Select an appropriate topic Opening (e.g. vivid What is your subject—and open to examination, description, engaging what are you saying about it? discussion, or explanation questions, anecdote, Is your topic an interesting, Engage reader with an quotation, statement of fact) yet manageable, subject for intriguing opening Thesis statement writing? Prioritize and organize Context Has your thesis clearly reasons and evidence Formatting captured your topic and logically to support thesis Graphics complex ideas? Select and utilize Multimedia Have you introduced your appropriate graphics, topic in an interesting and formats and/or multimedia engaging way? to support thesis and add What organizational patterns clarity to the and/or techniques will you Introduce a organize use to clarify and emphasize complex ideas, concepts, your ideas (e.g., concept and information so that each definition, classification, new element builds on that comparison/contrast, and which precedes it to create a cause/effect, unified whole; include time order)? formatting (e.g., headings), Do your ideas build in a graphics (e.g., figures, logically organized way? tables), and multimedia Can any specific formatting, when useful to aiding graphics and/or multimedia comprehension. help your explanation? Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Progression to Mastery Key Concepts Guiding Prompts Assess the audience’s level Relevant facts What are the purpose, of knowledge and concerns Concrete details audience, and situation for and address those in the Elaboration this writing? writing Extended definitions What criteria should you Evaluate and select Understanding of audience when choosing which information and examples knowledge, concerns facts, details or other based on significance and information to include? relevance What details, or sources Support thesis with the are most important to strongest examples include? Use evidence to effectively What is the most effective elaborate on the topic way to develop this topic? Develop the topic thoroughly Have you developed the by selecting the most thoroughly? significant and relevant, and How do you integrate and sufficient facts, extended interpret the evidence to definitions, concrete details, support your thesis? quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic.
Select an appropriate topic open to examination, discussion, or explanation Engage reader with an intriguing opening Prioritize and organize reasons and evidence logically to support thesis Select and utilize appropriate graphics, formats and/or multimedia to support thesis and add clarity to the Introduce a organize complex ideas, concepts, and information so that each new element builds on that which precedes it to create a unified whole; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. Opening (e.g. vivid description, engaging questions, anecdote, quotation, statement of fact) Thesis statement Context Formatting Graphics Multimedia What is your subject—and what are you saying about it? Is your topic an interesting, yet manageable, subject for writing? Has your thesis clearly captured your topic and complex ideas? Have you introduced your topic in an interesting and engaging way? What organizational patterns and/or techniques will you use to clarify and emphasize your ideas (e.g., concept definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect, time order)? Do your ideas build in a logically organized way? Can any specific formatting, graphics and/or multimedia help your explanation? Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Progression to Mastery Key Concepts Guiding Prompts Assess the audience’s level of knowledge and concerns and address those in the writing Evaluate and select information and examples based on significance and relevance Support thesis with the strongest examples Use evidence to effectively elaborate on the topic Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Relevant facts Concrete details Elaboration Extended definitions Understanding of audience knowledge, concerns What are the purpose, audience, and situation for this writing? What criteria should you when choosing which facts, details or other information to include? What details, or sources are most important to include? What is the most effective way to develop this topic? Have you developed the thoroughly? How do you integrate and interpret the evidence to support your thesis?