Download Written Expression Skills checklist

Checklist of Written Expression Skills
(Adapted from: From Talking To Writing: Strategies for Scaffolding Expository)
Expression
 Identifying the Alphabet
 Sequence the alphabet (orally)
 Sequence the alphabet (in writing)
 Organization and Copying
 Organize work effectively on paper (e.g. work is in the correct space on the
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paper, tables completed neatly, etc.)
Use lower-case letter formations
Use upper-case letter formations
Copy accurately from something nearby (e.g. word bank at seat)
Copy accurately from something far away (e.g. board or word wall)
Provide friendly letter heading
Provide friendly letter greeting
Provide friendly letter closing
Employ phonetic spelling
Semantics
Recognize and provide items belonging to a specific category (e.g. what are
some different colors? shapes? types of animals? etc.)
Recognize and provide relevant vs. irrelevant information in a list
Provide synonyms
Provide antonyms
Provide adjectival descriptions
Provide adverbial descriptions
Recognize and produce similes
Recognize and produce metaphors
Syntax
 Provide article + noun agreement
 Provide specific nouns
 Provide inanimate nouns
 Provide simple past-tense verbs• Associate simple paste-tense verbs with
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inanimate nouns (e.g. The fire hydrant squatted alongside the street.)
Provide complete simple sentences
Provide noun + verb agreement
 Provide prepositional phrases for place
 Provide prepositional phrases for time
 Expand simple sentences with prepositional phrases
 Provide adjectives in kernel sentence (article + adjective + noun + verb)
 Provide adjectives in simple sentences with prepositional phrases where
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and when
Provide accurate use of vocabulary in context
 Provide declarative sentences
 Provide interrogative sentences
 Provide exclamatory sentences
 Provide compound sentences linked by “and”
 Provide compound sentences linked by “but”
 Provide complex sentences linked by “because”
 Provide prepositional phrases that introduce simple sentences
 Provide sentences with quotations
 Provide adverbs in kernel sentences (article + noun + verb + adverb)
 Provide adverbs in simple sentences with where prepositional phrases
Mechanics
 Capitalize the beginning of sentences
 Capitalize proper nouns
 Produce abbreviations
 Capitalize abbreviations
 Produce punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation point)
 Observe comma rules
 Use quotations
Paragraph Writing
 Compose a friendly letter
 Provide the basic paragraph (e.g. “hamburger”)
 Select a topic with an assigned theme
 Provide a lead or topic setnecnes• Sequence information logically
 Provide sufficient detail to support the topic
 Provide relevant detail to support the topic
 Follow a framework (e.g. graphic organizer) to write a paragraph
 Eliminate sentence fragments
 Eliminate run-on sentences
 Use consistent verb tense
 Provide a variety of sentence structures
 Provide transitional words (first, then, next, finally)
 Provide transitional phrases
 Provide a conclusion
 Produce a sequenced personal narrative paragraph
 Produce a descriptive paragraph
 Produce a process paragraph
 Produce an enumerative paragraph
 Produce a sequenced theme-related narrative paragraph
 Produce a comparison paragraph
 Produce a contrast paragraph
 Produce a comparison-contrast paragraph
 Produce a brief essay
 Produce a short report
 Use the computer to write a final draft
Multi-Paragraph Writing
 Produce setting and plot/problem paragraph for a narrative
 Produce setting, plot/problem, and resolution paragraph for a narrative
 Produce an essay
 Produce a thesis paragraph
 Generate relevant details
 Explain inferences
 Provide additional information
 Provide transitional sentences
 Provide a concluding paragraph
Study Skills
 Select information from brief passages
 Fill in a paragraph framework independently
 Paraphrase concisely
 Summarize from written sources
 Summarize from oral sources
 Alphabetize words
 Identify the function and location of guide words (dictionary)
 Use guide words to locate dictionary entries
 Locate primary definitions in print or online dictionary
Research and Library Skills
 Choose and limit a topic
 Gather information
 Use electronic card catalog (e.g. http://bpl.org)
 Use encyclopedia
 Use periodicals
 Use the computer to research a topic
Proofreading
 Edit written work for specific sentences skills
 Edit paragraphs for specific composition skills
 Use the computer for editing and revision