Standard: 9-10.WHST.5 – Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
Grade level: Grade 9-10
Subject: English Language Arts
Domain: Writing: History, Science & Technical Subjects
Teacher Overview
This standard emphasizes the importance of developing and strengthening writing through a process of planning, revising, editing, and rewriting. It is essential for students to understand that effective writing is iterative and requires attention to purpose and audience. Mastery of this standard will enhance students’ ability to produce clear, coherent, and purposeful writing across various subjects. Students should have a foundational understanding of essay structure and the writing process, including drafting and revising. They should also possess basic grammar and punctuation skills.
Students will develop the ability to produce well-organized and coherent writing in various formats, and critically evaluate their own work and others’ work, leading to improved writing quality over time.
Common Misconception 1
A common misconception is that revising and editing are the same. Revising focuses on the content and organization of the writing, while editing is about correcting grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors.
Intervention 1
Use targeted exercises that separate revising from editing tasks, helping students understand the distinct purposes of each step in the writing process.
Common Misconception 2
Another misconception is that once a piece of writing is complete, it does not need further revision. In reality, writing can always be improved with additional rounds of revision.
Intervention 2
Implement peer review sessions where students give and receive feedback, demonstrating the ongoing nature of the writing process.
Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have a basic understanding of essay structure, including introduction, body, and conclusion. They should also be familiar with the writing process, including drafting and revising, and have basic grammar and punctuation skills.
Subsequent Knowledge
After mastering this standard, students will be able to produce well-organized and coherent writing in various formats. They will develop the ability to critically evaluate their own work and the work of others, leading to improved writing quality over time. This skill set will be crucial for advanced academic writing and professional communication.
Instructional Activities
- Conduct writing workshops focused on different stages of the writing process.
- Organize peer review sessions to provide and receive constructive feedback.
- Use graphic organizers to help students plan their writing.
- Assign multiple drafts of a writing assignment to emphasize the importance of revision.
