Learning Target: Develop clear and coherent body paragraphs

Body Paragraph: The goal: 1-Clear sentence that supports thesis statement 2-Elaboration of topic sentence 3-Textual evidence to support claim 4-Explanation of textual evidence in relation to claim 5-Repeat Process 2-3 times 6-Concluding Sentence

One idea i want to share with my audience SOCIAL AWARENESS Standards Based Grading helps students improve important skills within a subject. PROBLEM/SOLUTION Standards Based Grading is the best solution to help students improve their skills within a subject.

Thesis statement examples Social Awareness World Lit students should care about Standards Based Grading because will help them identify strengths and weaknesses, improve those weaknesses, and enhance their strengths. Service Learning ___(your cause/organization)___ deserves your time or resources because… Write your thesis here: Problem Solution Standards Based Grading is the best solution to the problems in grading because it helps students identify strengths and weaknesses, improve those weaknesses, and enhance their strengths.

Step 1: Write a Topic sentence that clearly supports thesis Things to consider: Topic sentence should come from the 3 reasons you provided in your thesis statement. Should include a transition Should support your thesis statement Should make a claim EXAMPLE: One reason students should be aware of Standards Based Grading is because it helps them identify their strengths and weaknesses. EXAMPLE: Most importantly, Standards Based Grading is the best solution to the problems with grading because it helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses within the subject.

Step 2: Elaborate on Topic Sentence (1-3 sentences) Further explain your claim and/or clarify anything that may be unclear Clear up any possible uncertainty Lay the foundation for your textual evidence EXAMPLE: Standards Based Grading highlights specific skills, such as Analyzing Informational Texts or Writing Creatively which allows students to receive feedback on each skill individually. This is different from other grading systems which give students a number score, i.e. 85 out of 100. As a result, by receive marks and scores for each skill separately, students can identify which skill they are strong and which skills they need to improve.

Step 3: TExtual Evidence to support claim (1 piece of TE) Elaborate using a quote, paraphrase or summary. You will need to use an in-text citation. EXAMPLE: According to Dr. Marzano, “The answer is quite simple: grades are so imprecise they are almost meaningless” (1).

Step 4: Explanation of quote (1-2 sentences) Explain how quote supports topic sentence. TOPIC SENTENCE: One reason students should be aware of Standards Based Grading is because it helps them identify their strengths and weaknesses. EXAMPLE: Marzano understands that students cannot identify strengths and weaknesses within in a subject from traditional grading because their is no specific reference to any one skill.

Step 5: REPEAT Steps 3 & 4 at least 2 more times See Step 3 & 4 ONE EXAMPLE: In addition, survey data shows that 85% of students state that they can identify their strengths and weaknesses when working within a Standards Based Grading system (Schutz). This shows that the system clearly communicates student achievement.

Step 6: Concluding sentence Sum up why reason supports your thesis. EXAMPLE: Therefore, because Standards Based Grading helps students zero in on their skills it is a far superior grading system than the traditional approach.

Most importantly, Standards Based Grading is the best solution to the problems with grading because it helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses within the subject. Standards Based Grading highlights specific skills, such as Analyzing Informational Texts or Writing Creatively which allows students to receive feedback on each skill individually. This is different from other grading systems which give students a number score, i.e. 85 out of 100. As a result, by receive marks and scores for each skill separately, students can identify which skill they are strong and which skills they need to improve. According to Dr. Marzano, “The answer is quite simple: grades are so imprecise they are almost meaningless (1). Marzano understands that students cannot identify strengths and weaknesses within in a subject from traditional grading because their is no specific reference to any one skill. In addition, survey data shows that 85% of students state that they can identify their strengths and weaknesses when working within a Standards Based Grading system (Schutz). This shows that the system clearly communicates student achievement.Therefore, because Standards Based Grading helps students zero in on their skills it is a far superior grading system than the traditional approach.