The purpose of the Standards Based Writing Prompts is for the ES and Parent to monitor each student’s writing development and to prepare the student for formal standardized writing assessments.

The Writing Prompts are required for all grade levels (including 11^th and 12th graders who have passed the CAHSEE) and should be given at the same time as the Benchmark Assessments. The prompts need to be handwritten until a student has passed the CAHSEE. After a student has passed the CAHSEE, the student has the option to typewrite his/her assessment; however, a handwritten or typewritten first draft must also be included. Students that have not yet passed the CAHSEE should NOT have a rough draft as they are to complete the writing prompt in a single sitting and single draft, mirroring a standardized assessment. The Writing Benchmarks are not assignments. They are assessments and should be treated as such.

Writing Prompt Booklets are no longer given to parents at the time of enrollment. The writing prompts from the 1-12 booklet are posted online CWCS Writing Prompt Booklet . ESes will let students know which writing prompt is required and when it is due. Parents will receive a Writing Prompt Booklet from their ES only if available. Students in grades 6, 9, and 10 will receive a special Writing Prompt Pilot package to complete in place of the above prompt.

When a family drops from the school, please collect writing prompt booklets to be passed on to other families, or for use as a reference booklet by ESes.

For Kindergarteners, use the Kindergarten Writing Prompt guide.

These are additional prompts for 10th and 12th graders who may have to repeat a prompt.

The Writing Prompts/Samples should be scored with one of the rubrics provided. (Other rubrics/ genres are acceptable). The ES (not the parent) will score the Writing Prompts and share the outcome with the parent and the student. By using the rubric as a scoring method, the ES and parent are able to see where the student’s writing strengths and weaknesses are. After determining which standards are weak, the ES and parent can plan a writing curriculum to help the student improve his/her writing skills.

Here are the rubrics from our CWCS Writing Prompt Booklet as well as other samples Use the password for the HQT courses, found in FRED, to open this link. (Four Point Rubric, Four Point Rubric Conventions, Rubric Scoring Guide for Paragraphs)

After the ES scores the writing prompts/samples, the ES will put them into the student’s file for further reference, and use one of them for a portfolio sample. Copies of rubrics do not have to be included, but the final score should be included on the first page of the essay. Only score the Benchmark Writing Prompts with the rubric. You do not need to score every piece of writing that the student does.

There are several alternative rubrics available. The parent and ES should discuss and review the rubrics to decide which one best suits the student's needs.