Writing Standards

(In accordance with NYS common core standards):

Students write coherent and focused essays (both creative and analytical) that convey a well-defined perspective and tightly reasoned argument.  Emphasis is placed on developing analytical and/or critical essays in a clear, concise, and cohesive manner.  The writing demonstrates students’ awareness of the audience and purpose and progression through the stages of the writing process emphasized during freshman year.  Additionally, students will:

  • Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence. Explore and inquire into areas of interest to formulate an argument.
  • Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
  • Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of discourse (e.g., purpose, speaker, audience, form) when completing narrative, expository, persuasive, or descriptive writing assignments.
  • Use point of view, characterization, style (e.g., use of irony), and related elements for specific rhetorical and aesthetic purposes.
  • Structure ideas and arguments in a sustained, persuasive, and sophisticated way and support them with precise and relevant examples.
  • Use language in natural, fresh, and vivid ways to establish a specific tone.
  • Narrate a sequence of events and communicate their significance to the audience.
  • Describe with concrete sensory details the sights, sounds, and smells of a scene and the specific actions, movements, gestures, and feelings of the characters; use interior monologue to depict the characters’ feelings.
  • Make effective use of descriptions of appearance, images, shifting perspectives, and sensory details.
  • Support important ideas and viewpoints through accurate and detailed references to the text and to other works.
  • Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
  • Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
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