It is getting close to that time again, PARCC testing. As you know, in the classroom writing can take many forms, including both informal and formal. There are three forms of writing covered in the CCSSs. Students are expected to learn to establish and maintain a formal style  in both argument and informative/explanatory pieces. The balance of student writing should be 65 percent analytical (30 percent opinions and 35 percent to explain/inform) and 35 percent narrative with a mix of on-demand and review-and-revision writing assignments. 

If your state is among those using PARCC Assessments, then you probably already know about the PARCC Website and Practice Tests.  

Forms of Writing

Opinion Pieces-Convince others to think or act in a certain way, to encourage readers to share the writer’s point of view (POV), beliefs or position (I think, I believe, you should/should not). For example:

·        Book, movie, or TV and theater reviews

·        Editorials

·        Feature columns

·        Letters to the editor

Informative/Explanatory Texts-Inform the reader by giving fats, explanations, and other information. For example:

·        Biographies

·        Directions

·        How-to articles

·        Magazines

·        News article

·        Recipes

·        Reports

·        Textbooks

Narratives-To entertain, it gives an account or story, usually tells about something that happens over a period of time, can be true or imaginary. For example:

·        Anecdotes

·        Autobiographies

·        Fables

·        Fairy Tales

·        Folktales

·        Friendly letters

·        Memoirs

·        Mysteries

·        Science Fiction`

·        Short stories

·        Stories

Argument Pieces-Support claim and/or convince others to think or act in a certain way, to encourage reader to share the writer’s opinion, belief, or position (I think, the facts show, the evidence shows).

The CCSS do not specify how to teach any form of writing, I suggest that you follow the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model (GRRM): I Do It (Minilessons),  We Do It (Collaborative Engagement), You Do It (Independent Application).

By using the GRRM, you will have a framework for releasing responsibility to your students in a gradual way (this applies to all students prek-6).

The three modes of Common Core writing distributed by grade level. Students should practice all three modes of writing, but there should be a growing emphasis on persuasive writing and a decreasing emphasis on narrative.

	Argumentative	Informative/Explanatory	Narrative
4th grade	30%	35%	35%
8th grade	35%	35%	30%
12th grade	40%	40%	20%

Strategies for Success

·        Teach students how to analyze and critique by annotating text and asking text-dependent questions

·        Teach students how to summarize.

·        Teach students how to compare and contrast.

·        Use district writing prompts and create ones of your own that are like them.

Building Sentence Fluency

       

      Sentence framing

     I like                               .

     I like to                                       and                                                  .

     My                                   is                                                              .

     When I                                     ,  I like to                                           .

     She didn’t go to                                  because                                   .

      Sentence expanding

     The pony walks.

     The white pony walks.

     The white pony walks on the road.

     The energetic white pony walks on the road

     The energetic white pony walks on the road while his mother sleeps.

       Sentence combining     

          My cat is black.  My cat is little

          My black cat is little.