Kindergarten Writing Expectation
Informational
Writing
 A complete
sentence
that includes
a topic and
detail about
the topic.
*text based
Opinion
Writing
 A complete
sentence
that gives an
opinion about
a topic.
*text based
Narrative
Writing
Conventions
 A sentence  Capitalize
that
Correctly
describes a  Include ending
single or
punctuation.
loosely
 Spell
related
phonetically
events. 
*text based
& personal
narrative
Sentence
Variety
included in
writing
 Simple
sentence.
 Simple
sentence
with
compound
subject.
 Simple
sentence
with
compound
predicate
***All writing should include a focus on legible handwriting with proper spacing.
***Elements of Writing Process: Add details, Publish writing (with prompting and
support)
1st Grade Writing Expectation
Informational
Writing
 A paragraph
that
includes a
topic, facts,
and sense of
closure.
*text based
Opinion
Writing
 A
paragraph
that
includes an
opinion,
reasons,
and sense
of closure.
*text based
Narrative
Writing
 A
paragraph
that
includes
sequenced
events,
details,
temporal
words, and
sense of
closure.
*text based &
personal
narrative
Conventions
 Capitalize
correctly
 Proper
ending
punctuation
 Use of
commas
(items in a
series)
 Mixture of
phonetic
spelling and
conventional
spelling
Sentence Variety
included in
writing
 Simple sentence.
 Simple sentence
with compound
subject.
 Simple sentence
with compound
predicate
 Compound
Sentences
 Interrogative,
imperative, and
exclamatory
sentences.

***All writing should include a focus on legible handwriting with proper spacing.
*** The Writing Process should include: (with prompting and support) adding details, publishing
(scaffolded-planning, drafting)
2nd Grade Writing Expectation
Informational
Writing
Opinion Writing
 A paragraph
 A paragraph
that
that includes
includes a
an opinion,
topic, facts,
reasons
definitions
 Use of
that support
linking/
the topic
transition
 Use of
words
linking/
 concluding
transition
statement
words
or section
 concluding
statement *text evidence is
or section
included in
paragraph
*text evidence is
included in
paragraph
Narrative
Writing

A paragraph
that includes
sequenced
events, and/or
details to
describe
actions,
thoughts, and
feelings
 Use of
temporal
words or
phrases
included
 sense of

closure
Conventions
 Capitalize
correctly
 Proper
ending
punctuation
 Use of
commas
 Use of
apostrophe
 Common
Spelling
Patterns
Sentence Variety
included in writing
 Simple sentence.
 Simple sentence
with compound
subject.
 Simple sentence
with compound
predicate
 Compound
Sentences
 Interrogative,
imperative, and
exclamatory
sentences.
*text based &
personal
narrative
***All writing should begin with a planning sheet. Handwriting should be legible.
*** The Writing Process should include: planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
3rd Grade Writing Expectation
Informational
Writing
4 Paragraph Essay
 Introduction
includes topic.
 Related
information is
grouped into
paragraphs
with
illustrations,
facts,
definitions, and
details.
 Internal linking
words and
phrases are
used within
body
paragraphs.
 Concluding
statement or
section.
Opinion Writing
4 Paragraph Essay
 Introduction
includes
opinion.
 Related reasons
are grouped
into paragraphs
 Internal linking
words and
phrases are
used within
body
paragraphs.
 Concluding
statement or
section.
*text evidence is
cited
Narrative
Writing






Clear
sequence of
events
Story has
Narrator/
characters
Dialogue is
included
Temporal
words or
phrases
included
Use of
description
for “show,
don’t tell”
Sense of
closure
*text based &
personal narrative
Conventions
 Capitalize
correctly
 Proper ending
punctuation
 Use of
commas
 Use of
quotation
marks
 Use of
apostrophe
 Common
Spelling
Patterns
 Indention
(for
paragraphs)
Sentence Variety
included in writing
 Simple
sentences
(declarative,
interrogative,
imperative, and
exclamatory)
 Compound
Sentences
 Complex
Sentences
 Use of Tier 2
and Tier 3
words is
consistent
within
sentences.
*text evidence is
cited
***All writing should begin with a planning sheet. Handwriting should be legible.
*** The Writing Process should include: planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing
4th Grade Writing Expectation
Informational
Writing
4-5 Paragraph Essay
 Introduction
includes topic.
 Related
information is
logically grouped
into paragraphs
with illustrations,
facts,
definitions,
quotes, and
details.
 Internal linking
words and
phrases are used
within body
paragraphs.
 Concluding
statement or
section.
*text evidence is cited
and explained
Opinion Writing
Narrative Writing
Conventions
4-5 Paragraph Essay
 Introduction
includes opinion.
 Related reasons
are logically
grouped into
paragraphs and
supported by
facts and details
 Internal linking
words and
phrases are used
within body
paragraphs.
 Concluding
statement or
section.
4-5 Paragraphs
 Clear sequence of
events
 Story has
Narrator/
characters
 Dialogue is
included
 Transitional
words and
phrases manage
sequence of
events.
 Temporal words
or phrases
included
 Use of
description for
“show, don’t tell”
 Sense of closure
 Capitalize
correctly
 Proper ending
punctuation
 Use of commas
 Use of quotation
marks
 Use of
apostrophe
 Common Spelling
Patterns
 Indention (for
paragraphs)
 Commonly
misspelled words
*text evidence is cited
and explained
Sentence Variety
Included in Writing
 Simple
sentences
(declarative,
interrogative,
imperative,
and
exclamatory)
 Compound
Sentences


*text based &
personal narrative
***All writing should begin with a planning sheet. Handwriting should be legible.
*** The Writing Process should include: planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing.
Complex
Sentences
Use of Tier 2
and Tier 3
words is
consistent
within
sentences.
5th Grade Writing Expectation
Informational
Writing
4-5 or more
Paragraph Essay
 Introduction
includes topic.
 Related
information is
logically grouped
into paragraphs
with illustrations,
facts,
definitions,
quotes, and
details.
 Internal linking
words and
phrases are used
within body
paragraphs.
 Concluding
statement or
section.
*text evidence is cited
and explained
Opinion Writing
Narrative Writing
4-5 or more
Paragraph Essay
 Introduction
includes opinion.
 Related reasons
are logically
grouped into
paragraphs and
supported by
facts and details
 Internal linking
words and
phrases are used
within body
paragraphs.
 Concluding
statement or
section.
4-5 or more
Paragraphs
 Clear sequence of
events
 Story has
Narrator/
characters
 Dialogue is
included
 Transitional
words and
phrases manage
sequence of
events.
 Temporal words
or phrases
included
 Use of
description for
“show, don’t tell”
 Sense of closure
*text evidence is cited
and explained
Conventions









Capitalize correctly
Proper ending
punctuation
Use of commas-to
separate
introductory
elements, set off
‘Yes,’ and ‘No,’, tag a
question, direct
address
Use of quotation
marks
Use of apostrophe
Common Spelling
Patterns
Indention (for
paragraphs)
Commonly misspelled
words
Underlining, quoting,
italicizing titles of
works (citing)
Sentence Variety
Included in Writing
 Simple
sentences
(declarative,
interrogative,
imperative,
and
exclamatory)
 Compound
Sentences


*text based &
personal narrative
***All writing should begin with a planning sheet. Handwriting should be legible.
*** The Writing Process should include: planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing.
Complex
Sentences
Use of Tier 2
and Tier 3
words is
consistent
within
sentences.