Middle School English Language Arts Instructional Guide

Sample Question Stems and Prompts for Discussion ●​ What is the main topic of your text? How do you introduce it to your audience? ●​ How have you organized your ideas and information into broader categories?

●​ What formatting, graphics, or multimedia have you used to enhance your text? How do they contribute to your explanation? ●​ What relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, and examples have you included to develop your topic? ●​ How have you used transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among your ideas? ●​ What precise language and content-specific vocabulary have you used to inform about or explain your topic? ●​ How have you ensured that your conventions and style are appropriate for your audience, purpose, and task?

Sample Formative Assessments

Draft Review and Reflection

●​ Activity: Students write a first draft of their text and then write a short reflection on what they think works well and what they need to improve.

●​ Objective: To encourage self-assessment and revision.

Fact vs. Opinion Sorting

●​ Activity: Students sort a list of statements into facts and opinions, then explain how they will use factual information in their text.

●​ Objective: To distinguish between factual information and opinions and use facts to support their writing.

Last Updated September 23rd, 2024 Middle School ELA, Page 148