Have You Ever Wondered? 
Assessment Schedule

See Next Steps Level 3 Basic: Explain (see http://www.tki.org.nz/r/assessment/what_next/view_e.php?area=writing&load_page=3bexplain)

Transactional Writing

LEVEL 2
Write instructions and explanations, state facts and opinions, and recount events in a range of authentic contexts 

Progress Indicators

DEEPER FEATURES

Ideas
·	has ideas with some supporting evidence 

Vocabulary
·	makes increasing use of topic-related vocabulary 

Structure
·	begins to sequence ideas 

Sentences
·	uses mainly simple and compound sentences 
·	varies sentence beginnings 
·	attempts complex sentences 

Language features
·	begins to use some of the language features of an explanation 

Impact
·	begins to show an awareness of audience 

SURFACE FEATURES

Grammar 
·	uses most grammatical conventions with support 
·	attempts at more complex sentences may include errors 
·	explores verb tense: past/present 

* Note: Grammatical conventions include: 
·	Correctly formed sentences 
·	Consistent use of tense 
·	Subject verb agreement 
·	Consistent use of pronouns 
·	Correct use of prepositions 
·	Correct syntax 

Punctuation 
·	Begins to use capital letters, full stops, commas, question marks, speech marks 

Spelling 
·	spells most high frequency words correctly 
·	shows knowledge of consonant sounds, blends and vowel sounds 
·	shows some knowledge of common spelling patterns 

THE WRITER: CONTEXT AND PROCESS

·	understands that the purpose is to write an explanation explaining how/why something happens 
·	recognises that s/he is writing for an audience other than self, but may be limited because of assumption of shared knowledge 
·	recognises that different audiences and purposes require different language features 
·	will take risk in choice of vocabulary 
·	comments on their own and others' writing 
·	uses modelled ideas effectively and adapts for own purpose 
·	uses writing spontaneously for thinking 
·	uses a variety of resources for unknown words 
·	some evidence of revising and editing text 

LEVEL 3
Write instructions, explanations, and factual accounts, and express personal viewpoints, in a range of authentic contexts, sequencing ideas logically 

Progress Indicators

DEEPER FEATURES

Ideas
·	develops ideas with significant detail/elaboration 

Vocabulary
·	attempts to use words to make the explanation more meaningful 

Structure
·	sequences ideas logically 
·	begins to organise some ideas into paragraphs 

Sentences
·	uses a variety of sentence structures 

Language features
·	uses some features of explanation writing 

Impact
·	shows awareness of audience. 

SURFACE FEATURES

Grammar
·	uses most grammatical conventions correctly with a few errors 

Punctuation
·	punctuates with increasing independence, eg. uses capital letters, full stops, question marks, speech marks, apostrophe, ellipses, parentheses 

Spelling
·	spells most high frequency words correctly demonstrates good understanding of all basic sounds/patterns in written English. 

THE WRITER: CONTEXT AND PROCESS

·	language use and writing style are generally appropriate to audience and explanation writing 
·	uses models of written text to extract information 
·	appreciates own and others' work 
·	uses and responds to constructive criticism 
·	articulates language strategies used 
·	writes independently for sustained period 
·	revises and edits work with growing independence 

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)