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TOPS K-8 Writing Continuum

Contents:

Grades K-3
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8

Grades K-3

	Kindergarten	First Grade		Second Grade
	Enter	Enter	Exit	Enter	Exit
Genre of Writing	Expository, Narrative	Narrative, Expository		Narrative, Expository, Persuasive, Reports
Ideas	Likes to write Communicates through guess and go drawing uses ideas from personal experience Can observe and record objects (science writing about salmon development, worms, twillers) Can limit writing on one piece to specific idea (science writing, school newspaper)	Can generate ideas Write, write, write Can transfer ideas to paper (in some form)	Can express ideas in writing Use of 'because'/explanation (expository) Writes from personal experience	Some flow of events Recall some events Lists too many details Stick to a subject Math Tell What they did	Reader understands the writer's intent. Writing keeps the attention of the reader. Math Explain the process Mathematical Thinking
Organization	Can write a simple sentence Can focus for 15 minutes Beginning/Middle/End		Beginning, middle, and end in stories Stay on topic 4-5+ sentences (expository)	Writes simple sentences	Does the piece of writing have a beginning, middle and end? Does it flow in a logical order? Lists main events only in a summary. Write in paragraph form Math Step by step explanations
Conventions	Forms/Knows letters (upper and lower) and sounds Knows some sight words, segments Writes name with uppercase first letter and the rest lower case. Okay pencil hold, a special grip Ready to write sitting position Left to right, top to bottom Spaces between words sometimes	Mechanics (letter formation) Some letter-sound correspondence	Capitols Punctuation (.?!) Use of upper and lower case letters Legible Grade level spelling	Some capitols and punctuation (periods)	Capitols at the beginning of sentences. Punctuation at the end of sentence. (.?) Most words spelled correctly. Legible writing, easy to read format. Commas

Grades 3-5

	Third Grade		Fourth Grade		Fifth Grade
	Enter	Exit	Enter	Exit	Enter	Exit
Genre of Writing	Narrative Persuasive Expository Report Respond to a prompt Report list with research - 1 additional resource. Math Explains process Journal Letter		Narrative Expository Persuasive	Narrative Expository Persuasive Biography Cite sources Bibliography Five "W"s	Narrative Expository Persuasive	Narrative Expository Persuasive Poetry Quest Biography
Ideas	Choose a topic from personal experience Respond to a prompt (briefly) Write a story (fiction)	Support/add detail to writing Cite sources	Being able to expand detail Uniqueness of ideas Adjectives/adverbs	More sophisticated use of all skills that were present at entry	Lots of ideas/content	Use of 7 intelligences Develop ideas (supporting sentences) Integrate/add "whys" to content
Organization	Stay with one idea for 1/2 page Pre-write Note-taking	Logical Sequence Control topic most of the time Beginning - middle - end in stories Learn some transition words and use them. Write complete sentences in response to a question.	Structure a paragraph Understand what "essay" means 2 to 3 sentences per paragraph Stick with a topic	5 - 6 paragraph essay 6 - 9 sentences per paragraph expand, add sophistication to B-M-E	Webbing skills Beginning, middle and end to stories Stay on a subject	Loose outline skills Strong opening and closing sentences Developed sequencing skills Note taking skills Math Write in complete sentences to answer questions and use relevant math terms. Science Use descriptive words and proper units of measure to relate observations.
Conventions	Understanding of capitol letter usage. (knowledge) Ending Punctuation Write a simple sentence. Difficulty correcting spelling in their own writing. Do D.O.L. (isolation)	Capitol letter usage Ending punctuation Grade level spelling Learned more editing skills, peer and on their own Begin to use (,") Re-read text to self and others (does it make sense?)	Everything Apostrophes Commas Complete sentences Indenting	Everything	Complete sentences and paragraphs Correct capitalization and punctuation	Consistently indent P.P. Use more variety of punctuation (!?) Spell check

Grades 6-8

	Sixth Grade		Seventh Grade		Eighth Grade
	Enter	Exit	Enter	Exit	Enter	Exit
Genre of Writing	Expository Narrative Persuasive	Expository Narrative Persuasive Poetry	LA Essay descriptive	Math Basic Treatise Art Narrative Expository	LA Essay Descriptive Persuasive Control of I-O-C Math Treatise Biography Art Narrative Expository
Ideas	Main idea vs detail Clearly state facts Choose and develop a report topic Express opinions	LA State a position and give supporting arguments Cites sources Math and Science Compare and contrast Separate fact/opinion Explain processes Describes observations Art Familiar with art elements	LA Write to an assigned topic	LA Cite examples from sources Science Summarize a collection of information Organize information in outline format Art Research - determine relevant information Proposals of intent Write about personal/emotional content Anticipate stages needed to complete a piece.	LA Cite examples from sources Art Research - determine relevant information Proposals of intent Write about personal/emotional content Anticipate stages needed to complete a piece.	LA Limit topic Cite evidence Science Analyze their own and other scientific writing Evaluate their and other scientific writing Math Able to summarize their learning and understanding after completing an investigation
Organization	Pre-writing (mind mapping) Understand paragraph structure	Math and Science Outline ideas	LA Organizes B-M-E Math Write complete sentences to answer a question.	LA Transitions Least important to most important Compare/contrast Math Write answers to a question that do not require the question to know what is being answered. Art Logical sequencing Compare/Contrast	LA Transitions Least important to most important Compare/contrast Art Logical sequencing Compare/contrast	LA Spatial Least to most Compare/contrast Set argument Transitions Math Tightly organized Clear explanations
Conventions	Consistent capitalization and punctuation Grade level spelling Knowledge of spelling weakness Identify nouns, verbs, and adjectives	Vary sentence structure Punctuate complex sentences Know and use parts of speech Break words into syllables	Punctuates Commas in a series Applies capitols Uses paragraphs Spells common words correctly	LA Quotations Hyphen Distinguish between complete sentences and fragments Art Art vocabulary - comfort level	Quotations Hyphen Distinguish between complete sentences and fragments	LA Commas for nonrestrictive clauses, sub. Clauses Pronoun/antecedent agreement Subject/verb agreement Art Art vocabulary fluency