENT	ORGANIZATION	STYLE	CONVENTIONS
· Clear ideas that the reader understands · All about the topic	· Write information and details about the topic. · Complete explanations through examples, reasons, or opinions	· Good beginning with introduction · Middle with details · Definite ending · Everything explained in order	· Colorful language · Exact words · Variety of sentences	· Mechanics, spelling, capitalization, punctuation · Complete sentences

	FOCUS	CONTENT	ORGANIZATION	STYLE	CONVENTIONS
4	Sharp focus: · Clear ideas that the reader understands · All about the topic	Well-developed ideas with many details.	Clear and logical organization of content with good transitions	· Sentences are varied · Words are varied and colorful	· Few spelling and grammar errors · Sentences are well formed
3	Satisfactory focus · Most sentences stay on topic	Satisfactory content: · Contains some explanations and details.	Acceptable organization · Beginning, middle and end	Some variety with sentence and/or word choice	· Spelling and grammar errors do not interfere with meaning · Sentence formation is adequate
2	Unclear focus: · Does not stay on topic	Limited content with few or confused ideas and details.	Partially organized Organization of content is confusing and unrelated	Limited word choice and variety of sentence structure	· Spelling and grammar errors interfere with readers understanding · Sentence formation is poor
1	No focus No evidence of a topic	Unrelated or very little content	Little or no attempt at organization	Little variety in word choice or sentence structure	· Spelling and grammar errors make writing extremely difficult to understand · Many sentences are incomplete

NON-SCORABLE	OFF-PROMPT
· Is illegible: i.e., includes so many undecipherable words that no sense can be made of the response · Is incoherent: i.e., words are legible but syntax is so garbled that response makes no sense · Is insufficient; i.e., does not include enough to assess domains adequately · Is a blank paper	· Is readable but did not respond to prompt