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The American Heritage Children's Dictionary

Books to Build on: A Grade-By-Grade Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers (Core Knowledge Series)

Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children: A Lively, Opinionated Guide

2.1. write brief narratives describing an experience

2.2. write brief descriptions of a real object, person, place, or event using sensory details

2.1. write brief narratives based on one's experience that

1) move through a logical sequence of events

2) describe the setting, characters, objects, and events in detail

2.2. write a friendly letter complete with date, salutation, body, closing, signature

2.1. write narratives that

1) provide a context within which an incident occurs

2) provide insight into why this incident is memorable

3)include well-chosen detail to develop the plot

2.2. generate descriptions that use concrete sensory details to present and support unified impressions of people, places, things, or experiences

2.3. generate personal and formal letters, thank yous, and invitations that

1) address knowledge and interests of the audience, stated purpose, and context

2) include the date, proper salutation, body, closing, and signature

2.1. write narratives that

1) relate ideas, observations, and/or memories using narrative strategies

2) provide a context to enable the reader to imagine the world of the event or experience

3) provide insight into why this incident is memorable

2.2. write response to literature that

1) demonstrates an understanding of the literary work

2) supports judgments through references to the text and prior knowledge

2.3. write research reports that

1) frame a key question about an issue or situation

2) present a literal understanding of the topic

3) include facts and details that illuminate the main ideas

4) draw from more than one source of information (speakers, books, newspapers, media sources)

2.1. write narrative accounts that

1) establish a situation, plot, point of view, setting, and/or conflict

2) show rather than tell the events of the story

2.2. write specialized expository essays speculating on causes and effects that

1) describe the situation

2) establish the connection between the situation and the postulated causes or effects

3) offer simple persuasive evidence for the validity of the proposed causes or effects

2.3. write research reports about key ideas, issues, or situations that

1) frame questions to direct the investigation and establish

a controlling idea/topic

3) develop the topic with simple facts, details, examples, and explanations

2.1. write narrative accounts that

1) establish a context or create a point of view that offers some insight or meaning to the experience narrated

2) include sensory details and concrete language to develop plot and character

3) use a range of narrative strategies such as dialogue and suspense

2.2. write specialized expository essays (description, explanation, comparison and contrast, problem/solution) that

1) state the thesis or purpose of the paper, describing the situation

2) follow an organizational pattern particular to its type (i.e., if description, is spatial; if problem/solution, is paired)

3) offer persuasive evidence for the validity of the description, proposed solutions, etc.

2.3. write research reports that

1) pose relevant questions narrow enough to be thoroughly covered

2) support the main idea(s) with facts, details, examples, and explanations from multiple authoritative sources (speakers, periodicals, on-line searches)

3) use a bibliography

2.4. write a response to literature that

1) develops an interpretation which exhibits careful reading, understanding, and insight

2) organizes the interpretation around several clear ideas, premises, or images

3) develops and justifies the interpretation through sustained use of examples and textual evidence

2.5. write persuasive essays that

1) state a clear position in support of a proposition or proposal

2) support position with organized and relevant evidence

2.1. write narrative accounts that

1) develop a standard plot line (beginning, conflict, rising action, climax, denouement)

2) develop complex major and minor characters and a definite setting

3) use a range of appropriate strategies, such as dialogue, suspense, naming, and specific narrative action, e.g., movement, gestures, expressions

2.2. write summaries that

1) contain the main ideas of the event/article plus the most significant details

2) are written in own words, except for material quoted from the source

3) reflect the underlying meaning of the source, not just the superficial details

2.3. write research reports that

1) pose relevant and tightly drawn questions about the topic

2) convey a clear and accurate perspective on the subject

3) include evidence generated through the formal research process (e.g., card catalogue, Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, computer catalog, magazines, newspapers, dictionaries)

4) credit reference sources with footnotes and a bibliography

2.4. write persuasive essays that

1) state a clear position or perspective in support of a proposition or proposal

2) describe the points in support of the proposition, employing well-articulated evidence

2.1. write biographical or autobiographical accounts that

1) relate a clear, coherent incident, event or situation by using well-chosen details

2) reveal the significance of, or the writer's attitude about, the subject

3) employ narrative and descriptive strategies such as relevant dialogue, specific action, physical description, background description, and comparison or contrast of characters

2.2. write research reports that

1) define a thesis

2) record important ideas, concepts, direct quotes from significant information sources, paraphrasing and summarizing as appropriate

3) use a variety of primary and secondary sources, distinguishing the nature and value of each

4) organize and record information on charts, maps, and graphs

2.3. write a response to literature that

1) extends beyond summary and literal analysis in responding to a literary work

2) connects own responses to the writer's techniques and to specific textual references

3) draws supported inferences about the effects of a literary work on its audience

4) supports judgments through references to the text, other works, other authors, or to personal knowledge


2.4. write persuasive essays that

1) include a well-defined thesis that makes a clear and knowledgeable judgment

2) support arguments with detailed evidence, examples, and reasoning, differentiating between evidence and opinion

3) arrange details, reasons, examples, effectively anticipating and answering reader concerns and counter-arguments

2.5. generate writings related to career development including business letters and job applications that

1) have an audience and purpose clearly evident in the communication

2) address audience needs, stated purpose, and context in an efficient manner

3) follow the conventional style for the type (e.g., letter, memo, message)

2.1. write narrative essays (autobiographical or fictional) that:

1) narrate a sequence of events and communicate their significance to the audience

2) locate scenes and incidents in specific places

3) develop the narrative elements with concrete sensory details and language (e.g., visual details of scenes; descriptions of sounds, smells, specific actions; movements and gestures; interior monologue or feelings of characters)

4) effectively paces the presentation of actions to accommodate time or mood changes

2.2. write expository essays that define, inform, explain or do a combination of all three, including essays of analysis and research papers that:

1) marshal evidence in support of a thesis and related claims

2) convey information and ideas from primary and secondary sources accurately and coherently

3) make distinction about the relative value and significance of specific data, facts, and ideas

4) organize and record information on charts, maps, and graphs for use as visuals, employing appropriate technology

5) anticipate and address reader's potential misunderstandings, biases, and expectations

6) use technical terms and notations accurately

2.1. write persuasive essays, including evaluation, interpretation and speculation about problem/solution and causes and effects that:

1) structure ideas and arguments in a sustained and logical fashion

2) use specific rhetorical devices to back up assertions (e.g., via an appeal to logic through reasoning; via an appeal to emotion or ethical belief; or by personal anecdote, case study, or analogy)

3) clarify and defend positions with precise and relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations, and/or expressions of commonly accepted beliefs, logical reasoning

4) anticipate and address reader's concerns and counterclaims.

2.2. write descriptive essays that:

1) provide a clear spatial perspective on the object being described

2) clearly establish author's relationship with the object (e.g., objective, involved)

3) make effective use of factual descriptions of appearance, concrete images, shifting perspectives and vantage points, and sensory detail

2.1. write reflective essays that:

1) explain the significance of personal experiences, events, conditions, or concerns using rhetorical strategies such as narration, description, exposition

2) draw comparisons between the specific incident and broader themes that illustrate the writer's important beliefs or generalizations about life

3) maintain a balance between describing the incident and relating it to more general abstract ideas

2.2. produce historical investigation reports that:

1) use exposition, narration, description, argumentation, exposition or some combination of the rhetorical strategies to support the main proposition

2) analyze several historical records of a single event, examining critical relationships between and among elements of the research topic

3) explain the perceived reason(s) for the similarities and differences, using information derived from primary and secondary sources to support or enhance the presentation

4) consider the validity and reliability of sources

2.1. write essays of literary analysis that:

1) advance a judgment that demonstrates a comprehensive grasp of the significant ideas of works or passages

2) analyze the use of imagery, language, universal themes and unique aspects of text through the use of such rhetorical strategies as narration, description, argumentation, exposition or some combination of the four modes

3) support key ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text or to other works

4) demonstrate awareness of the author's use of stylistic devices and an appreciation of the effects created

5) identify and assess the impact of perceived ambiguities, nuances, and complexities within text

2.2. deliver multimedia presentations that

1) combine text, images, and sound, synthesizing information from a wide range of materials including television, videos, films, newspapers, magazines, CD ROMs, Internet and computer media generated images;

2) select an appropriate medium for each element of the presentation;

3) use the selected media skillfully, including editing and monitoring for quality; and

4) test audience response and revise the presentation accordingly.