In this article, we would like to provide you with some basic information about the Writing Section of the fifth grade Virginia Standards of Learning Tests. As a staff, we are taking steps daily to prepare our students for this writing section. Each grade level is responsible for laying valuable pieces of the foundation so that our students will be successful when they take the fifth grade writing test. Sometimes, parents ask us how a student's writing is evaluated. It is helpful to know that the writing evaluators in Richmond look at the following three writing domains of Composing, Written Expression, and Usage and Mechanics.

The Composing domain deals with good organization around a central idea. When an essay is well organized, it includes an introduction,a middle section with supporting details and a conclusion. The introductory paragraph states the topic while the middle section includes two or three paragraphs which elaborate about the topic by giving supporting details. Finally, the essay includes a conclusion which is a paragraph which restates the topic and brings closure to the piece. When evaluators are analyzing a piece of writing, they are looking for a clear, easy to follow sequence of events.

The Written Expression domain deals with the following components: style, voice, tone, vocabulary, and complete sentences with subject/verb agreement. In order to have students do well with this domain, we recommend that they choose a topic with which they are familiar and also one which they care about or for which they have strong feelings. If a student selects a topic which he/she knows a lot about, he/she will have no trouble with elaborating and giving supporting details. If the topic choice is one in which he/she feels strongly, then the student's voice and tone will be evident. We recommend that the student write from the "I" point of view so his/her voice and tone are enhanced. In terms of vocabulary, we further recommend that students use strong nouns and verbs to clearly express their ideas. In terms of sentence structure, there should be no phrases or run-on sentences. All sentences need to show subject/verb agreement.

The Usage and Mechanics domain deals with correct punctuation, capitalization, accurate spelling, paragraph indentation, and hyphenating words appropriately. We regularly ask our students to proofread their writings in the hopes that they will catch their own errors. They are asked to circle errors with colored pencils. We encourage our students to use references such as our language books, dictionaries, thesauri, Franklin spellers, and spell check programs. Since spelling errors can easily be missed, we also suggest that each student begin to read his essay word by word beginning at the end and reading backwards. This takes the meaning element out and helps the student to focus on the word structure.

Each of the three Writing Domains is worth one point. When the papers are read, they are scored on a scale of 1 to 4. A score of "1" = "no control or little control". A score of "2" =" inconsistent control" ( some weakness). A score of "3"="reasonable control". A score of "4"="consistent control". Each writing sample is read and scored by two different evaluators.

Parents often ask how they can help and support their children with the writing process. We hope that the above explanation has given some insight into how the Virginia Standards of Learning Writing Section in fifth grade is evaluated. These components are being introduced in the younger grades, and supported and expanded upon in the upper grades. This same knowledge should be helpful in guiding your children. Our students can benefit only when both teachers and parents are supporting each other.