Again, the idea is to prepare your middle school student for high school. Longer reports of 4-8 pages (not quite research paper length) utilizing a thesis statement (main idea), outline, research, and note-taking, as well as resources, are a good starting point. Essay styles such as expository (a factual essay designed to teach or inform) and narrative (the retelling of an event) are certainly appropriate, 4-6 paragraphs long. Continued skills practice by pulling examples from books being read is essential. Simple lab reports provide wonderful writing opportunities. Poetry and short story writing should also be assigned during the middle school years.