CCSS Language of Writing Instruction Matrix
NOTE: The word “prompt” does not appear in the CCSS, but since it is part of the language of the rubrics as well as a commonly used term in high-stakes writing assessments, EGUSD chose to include the term in the writing matrix. Additionally, while the term “thesis” appears in the CCSS in 6th grade, it is only logical to introduce it in 4th grade when students begin to master the multi-paragraph essay. A thesis is to an essay what a topic sentence is to a paragraph, and it is, therefore, essential terminology that needs to be taught.
Opinion/Argument (W-1) and Informational/Explanatory (W-2)K / 1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th / 6th / 7th / 8th / 9th/10th / 11th/12th
Focus / Prompt
· Task
· Purpose
· Audience / X / X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
Organization / Introduction
· Opinion
· Argument
· Claim
· Assertion
· Topic
· Topic Sentence (implied with “introduction”)
· Thesis
· Introductory Paragraph (implied with “introduction”) / X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Body
· Organization
· Structure
· Linking Words
· Linking Phrases
· Linking Clauses
· Transitions/Transitional / X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Conclusion
· Sense of closure
· Concluding statement/sentence
· Concluding section/paragraph / X
X / X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X
K / 1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th / 6th / 7th / 8th / 9th/10th / 11th/12th
Support/Evidence / Support/Evidence
· Facts
· Definitions
· Details
· Examples
· Quotations
· Credible Sources
· Counterargument
· Rhetorical Devices / X / X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Analysis
· Explanation/Examine
· Connection to opinion/argument
· Reasons/Reasoning / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
Language / Conventions*
· Grammar
· Punctuation
· Spelling
· Capitalization
· Sentence Structure / X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
Vocabulary
· Precise language
· Domain-specific vocabulary (from science and social studies) / X / X / X / X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X
Formal Style
· Word choice (e.g., academic language, figurative language, rhetorical device)
· Sentence structure / X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X
Additional / · Research
· Plan
· Revise (“Strengthen” at K and 1st)
· Edit
· Rewrite
· Publish / X
X
X / X
X
X / X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X / X
X
X
X
X
X
*While “conventions” and “grammar” are terms that show up in kindergarten, the explicit teaching of those words may be more appropriate beginning in third grade.