English SOL Online Writing

The Writing Process

Writing is not merely a finished product; it is a process including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. In the 2010 English SOLs, instruction in the writing process begins in grade one and continues through grade 12. Students will become proficient in all steps of the process for a variety of writing modes of including:

Considering purpose and audience;
Prewriting using a variety of strategies;
Narrowing and focusing the topic;
Organizing ideas;
Composing a first draft;
Elaborating ideas by providing details and examples;
Revising writing;
Using peer or self-editing, to correct sentence formation, grammar, usage, and mechanics; and
Publishing writing.

Download this Writing Process Chart (PDF)

Beginning with the 2013 spring administration of grades 5, 8 and end-of-course SOL writing assessments, Virginia students will complete all direct-writing tests online. Teachers need to provide opportunities for students at all grade levels to plan, compose, revise, edit and publish writing using computers.

Writing Instruction Resources

Lesson Plans

The new English SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence sample lesson plans are aligned with the 2010 English SOL. In preparation for the new online writing assessments, several of the writing lessons from each grade band are provided. These materials are intended as examples of ways the understandings, knowledge and skills might be presented to students in sample lessons that have been aligned with the new standards.

Graphic Organizers

(All files are PDF format)

Anchor Sets with Annotations

The Short Paper Component of the English SOL test includes two results – a composing and written expression score and a usage and mechanics score – on a scale of 1 to 4 that when added together indicate a student’s final writing score. To assist teachers in determining how these two are evaluated, the following annotated examples provide explanations to support the assigned score:

Grade 5 Anchor Sets with Annotations
- Composing and Written Expression (PDF)

Usage and Mechanics (PDF)

Grade 8 Anchor Sets with Annotations

Composing and Written Expression (PDF)
Usage and Mechanics (PDF)

EOC Anchor Sets with Annotations

Composing and Written Expression (PDF)
Usage and Mechanics (PDF)

Instruction Anchor Sets

The following are samples that received a score of 2 for the composing and written expression portion of the Short Paper Component of the English SOL test. They include annotations, examples of questions and writing checklists that teachers can use to assist students in the revision and editing process, as well as color overlays that align to the Instructional Writing Checklist for teachers. Checkmarks at the beginning on a line indicates a usage and mechanics error.

Grade 5 Instruction Anchor Set (PDF)
Grade 8 Instruction Anchor Set (PDF)
End of Course Instruction Anchor Set (PDF)

Understand Scoring

Understand Scoring provides educators with information about the SOL writing assessments, including the rubrics and anchor papers that illustrate each score point on the composing/written expression and usage/mechanics domains used to score the Short Paper Components of the writing tests. The application is intended to assist teachers in preparing students for the SOL writing tests.

Instruction Writing Checklists

Instruction Writing Checklists provide teachers with information to evaluate student writing. School divisions may add additional writing requirements to these documents. For K-12 grade-specific student writing expectations, teachers should consult the Curriculum Framework.

Grade 5 Instruction Writing Checklist (Word)
Grade 8 Instruction Writing Checklist (Word)
End of Course Instruction Persuasive Writing Checklist (Word)

Writing Assessment Resources

Writing Prompts

Writing prompts that may be administered on the Writing SOL tests based on the 2010 English Standards of Learning:

Writing Test Blueprints

These test blueprints will be effective with the administration of the 2012-2013 English SOL tests.

Checklist for Writers

Writing Practice Items, Tools and Guides

Writing Practice Items and Guides provide the opportunity for students to practice multiple-choice and technology-enhanced items (TEI) that reflect the new content and increased rigor of the revised English SOL.

To prepare students fully for the online writing assessment, teachers are encouraged to use the Writing Practice Tool (PDF) with their students in order to familiarize students with the online formatting tools available in the TestNav testing platform. These formatting tools mirror those of many word processing programs.

Understand Scoring

Outside Resources

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) writing Web page
ReadWriteThink – a collection of English/ Language Arts lessons plans for grades K-12
Video workshops for teachers provide practical advice for teaching writing – from Anneberg Learner:
Keyboarding Methodology Instructional Guide for Teachers and Administrators (PDF) – a guide designed to help teachers instruct the proper techniques of keyboarding along with activities to improve students’ speed and accuracy
National Writing Project – a collection of writing resources for teachers
Alien Punctuation – interactive activities for students in grades 1-5 to promote proper punctuation

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