• This activity can be used as a way to see student progress before the unit begins. This activity can also be used as a practice activity if not scored.


• The standards-based rubric for the pre- and post-assessment is the same. Try this: Score student pre-assessments in one color on the rubric. Use a different color on the same rubric to score the post-assessment. A quick glance will show student growth and areas for further support.


• The Student Checklist for the pre- and post-assessment is the same and can be used as a student self-assessment to guide revision or to set future writing goals.

We suggest teachers make sure each student has a designated location (such as a folder) to store papers between lessons.

Some worksheets in this unit will be used across multiple lessons. These worksheets are labeled VIPs (Very Important Papers).

We recommend reviewing student stories either during or after this lesson to check for school appropriateness.

Students will need to bring their completed work from the previous lessons to this lesson.

We recommend reviewing student stories before this lesson to check for school appropriateness.

Students will need to bring their completed work from the previous lessons to this lesson.

• This activity can be used as a way to see student progress after the unit ends. This activity can also be used as a practice activity if not scored.


• The standards-based rubric for the pre- and post-assessment is the same. Try this: Score student pre-assessments in one color on the rubric. Use a different color on the same rubric to score the post-assessment. A quick glance will show student growth and areas for further support.


• The Student Checklist for the pre- and post-assessment is the same and can be used as a student self-assessment to guide revision or to set future writing goals.