Production and Range of Writing for 4th Grade
As students in 4th grade develop their writing skills, they will use a variety of strategies to plan, revise, and strengthen their writing as they work independently and collaboratively with adults and peers to produce texts, and to learn about and develop oral language--written language and reading--writing connections. Students in 4th grade will write for multiple purposes (to entertain, to explain, to persuade) and learn about various tools (print and digital) to produce, share, and publish writing. In all writing tasks, students will learn to use and to adjust language to best communicate ideas, content, and message to readers; that is, fourth graders should be clear on the distinction between conversational and academic language and their purposes and use—and beginning to master some of the conventions of academic language at gradeappropriate levels. Students’ academic language skills, including written language, co-develop with content and world knowledge and through opportunities to read, write, and discuss with peers. As part of their writing development, students should continue to learn about how technology and digital tools for writing can increase learning and communication. Students should receive instruction in keyboarding, with a focus on technique over speed. Please see the Lifelong Practices for Writers for examples of important lifelong writing habits that should begin in the early years and continue through life.
Text Types and Purposes
4W1: Write an argument to support claim(s), using clear reasons and relevant evidence.
4W1a: Introduce a precise claim, supported by well-organized facts and details, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
4W1b: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary.
4W1c: Use transitional words and phrases to connect ideas within categories of information.
4W1d: Provide a concluding statement or section related to the argument presented.
4W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to explore a topic and convey ideas and information relevant to the subject.
4W2a: Introduce a topic clearly and organize related information in paragraphs and sections.
4W2b: Develop ideas on a topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, or other relevant information; include text features when useful for aiding comprehension.
4W2c: Use precise language and content-specific vocabulary.
4W2d: Use transitional words and phrases to connect ideas within categories of information.
4W2e: Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation
4W3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective techniques, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
4W3a: Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters.
4W3b: Use dialogue and description of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.
4W3c: Use transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.
4W3d: Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.
4W3e: Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.
4W4: Create a poem, story, play, artwork, or other response to a text, author, theme, or personal experience.
4W5: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to respond and support analysis, reflection, and research by applying the grade 4 Reading Standards.
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
4W6: Conduct research to answer questions, including self-generated questions, and to build knowledge through investigating multiple aspects of a topic.
4W7: Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from multiple sources; take notes, and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.