Evidence-basedWriting

Catherine D’Aoust

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standard #10

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Planning to write is not writing. Outlining is not writing. Researching is not writing. Talking to people about what you are

doing, none of that is writing.

Writing is writing.

- E.L. Doctorow

Writing in America’s Schools• Learning to write effectively within a discipline

is part of that discipline’s knowledge base – not simply another context to practice English language arts.

• Students are not writing very much. Typical secondary student expected to produce 1.6 pages of writing per week in English and 2.1 pages for all other subjects combined.

• 40% of 12th graders report hardly ever being asked to write a paper of 3 or more pages.

Distribution of communicative purposes in the 2011 NAEP Writing Framework.

Grade To persuade To explain To convey experience

4 30% 35% 35%

8 35% 35% 30%

12 40% 40% 20%

Common Core Anchor Standard for Writing

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

All language, including the language of visual images, is persuasive, pointing in a direction and asking for a response.

Redesigned SAT essay promptAs you read the passage, consider how the author uses evidence, reasoning, and stylistic or persuasive elements to add power to the ideas expressed.

Write an essay in which you explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience.

Describe the kind of men the Pony Express was looking for in 1860. Why did they want this kind of riders?

Use evidence from the recruiting poster to support your claim.

Write an essay in which you explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience.

According to this 1917 World War I recruiting poster, why should young men should enlist?

Use evidence from the poster to support your claim.

Write an essay in which you explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience.

Survey the text

• How long is it?

• When was it written?

• Who is the author?

• What does it seem to be about?

“The Good Wife’s Guide”

Economics Textbook, 1955

First reading

1. Who is the audience?

2. What does this text say about gender roles?

3. Does this text have an audience today?

“The Good Wife’s Guide”

Economics Textbook, 1955

What it means

What claim is being made?

“The Good Wife’s Guide”

Economics Textbook, 1955