I posted this activity some time last year, and I dug it out of my tool belt last week to use as a writing assessment. I updated the rubric in it so that it matches the proficiency targets for each level (a different rubric for each level). Boy, do I love it! As I was grading the assessments, I realized that one of the most wonderful benefits to using this as a writing activity is that students are reminded of all kinds of different words that they have learned. The vocabulary range used by my students was much more broad than when we don't do any kind of a pre-writing/brainstorming activity before they begin writing. I was impressed with their use of dialogue and transitional expressions (which are always posted on my walls) to create beautifully advanced pieces of writing. Download the updated form that I use here!
