Student writing is assessed in fourth grade by the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Writing standards are very tough. Washington State is relatively new to this process so we have been studying the national standards as well as the writing standards in other states that have been involved in writing assessment several years. We have found that one format appears to be used as a standard by many states. It is called the Five-Paragraph Essay. This format is quite regimented, but easily modified by more advanced writers once they have their rough draft. Our students often lose points for organization. This process organizes writing in a format that scorers look for on assessment tests. Let me explain.

There are many kinds of writing. We write creatively, using stories and poems to amuse and entertain friends and ourselves. We may also write informally, in the form of letters, or even spoken words, to share information or to tell jokes, or persuade our family or friends to do something we want them to do. Most school writing,, however, is expository writing and fits into a different category.

The purpose of most expository writing is to communicate ideas or answer questions. Such writing requires a whole different set of rules. When we tell a joke or story, it is fun to stretch it out, to get the listener all involved as we get further and further into the story, so we can spring the punch line on our listeners. Expository writing (and, by extension, business writing) must be succinct, terse, and to the point. It is here again, that our children lose points and don't pass the assessments.

In expository writing students learn to tell exactly what they're going to say in their first sentence. They explain how they're going to prove it in their first paragraph. They write it simply and easily in the body paragraphs and sum it all up in the conclusion. Expository writing is easy, once students understand that it is different from creative writing.

Attached is an example of The Five-Paragraph Essay format. Please assist your child in writing using this format. Remember all levels of writers can benefit from the use of this format. Let's help children get their ideas down using this format, then modify on the final draft, keeping in mind that wordiness, or too many ideas not well explained is detrimental to clear writing and a passing score on the WASL.

Thank you for your continued support,