Middle Level Communication Arts/Literature (Grades 5–8) Subtest 2

Subarea II. Writing

0010

Apply knowledge of the elements of composition and the writing processes.

demonstrating knowledge of strategies for selecting an appropriate style, tone, voice, and diction to use for various writing purposes and audiences
demonstrating knowledge of how to form simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences in which there is subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement
demonstrating knowledge of the function of verbals (i.e., gerunds, participles, infinitives); the active and passive voices; and the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive moods
demonstrating knowledge of the conventions of spelling, capitalization, and punctuation
demonstrating knowledge of proper word usage and grammatical sentence structure
demonstrating knowledge of the appropriate form of writing to use for a particular purpose and audience
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for generating and organizing ideas for writing (e.g., brainstorming, using graphic organizers)
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for revising text to generate interest and clarify meaning (e.g., varying sentence length and structure, maintaining parallelism, using appropriate transitions) and to eliminate wordiness, redundancy, and extraneous information
demonstrating knowledge of inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person, misplaced and dangling modifiers, and inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for proofreading and preparing text for publication
demonstrating knowledge of how to use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing, link to and cite sources, and interact and collaborate with others on writing projects

0011

Apply knowledge of strategies for writing opinion pieces and arguments.

demonstrating knowledge of how to introduce claims and acknowledge and distinguish the claims from alternate or opposing claims
demonstrating knowledge of how to organize reasons and evidence logically
demonstrating knowledge of how to support claims with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources
demonstrating knowledge of how to use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships between claims, counterclaims, reasons, and evidence
demonstrating knowledge of how to establish and maintain a formal style
demonstrating knowledge of how to compose a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented

0012

Apply knowledge of strategies for informative and explanatory writing.

demonstrating knowledge of the forms and purposes of informative and explanatory writing
recognizing methods of selecting and limiting a subject for informative and explanatory writing
recognizing methods of formulating a specific question to address through informative or explanatory writing and of developing a thesis statement that provides a focus for writing
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for selecting an effective organizational approach to use in informative and explanatory writing
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for developing an introduction to a text that draws a reader's attention, specifies a topic, and provides a thesis
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for selecting effective and appropriate supporting details to logically develop a central idea or theme in an informative or explanatory text
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for developing informative and explanatory writing that is clear, concise, and coherent
demonstrating knowledge of methods of developing a conclusion to a text that provides a summary or resolution, suggests a course of action, or offers a personal commentary

0013

Apply knowledge of the elements of effective and appropriate research.

demonstrating knowledge of strategies for selecting and refining a topic for research and composing specific, open-ended research questions
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for identifying and locating multiple and various sources of information in print, nonprint, and digital resources, including available databases
evaluating the accuracy, credibility, objectivity, and reliability of information found in print and digital sources
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for gathering and organizing information from sources systematically
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting information from sources appropriately and of integrating a paraphrase, summary, or quotation effectively into a text
demonstrating knowledge of methods of citing or acknowledging sources of information appropriately in a text
demonstrating knowledge of how to draw evidence from literary texts to support analysis, reflection, and research

0014

Apply knowledge of strategies for writing narratives and other creative texts.

demonstrating knowledge of strategies for engaging and orienting the reader by establishing a context and point of view and by introducing a narrator and characters
demonstrating knowledge of methods of organizing a natural, logical event sequence in a narrative text
demonstrating knowledge of strategies for using literary and narrative techniques (e.g., dialogue, pacing, description, rhythm, repetition, rhyme) to develop experiences, events, and characters
demonstrating knowledge of how to use a variety of transition words and phrases to convey sequence, signal shifts in time and place, and show relationships between experiences and events
demonstrating knowledge of how to use relevant descriptive details and figurative and sensory language to convey experiences and events
demonstrating knowledge of how to provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on narrated experiences or events

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