These K–12 samples of authentic student writing, from classroom curriculum, demonstrate a range of proficiency in three writing types — Argument, Narrative, and Informative.

Argument Writing Samples

Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Gr-K

Grade 1

Grade 1

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Gr 1

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Shoes Gr 1

Grade 2

Grade 2

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Gr 2

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Osprey Gr 2

Grade 3

Grade 3

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Gr 3

Grade 4

Grade 4

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Gr 4

Grade 5

Grade 5

Opinion-Argument Benchmark Gr 5

Grade 6

Grade 6

Argument Benchmark Gr 6

Grade 7

Grade 7

Argument Benchmark Gr 7

Grade 8

Grade 8

Argument Benchmark Gr 8

Grade 9-10

Grade 9-10

Argument Benchmark Gr 9-10

Narrative Writing Samples

Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Narrative Benchmark Gr K

Grade 1

Grade 1

Narrative Benchmark Gr 1

Grade 2

Grade 2

Narrative Benchmark Gr 2

Grade 3

Grade 3

Narrative Benchmark Gr 3

Grade 4

Grade 4

Narrative Benchmark Gr 4

Grade 5

Grade 5

Narrative Benchmark Gr 5

Grade 6

Grade 6

Narrative Benchmark Gr 6

Grade 7

Grade 7

Narrative Benchmark Gr 7

Grade 8

Grade 8

Narrative Benchmark Gr 8

Grades 9-10

Grades 9-10

Narrative Benchmark Gr 9-10

Informative Writing Samples

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction to informative benchmarks

Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Gr K Trees Lit

Grade 1

Grade 1

Gr 1 Elephant’s Trunks

Gr 1 Galimoto

Grade 2

Grade 2

Gr 2 Cinderella Lit

Gr 2 Trees

Grade 3

Grade 3

Gr 3 Penguins

Gr 3 Princess Lit

Grade 4

Grade 4

Gr 4 Beatrice’s Goat

Gr 4 Energy

Grade 5

Grade 5

Gr 5

Grade 6

Grade 6

Gr 6

Grade 7

Grade 7

Gr 7

Grade 8

Grade 8

Gr 8

Grade 9-10

Grade 9-10

Gr 9-10

Grade 11-12

Grade 11-12

Gr 11-12