Third Grade - Curriculum Guide

Third Grade Guide

Writing Assessment

Writing Rubric (Based on CA Language Arts Standards) for third grade is described in the following table. A score of 3 meets state and district third grade standards.

Score	Characteristics of assessments earning the score
4	Clearly addresses requirements of the strategies and application (see below). Responds to prompt with very well-organized paragraph(s) that include a specific topic, engaging beginning, descriptive detailed sentences with elaboration, and an effective conclusion. Contains few, if any, errors in conventions of the English language (grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling). These errors do not interfere with the readers understanding of writing. Includes a variety of sentence types (declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory). Includes sentence variation (dialogue, beginning with gerund, combing, etc.). Enriched vocabulary and figurative language.
3	Addresses requirements of the strategies and application. (see below) Responds to prompt with a organized paragraph(s) that include a specific topic, topic sentence, relevant details, and a conclusion. Writes in complete sentences. Contains few errors in conventions of the English language (grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling) These errors do not interfere with the reader's understanding of writing. Includes more than one sentence type (declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory) Includes sentence variation (dialogue, beginning with gerund, combing, etc...)
2	Partially addresses requirements of the strategies and application (see below). Limited response to prompt. Writing suggests a central idea with limited but mostly relevant details. Paragraph shows some evidence of correct structure and sequence. Writes mostly complete sentences. Contains errors in conventions of the English language (grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling). These errors may interfere with the readers understanding of writing.
1	Does not adequately address requirements of the strategies and application (see below). Response to prompt shows little understanding of purpose. Writing does not suggest a central idea with supporting detail. No evidence of a logical paragraph plan. Writes incomplete sentences. Contains serious errors in conventions of the English language (grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling). These errors interfere with the readers understanding of writing.

Writing Strategy for Third Grade

Writing clearly develops a central idea consistent with a given prompt
Penmanship is legible (cursive is recommended)
Writing process is used (pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing)

Applications of Writing Strategy

Narrative: Provides a context which action takes place (setting, cause and effect, and explanations) includes well-chosen details to develop the plot. Provides insight into why the selected incident is memorable.
Descriptive: Writes a description giving a unified impression of a person, place, thing, or experience using concrete sensory details.
Letter Writing: Writes a personal or formal letter as well as invitation and thank you note showing awareness of audience and clear purpose, includes date, proper salutation, body, closing, and signature.