What questions about this book would you like answered and why? What character do you like least? Why? What character do you like best? Why? What incident or conflict does the author use to begin the story? Why do you think the author chose this beginning? What were your feelings after reading the first few pages of the book? Explain why? Do you think the author is asking you to judge one of the characters? Why? Do you think the author is asking you to cheer on one of the characters? Why? What do you predict will happen next in your book? Why? What other important characters are there in the book besides the main character(s)? How are they important to the plot? What clues did the author use to help you predict what was going to happen later? If you could introduce a character from your book to your family, who would it be? Why? What is the most important part of the book so far? Why? If you could introduce a character from your book to your family, who would it be? Why? Which character would you be ashamed to introduce to your family? Why? How have you changed after reading this book? What do you know now that you didn't know before? Would you like to read more books by this author? Why? If you could change the ending of the book, what would you do? Why? Did the book end the way you thought it would? What clues did the author give you that made you think that? Did you think these clues were important when you read them? Are there any connections between this book and your own life? Explain your thinking. When was your book written? How does the time period of your book impact the overall theme? When was your book written? How does the time period of your book impact one character’s actions or personality in your book? What does this book teach you about the role of a minority group (women, racial group, religious group, etc.) during these times? How do people cope with economic problems such as scarcity of food? Money? Jobs? Read the biography of the author. How did their life influence the book? How did one major societal or natural event influence this book? (For example: 9/11, the tsunami, The Great Depression, the dust bowl, etc.) TEXEXI how to… Topic sentence Make an ARGUMENT that answers the question or prompt. DEVELOP that argument by answering HOW or WHY. Add context by referencing the material or content.
logically. is aware of alternate or opposing claims, distinguishes itself from those claims and explains how and why. is aware of alternate or opposing claims and explains how or why. Evidence & eXplanation: W.7.1b Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text. . You have used specific, relevant and accurate evidence from your book/life/world that directly supports your statement. AND You clearly explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence. You have good, relevant and accurate evidence from your book/life/world that supports your statement. AND You clearly explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence. Your example/ evidence is vague. Or There is an attempt to explain the connection between the evidence and the statement, but it is not clear. Your does not support your argument. And/or There is an attempt to explain the connection between the evidence and the statement, but your reasoning is flawed. You do not provide evidence or an explanation. Transitions: Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence. You Use words, phrases, and clauses to create unity and clarify the relationships among claim(s), Counter- claims, reasons, and evidence You Use words, phrases, and clauses to create unity and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence You Use words, phrases, and clauses to create unity You use limited words, phrases, and to create unity. You do not use transitions
Tone: Establish and maintain a formal style. You establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone. You establish and maintain a formal style. You establish and maintain a formal style for majority, but not all, of your text. You establish, but do not maintain a formal style for majority of your text. You never accurately establish a formal style Conclusion: W.7.1e Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. Your conclusion effectively strengthens the argument and evidence. Your conclusion follows from and supports the argument you have made. Your conclusion merely restates the position. Your conclusion states a different or contradictory position. You provide no conclusion. Grammar, Style and Sentence Structure: L.7.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Your command of written expression in regards to grammar and usage shows a level of sophistication. You make strong choices with your grammar, sentence structure and style. You attempt to vary your sentence structure and choose precise words, but this area of your writing still needs attention. Language is very basic and occasionally lacks flow, style, or correct grammar. Language is very basic and consistently lacks flow, style, or correct grammar. Spelling, Capitalization and Punctuation: L.7.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. Your command of written expression in regards to spelling, capitalization and punctuation shows a level of sophistication. You show an appropriate level of written expression in regards to spelling, capitalization and punctuation. You attempt to use correct spelling, capitalization and punctuation, but this area of your writing still needs attention. Language is very basic and occasionally lacks correct spelling, capitalization or punctuation. Language is very basic and consistently lacks correct spelling, capitalization or punctuation.
TEXEXI Paragraph Rubric 8th grade 4 Exceeding 3 Meeting 2 Approaching 1 Beginning 0 Incomplete Standards Topic Sentence: W.8.1a Introduce claim(s), acknowledge and distinguish alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically. Your Topic sentence makes a clear, organized argument that distinguishes the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims by answering How or Why. Your Topic sentence makes a clear, organized argument that is aware of alternate or opposing claims, distinguishes itself from those claims and explains how or why. Your Topic sentence has an argument. Your Topic Sentence does not include an argument. You do not provide a topic sentence. Evidence & eXplanation: Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text. You have thorough evidence from your book/life/world that supports your statement. And You clearly explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence. And The text considers the audience’s knowledge level & concerns. You have good, relevant and accurate evidence from your book/life/world that supports your statement. AND You clearly explain how the evidence supports the topic sentence. Your example/ evidence is vague. Or There is an attempt to explain the connection between the evidence and the statement, but it is not clear. Your does not support your argument. And/or There is an attempt to explain the connection between the evidence and the statement, but your reasoning is flawed. You do not provide evidence or an explanation.
Transitions W.8.1.C Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence. You use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create unity and clarify the relationships between claims, reasons, evidence and counter-claims You Use words, phrases, and clauses to create unity and clarify the relationships among claim(s), Counter- claims, reasons, and evidence You Use words, phrases, and clauses to create unity You use limited words, phrases, and clauses to create unity. You do not use transitions Tone Establish and maintain a formal style. You establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone. You establish and maintain a formal style. You establish and maintain a formal style for majority, but not all, of your text. You establish, but do not maintain a formal style for majority of your text. You never accurately establish a formal style Conclusion: Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. Your conclusion effectively strengthens the argument and evidence. Your conclusion supports the argument you have made. Your conclusion merely restates the position. Your conclusion states a different or contradictory position. You provide no conclusion. Grammar, Style and Sentence Structure: L.8.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Your command of written expression in regards to grammar and usage shows a level of You make strong choices with your grammar, sentence structure and style. You attempt to vary your sentence structure and choose precise words, but this area of your writing still needs Language is very basic and occasionally lacks flow, style, or correct grammar. Language is very basic and consistently lacks flow, style, or correct grammar.
sophistication. attention. Spelling, Capitalization and Punctuation: L.8.2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. Your command of written expression in regards to spelling, capitalization and punctuation shows a level of sophistication. You show an appropriate level of written expression in regards to spelling, capitalization and punctuation. You attempt to use correct spelling, capitalization and punctuation, but this area of your writing still needs attention. Language is very basic and occasionally lacks correct spelling, capitalization or punctuation. Language is very basic and consistently lacks correct spelling, capitalization or punctuation.