American International School Mandatory Writing List grades 9-12

1. AISC Mandatory Writing List Grades 9-12
The Mandatory Writing List is designed to promote strong writing skills and knowledge
in the fundamental forms of writing. This is by no meansa complete list of all the writing
tasks expectedfrom gradelevel students. Writing skills and knowledgewill be supported
thorough the academic year through a multitude of formative writing tasks and
assignments.
NARRATIVE:
Purpose: to entertain
Focus: sequential specific events
Framework: Orientation, Initiating Events, Complications/problems, Resolution
Language: Defined characters, Descriptive language, Dialogue, Usually past tense
EXPOSITORY/LITERARY ANALYSIS:
Purpose: to argue
Focus: a thesis presentedfrom a particular point of view
Framework: Thesis, Argument, Reiteration
Language: Linking words associatedwith reason
PERSUASIVE:
Purpose: to persuade
Focus: a thesis presentedfrom a particular point of view
Framework: Thesis, Argument, Reiteration
Language: Linking words associatedwith reason
INFORMATIONAL/PROCEDURAL:
Purpose: to deal with the way to do things
Focus: Sequential general events
Framework: Goal, Materials, Method, Evaluation (optional)
Language: Detailed factual description, Linking words to do with time, tenseis timeless
RESEARCH – deals with the researchprocess.Research units are designed to prepare
studentsfor the IB extendedessay, the senior project, and university. Research units
teach studentsthe following knowledgeand skills:
- formulating a question for investigation
- the research process
- validating sources
- citation- MLA
The Writing Curriculum supports the following school-wide initiatives.
Interdisciplinary- The AISC Writing Curriculum is designed to connect writing tasks to
the reading curriculum. When possible, mandatory writing tasks are basedon classes’
current reading selections.
Cross-curricular- The Writing curriculum also supports cross-
curricular efforts and

2. encouragesstudentsto makesconnections between skills and knowledgeacquired in the
languagearts classwith other subject areas. Various subject teachersare encouragedto
plan alongside the languagearts instructor to preparemeaningful writing assignments.
I.e. Grade 8 research project being basedon conceptsfrom the grade8 social science
class.
Integrated Technology- Mandatory writing assignmentsare frequently supported by the
integration of technology. As all mandatory writing assignmentsrequire students to
follow the stepsof the writing process,pen and paper will be a standard, subsequently
promoting script and handwriting skills essential for SAT and IB examinations.
Technology resourcesnot only provide studentswith the a an outlet for the final stageof
the writing process,publication, they also promote the
Differentiation- Although the primary objective of the mandatory writing assignmentsis
to promote growth and development of the studentswriting in five forms, narrative,
expository, research, etc., teachersare encouragedto present students with a multitude of
options for written assignments. Students are encouragedto pursue tasks that promote
their interest while increasing intrinsic motivation.
Writing Process
All gradelevels will focus and itemize the various stagesof the writing process.
Establish purposeand identify criteria
Formulate questions
Focus/plan/classify
Develop thesis statement
Prewriting/webbing/graphic organizers
Outlining
Sequencing/Chronology
Draft
Assess/revise
Assess/edit
Publish
Evaluate
GRADE 9: Focus on developing all writing forms
MANDATORY WRITING FORMS AND WRITING SKILLS CHECKLIST

3. Students will write works of 750-1000 words (for shorter or creative works, statement of
intent, abstract and reflection may be included in the word count)
MINIMUM MANDATORY SUMMATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: 6 MAJOR
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS – Show Writing Process
Writing Process:
Establish purposeand identify criteria
Formulate questions
Focus/plan/classify
Develop thesis statement
Prewriting/webbing/graphic organizers
Outlining
Sequencing/Chronology
Draft
Assess/revise
Assess/edit
Publish
Evaluate
1) Narratives: 2- paragraph, essay, anecdote, short story, diary, journal, biography,
autobiography, fable, parable, myth, legend, personal letter, script or dialogue
2) Expositions: 3 - paragraph, essay, report, article, character study, research paper,
news story, newspapercolumn, businessletter, review, memo 3 major works –
Students should complete two 5 paragraph essaysof 750-1000 words each
(Option should include an analytical essay basedon reading selection)
3) Informational/Procedural: 1
Options: Blog, Web Page, Brochure, Advertisements, Instructional
4) Persuasive: 2 - paragraph, essay, brief, editorial, letter to the editor, review,
column (Option should include a persuasive five paragraph essay)

4. 5) Research Report: 1- 1000-1500 words
6) Students will experiment with different styles of poetry
GRADE 10: Focus on research and IB Preparation
MANDATORY WRITING FORMS AND WRITING SKILLS CHECKLIST
Students will write works of 1000-1500 words (for shorter or creative works, statement of
intent, abstract and reflection may be included in the word count)
MINIMUM MANDATORY SUMMATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: 6 MAJOR
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS – Show Writing Process
Writing Process:
Establish purposeand identify criteria
Formulate questions
Focus/plan/classify
Develop thesis statement
Prewriting/webbing/graphic organizers
Outlining
Sequencing/Chronology
Draft
Assess/revise
Assess/edit
Publish
Evaluate
1) Narratives: 2
Options: paragraph, essay, anecdote, short story, diary, journal, biography,
autobiography, fable, parable, myth, legend, personal letter, script or dialogue
2) Expository: 2
Options: paragraph, essay, report, article, character study, research paper, news story,
newspapercolumn, businessletter, review, memo. Students should complete two 5
paragraph essaysof 750-1000 words each: analytical essaysbasedon reading
selections
3) Persuasive: 1 paragraph, essay, brief, editorial, letter to the editor, review, column

5. (Option should include a persuasive five paragraph essay)
4) Informational/Procedural: 1 –
Options: Blog, Web Page, Brochure, Advertisements, Instructional
:to be completed in conjunction with the Grade 10 Research paper
5) Research Paper: 10th Grade Writing Project 2,500-3000
6) Students will experiment with different poetry writing styles
GRADE 11: Focus on Persuasion
MANDATORY WRITING FORMS CHECKLIST
STUDENTS WILL WRITE WORKS OF 1000-1500 WORDS (FOR SHORTER OR
CREATIVE WORKS, STATEMENT OF INTENT, ABSTRACT AND REFLECTION
MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE WORD COUNT)
WRITING PORTFOLIO
MINIMUM MANDATORY SUMMATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: 7 MAJOR
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS – Writing ProcessEvident
Writing Process:
Establish purposeand identify criteria
Formulate questions
Focus/plan/classify
Develop thesis statement
Prewriting/webbing/graphic organizers
Outlining
Sequencing/Chronology
Draft
Assess/revise
Assess/edit
Publish
Evaluate
1) Narratives – 2
Options: paragraph, essay, anecdote, short story, diary, journal, biography,
autobiography, fable, parable, myth, legend, personal letter, script or dialogue
2) Expository – 2

6. Options: paragraph, essay, report, article, character study, research paper, news story,
newspapercolumn, businessletter, review, memo (Should include an analytical essay
basedon a major novel study and poetry study)
3) Persuasive – 3
Options: essay, brief, editorial, letter to the editor, review, column, speech, business
communication such as email. (Will compliment the persuasive research report)
4) Research Report – 1 2000 words on a persuasive topics
5) Students will experiment with different poetry writing styles – introducepastiche
in Grade 11 (both IB and non-IB)
Grade 12: Focus on Critical Thinking
WRITING PORTFOLIO
MINIMUM MANDATORY SUMMATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS: 7 MAJOR
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS – Writing ProcessEvident
Writing Process:
Establish purposeand identify criteria
Formulate questions
Focus/plan/classify
Develop thesis statement
Prewriting/webbing/graphic organizers
Outlining
Sequencing/Chronology
Draft
Assess/revise
Assess/edit
Publish
Evaluate
1) Narratives – 2
Options: paragraph, essay, anecdote, short story, diary, journal, biography,
autobiography, fable, parable, myth, legend, personal letter, script or dialogue (Form

7. will be a creative personal responseto literature studied in class)
2) Expository - 2
Options: Critical Analytical Essays basedon literature studied in class
3) Persuasive – 2
Options: Personal Statement for UCAS/College Applications. Persuasive Writing
linked to Documentary Creation
4) Informational -1
Options: Blog, Web Page, Brochure, Advertisements, Instructional
5) Research – Senior Project/ExtendedEssay Work
Documentary Research – Interviews and Surveys included
WRITING SKILLS CHECKLIST: GRADES 6-12
Identify/utilize nouns
Identify/utilize verbs
Identify/utilize pronouns
Identify/utilize adjectives
Identify/utilize adverbs
Identify/utilize conjunctions
Identify/utilize articles
Identify/utilize interjections
Identify/utilize prepositional phrases
Utilize a variety of sentencetype
Utilize a variety of sentencelength
Maintains proper verb tense
Edit for sentencefragments
Edit for run on sentences
Uses variety in word order
Uses paraphrasing
Appropriate use of end punctuation
Appropriate use of capitalization
Use of conventional spelling
Use of apostrophe
Use of transitional words
Uses quotation marks/dialogue

8. Utilizes proper paragraph structure
Identifies and usesediting marks
Demonstratesprecision in vocabulary
Concise in writing
Uses cursive
Develops typing skills
Utilizes word processing programs
Utilizes Power Point Programs
Utilizes internet search engines
Utilizes internet sites to gather data
Utilizes audio materials to gather data
Utilizes video materials to gather data
Identifies relevant/irrelevant sources
Works Cited
Hienemann, Rigby
Writing Developmental Continuum Education Department of Australia
Virginia State Standards

9. Grade 11 PBL
Elements of Literature – Fifth Course
Word Skills – Yellow
Metamorphosis – Kafka
The Great Gatbsy – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jazz – Toni Morrison
Into the Wild – John Krakauer
Othello – William Shakespeare
The Crucible - Miller
Grade 12 PBL
Elements of Literature – Sixth Course
Word Skills - Purple
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Stranger – Camus
Remembering Babylon – David Malouf
1984 by George Orwell
A Handmaid’sTale by Margaret Atwood
Macbeth – William Shakespeare
Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

10. One Flew Over the Cuckcoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
Documentary Study: Sharkwater, Bowling for Colombine, Waltz with Bashir
Standard Deviants: ShakespeareDVD Set
Public Speaking DVD
Into the Wild – Grade 11 Non-Fiction
The Collected Poemsof Plath
Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje
Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
English A1 IB Companion Text
Bowling for Colombine DVD
Touching the Void DVD
Othello DVD
The History Boys DVD
A Streetcar Named Desire DVD
Glass Menagerie DVD
Of Mice and Men DVD