SAMOHI HOMEPAGE I ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
	Benchmarks for Writing Standards, 1, 2, 3
	9th GRADE Argument Organization Style Grammar
	9th Grade Argument
	Elements of argument: topic sentence, context, evidence, analysis, inference Fall - What a thesis is (i.e., an opinion to be proved); writing a thesis based on teacher models Spring - Generating a thesis from given prompt Using relevant whole-sentence quotes, introduced with a comma or colon Identifying the speaker and context for each quote 3 or more quotes to prove a thesis Clear, concise, complete, and convincing analysis as to how the quotes support the thesis Introduction that includes author and title of work and thesis of essay
	9th Grade Organization
	Each paragraph presenting one idea. Same idea not recurring in more than one paragraph Every sentence in a paragraph relevant to the paragraph's topic Helpful, logical transitions between and within paragraphs Sequence of ideas in the body of the paper same as the sequence of ideas presented in the thesis Conclusion (restatement of thesis, at least) Conventional format (font, margins, spacing, etc.)
	9th Grade Style
	Audience and purpose Appropriate and consistent tone Correct punctuation of titles (italicize/underline vs. quotes) Consistent tense throughout paper Correct capitalization Avoiding abbreviations, including etc. Avoiding monotonous repetition of phrases (e. g., he/she says) Avoiding first and second person ("I," "me," "you"), except in personal or creative writing
	9th Grade Grammar
	Minimum 30 minutes/week Grammar lessons should be clearly relevant to students' own reading and writing Parts of speech Prepositional phrases Subject-verb-object Verb tenses: past, present, future. Use the present tense when writing about literature Subject/verb agreement Uses of apostrophe Capitalization Homophones
	10th GRADE Argument Organization Style Grammar
	10th Grade Argument
	Review of grade 9 curriculum Fall - Given a prompt, student generates own thesis Spring - Student generates own thesis without prompt Integrating quoted words and phrases into student's prose Clear, concise, complete, and convincing analysis as to how the quotes support the thesis 2 or more quotes per argument Review of grade 9 curriculum Introduction that includes author and title of work and thesis of essay
	10th Grade Organization
	Multiple strategies for an introduction that hooks the reader and introduces the thesis Multiple strategies for a satisfying conclusion Review of grade 9 curriculum Integrating quoted words and phrases into student's prose Clear, concise, complete, and convincing analysis as to how the quotes support the thesis 2 or more quotes per argument Review of grade 9 curriculum
	10th Grade Style
	Concrete language Strong verbs; avoiding overuse of "to be" Uses of comma and semi-colon Variety of sentence length and structure
	10th Grade Grammar
	Minimum 30 minutes/week Grammar lessons should be clearly relevant to students' own reading and writing Review of grade 9 curriculum Independent and dependent clauses Sentence patterns (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) Indirect object Transitive and intransitive verbs Sentence sense: avoiding fragments, comma splices, run-on sentences Clauses and phrases that function as parts of speech: adverbials; adjective phrases and clauses; noun phrases and clauses Pronouns - agreement; clear antecedent
	11th GRADE Argument Organization Style Grammar
	11th Grade Argument
	Review of grade 9 and 10 curriculum Originality of topic or treatment Strategies of argument: - definition-cause and effect-process analysis-division and classification-comparison and contrast-description-narrative
	11th Grade Organization
	Review of grade 9 and 10 curriculum Organization of ideas that is both logical and dramatic
	11th Grade Style
	Review of grade 9 and 10 curriculum Revision to avoid wordiness Parallel structure Avoiding overuse of the passive voice Distinctive tone
	11th Grade Grammar
	Review of grade 9 and 10 curriculum Dangling/misplaced modifiers Loose vs. periodic sentences Active vs. passive voice When to use who, which, or that
	12th GRADE Argument, Organization, Style, and Grammar
	Review and work towards mastery of grade 9, 10, and 11 ARGUMENT curriculum Review and work towards mastery of grade 9, 10, and 11 ORGANIZATION curriculum Review and work towards mastery of grade 9, 10, and 11 STYLE curriculum Active vs. passive voice Review and work towards mastery of grade 9, 10, and 11 GRAMMAR curriculum