E.+Writing+Prompt

=Writing Prompt=

[[image:http://writingcenter.mst.edu/images/images_image001.gif width="320" height="227" align="right"]]Overview:
This page includes an example of a writing prompt. Writing instruction is vital for the successful acquisition of English as a second language. Additionally, national and state writing assessments make it necessary to provide ELL students with explicit instruction in process writing, as well as familiarizing them with various appropriate writing rubrics.

The following prompt is based on the book, //Sosu's Call// by Meshack Asare.
 * Title**: //Sosu's Call//
 * Author**: Meshack Asare
 * Publication** **Date**: 2002
 * Publisher**: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
 * Age/Grade/Proficiency Level:** This text is a picture book but is relatively long (37 pages) and utilizes advanced vocabulary and mature concepts. Therefore, the writing prompt is appropriate for middle school age second language learners who are operating at Intermediate English Proficiency.

//Sosu's Call// Writing Prompt and Activities [pdf document]

Each year, students are assessed on their writing abilities in grades 5, 8, and 11. The following rubric is used to grade essays holistically on a scale of 0 to 6 (Tennessee Department of Education).
 * Writing Assessment Information:**

Scoring Rubric
Scores from 6 to 1 reflect the range of excellence in the papers written in response to the assignment. Anchor and sample papers illustrate both the limits and the diversity within each score level. The following broad categories define the score ranges for the writing assignment and for the range of skills among students responding.

Score of 6
A 6 paper is OUTSTANDING. It demonstrates a high degree of proficiency in response to the assignment but may have a few minor errors. An essay in this category:
 * is well organized and coherently developed
 * clearly explains or illustrates key ideas
 * demonstrates syntactic variety
 * clearly displays facility in the use of language
 * is generally free from errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure

Score of 5
A 5 paper is STRONG. It demonstrates clear proficiency in response to the assignment and may have minor errors. An essay in this category:
 * is generally well organized and coherently developed
 * explains or illustrates key ideas
 * demonstrates some syntactic variety
 * displays facility in the use of language
 * is generally free from errors in mechanics, usage, and sentence structure

Score of 4
A 4 paper is COMPETENT. It demonstrates proficiency in response to the assignment. An essay in this category:
 * is adequately organized and developed
 * explains or illustrates some of the key ideas
 * demonstrates adequate facility in the use of language
 * may display some errors in mechanics, usage, or sentence structure

Score of 3
A 3 paper is LIMITED. It demonstrates some degree of proficiency in response to the assignment, but it is clearly flawed. An essay in this category reveals one or more of the following weaknesses:
 * inadequate organization or development
 * inadequate explanation or illustration of key ideas
 * limited or inappropriate word choice
 * a pattern or accumulation of errors in mechanics, usage, or sentence structure

Score of 2
A 2 paper is FLAWED. It demonstrates limited proficiency in response to the assignment. An essay in this category reveals one or more of the following weaknesses:
 * weak organization or very little development
 * little or no relevant detail
 * serious errors in mechanics, usage, sentence structure, or word choice

Score of 1
A 1 paper is DEFICIENT. It demonstrates fundamental deficiencies in writing skills. An essay in this category contains serious and persistent writing errors or is incoherent or is undeveloped.

Score of 0
A 0 paper is reported accompanied by one of the following codes to indicate a paper could not be scored for one of the following reasons:
 * 0-A - Blank or Refusal
 * 0-B - Insufficient to score or Illegible
 * 0-C - Off Topic
 * 0-D - Written predominantly in another language


 * Click here for 5th Grade Sample Prompts and Anchor Papers.**