North Thurston Public Schools
Seventh Grade
Writing Pacing Guide
September
Units of
Study
EALR 1
Writing
Process
EALR 2
Audience/
Purpose/
Modes/
Forms
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
Writing
Process &
Structure
Expository
Bridging “step up to writing” to
Jane Schaffer activity.
Expository
Expository
Expository
Expository
Persuasive
Persuasive
Persuasive
Persuasive
Narrative
Narrative
Narrative
Narrative
Presentation
Sentence Fluency
Word Choice
Voice
Ideas
Organization
Presentation
Sentence Fluency
Word Choice
Voice
Ideas
Organization
Persuasive
Narrative
EALR 3
Traits of
Quality
Writing
(COS)
June
Writing with
Essay
Craft of
Writing
Writing
Poetry
Authors as
Fiction
Narrative
Organization
Writing
Revision
with
with
Mentors
& Intro. To
Purpose
Purpose
Essay Writing
(Within each unit of study, students are required to take at least one piece of writing through all steps of the writing process.)
Prewrite/Brainstorm Prewrite/Brainstorm Prewrite/Brainstorm
Prewrite/Brainstorm
Prewrite/Brainstorm
Prewrite/Brainstorm
Draft
Draft
Draft
Draft
Draft
Draft
Revise
Revise
Revise
Revise
Revise
Revise
Edit
Edit
Edit
Edit
Edit
Edit
Publish
Publish
Publish
Publish
Publish
Publish
Presentation
Sentence Fluency
Word Choice
Voice
Ideas
Organization
Presentation
Sentence Fluency
Word Choice
Voice
Ideas
Organization
Presentation
Sentence Fluency
Word Choice
Voice
Ideas
Organization
September
October
EALR 3
Traits of
Quality
Writing:
Review:
 Handwriting
o Sentence &Paragraph
(Conventions)
Spelling: homophones (ex.
their and there)
Capitalization: Reviews
capitalization rules.
Conventions
November
December
Spelling: frequently
misspelled words (e.g.,
occasion, recommendation,
sincerely)
Capitalization: Checks final
drafts
Punctuation: Commas
EALR 4
Evaluation
&
Assessment
(Including
scoring criteria)
Analyzing/Evaluating
writing:
Identifies aspects of an author’s
craft (e.g. point of view, bias)
Analyzing/Evaluating own
writing: Explains strengths and
weaknesses of own writing
using criteria (e.g. WASL
rubric, 6 trait)
Writing Goals:
Begins a written log of writing
goals.
Benchmarks
(District
level
assessments)
Literary Analysis
(process writing)
February
March
April
Spelling: Affixes and roots
(review Greek and Latin)
Capitalization:
Capitalizes geographic
regions, brand names
etc.
Capitalization: Checks final
drafts.
May
Grammar & Usage:
maintains consistent person
Punctuation:Hyphens
Grammar & Usage:
Uses parallel
construction in a list.
Capitalization: Uses capitals
correctly in an outline or list.
Punctuation:
Uses resources to check
punctuation.
Bullets
Grammar & Usage:
Uses subject vs. object pronouns
correctly. (I vs. me)
Grammar & Usage:
Uses comparative and
superlative adjectives
correctly.
Analyzing/Evaluating
writing:
Individual critiquing of own
writing.
Analyzing/Evaluating
writing:
Individual critiquing of own
writing.
Analyzing/Evaluating own
writing:
 Rereads own work
for revision
 Uses criteria to
choose and defend
choices for writing
portfolio
Writing Goals: Writes
reflection about growth in
writing. Monitors progress
and adjusts goals.
Analyzing/Evaluating own
writing:
 Rereads own work
for revision
 Uses criteria to
choose and defend
choices for writing
portfolio
Writing Goals:
Writes reflection about
growth in writing. Monitors
progress and adjusts goals.
Expository essay
(on-demand)
June
Spelling: Uses resources to
correct own spelling.
Punctuation:
Punctuation- Semicolons
Grammar and Usage rules:
Uses adverbs and adjectives
correctly.
(He ran well. vs. He ran good.)
January
Spelling: Greek and
Latin Roots
Analyzing/Evaluating
writing:
Identifies aspects of an
author’s craft (e.g. point of
view, bias)
Analyzing/Evaluating own
writing:
Explains strengths and
weaknesses of own writing
using criteria (e.g. WASL
rubric, 6 trait)
Writing Goals:
Writes reflection about
growth in writing. Monitors
progress and adjusts goals.
Literary Analysis
(process writing)
Analyzing/Evaluating
writing:
Individual critiquing of own
writing.
Analyzing/Evaluating own
writing:
 Rereads own work
for revision
 Uses criteria to
choose and defend
choices for writing
portfolio.
Writing Goals:
Writes reflection about growth
in writing. Monitors progress
and adjusts goals.
Expository Essay
(on-demand)
Resources
Lessons That Change Writers, Nancie Atwell (Heinemann – Firsthand)
Jane Schaffer, Jane Schaffer
Six Plus Traits of Writing, Ruth Cultham (Scholastic)
Mechanically Inclined, Jeff Anderson (Stenhouse)
Write Source 2000,( Great Source)
Grade 10 WASL Scoring Guide, Released Sample Items and Annotations, (OSPI)
NCTE website and English Journal
Please note that even thought 7th and 8th grade Plans are very similar there is an expectation of a higher level of skill and mastery at the
8th grade level.