1. I D E A S the of the message main theme choose details that are interesting, important, and informative

2. Writing Prompt "Sometimes it's hard to make a decision because there are so many choices. Write a personal narrative about a time when you had to make a decision. Be sure to write in detail about the choice you made and describe what happened as a result of your decision."

3. ORGANIZATION structure of a piece of writing or the pattern events proceed logically connections are strong brings things to closure answers important questions MAIN IDEA

4. A choice Paragraph 1: A choice you made Paragraph 2: What happened after that choice Paragraph 3: Things you learned later about that choice Paragraph 4: What you think now about that choice you made

5. V O I C E writer coming through the words sense that a real person is speaking to us the heart and soul of the writing, the magic, the feeling

6. WORD CHOICE use of rich, colorful, precise language clarifies and expands ideas moves the reader to a new vision of things CONCISE

7. SENTENCE FLUENCY the rhythm and flow of the language has cadence, power, rhythm, and movement How does it sound when read aloud?

8. Conventions spelling grammar and usage paragraphing use of capitals punctuation handwriting and neatness