Writing Level Standards

Level 1

Students at level 1 writing should be able to

• write compositions of at least 750 words with clear organization, thesis, topic sentences, keywords, transitions, and sufficient, logical supporting details.
• construct text-based essays based on the reading of college-level sources in a wide variety of rhetorical modes, such as summary, analysis, comparison/contrast, categorization, description, narration, exposition, and argument.
• compose a formal research essay from multiple sources, including finding, evaluating, organizing, and synthesizing college-level reading materials.
• apply a documentation system such as MLA.
• write clear and grammatically-correct prose, free of both major and minor errors.
• revise substantively, making significant changes in structure, focus, and style as appropriate for purpose and audience.

Level 2

Students at level 2 writing should be able to

• write compositions of at least 500 words with clear organization, thesis, topic sentences, keywords, transitions, and sufficient, logical supporting details.
• construct the five-paragraph essay in a number of rhetorical modes, such as description, narration, exposition, and argument. The essays may be personal in nature or text-based.
• identify and correct major errors in grammar.
• practice revision and editing techniques for better structure, focus, and style.

Level 3

Students at level 3 writing should be able to

• write compositions of at least 500 words with clear organization, thesis, topic sentences, keywords, transitions, and sufficient, logical supporting details.
• construct the basic, five-paragraph essay.
• understand major errors in grammar.
• understand general versus specific statements, claims versus support.
• understand the revision process, including prewriting, drafting, and editing techniques.
• understand writing as an act of communication.

Level 4

Students at level 4 writing should be able to

• understand basic parts of speech: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, etc.
• understand basic principles of grammar.
• know simple spelling rules and usage conventions, such as capitalization, proper use of the period and apostrophe, how to double space, etc.