Middle School Writing-Essays Assessment

• STAAR ECR Mastery Resource Informational Essay Test Prep Grades 6-8 Thesis Claim
  This comprehensive resource breaks down the Extended Constructed Response (ECR) process for middle school students. It guides them through crafting a solid thesis, developing claims, and supporting their ideas with evidence and reasoning. The engaging, step-by-step format ensures students master the writing skills they need for STAAR success.

• Thanksgiving Argument Writing Unit Debate Topics & Lesson Plans 4 STAAR ECRs
  Make argumentative writing fun and seasonal with this resource. Students tackle Thanksgiving-themed debate topics while practicing essential STAAR ECR skills. The unit includes structured lessons, 4 debate topics, guided notes, and activities that focus on developing strong arguments with evidence and counterarguments.

• ECR Relay Race: Engaging STAAR Writing Prep Grades 5-8 Comprehension 12 Prompts!
  Turn essay writing into a collaborative, competitive game! This relay race-style resource includes 12 engaging prompts and helps students build comprehension and writing skills through interactive learning. Ideal for both individual and group work, this resource is perfect for STAAR test prep and building writing confidence.

Should students be required to wear school uniforms? This is an argumentative essay prompt, two articles, a graph, and outline sheet. Your kids will all have their own opinions about uniforms and whether or not schools should require uniforms. This comes complete with rubric. This is a pdf.

If you want the Google Drive editable version

CLICK HERE

Looking for more argumentative prompts with articles?

Minimum Wage - Argumentative prompt, articles, and outline sheet

Facebook: Argumentative prompt, articles, and outline sheet

Did Shakespeare write his own stuff?:Argumentative prompt, articles, and rubric.

Should Schools Ban Soda? - Argumentative prompt, articles, and outline sheet

Looking for a final writing assignment on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar? This resource features everything you'll need to lead students through the process of writing an analytical essay about Julius Caesar.

The resource features 5 writing prompts which will motivate students to think with nuance about important themes in the play. The resource also includes scaffolding to help students select evidence, generate an outline, and begin writing. For teachers, the resource features an assessment rubric which can be used to grade and provide feedback on students' analytical writing.

As a bonus, this resource also features a two-page handout on how to embed quotations within an analytical essay. The handout provides students with three techniques for framing textual evidence: the block quotation, the clause-and-colon method, and the integration of short quotations into one's own sentence.

Here's what you'll find in this editable 10-page resource:

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Let students choose from one of 5 thought-provoking sample topics — or invite them to develop a topic of their own. Writing schedule, outline template, and rubric included. (4 pages)
• Framing Quotations: This handout provides students with advice about how to embed textual evidence into a body paragraph. The handout familiarizes students with three different methods for framing quotations: the block quotation, the clause-and-colon method, and the integration of key words and phrases within one's own sentence. (2 pages)
• Outline Template: Provide students with the scaffolding necessary to write a five-paragraph essay. This outline template challenges students to fill in a text box for every part of their essay: hook, thesis, topic sentences, evidence, analysis, and conclusion. (3 pages)
• Assessment Rubric: Evaluate student essays in a quick and efficient manner by using an analytical writing rubric. (1 page)

The entire unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word Docs *and* PDFs. Because the Word docs are fully editable, you'll be able to customize them to match the skill levels of your students year after year. If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access PDF versions which are easy to navigate and quick to print.

Rigorous Resources is your one-stop shop for top-quality resources on William Shakespeare. Wishing you an amazing experience with teaching the Julius Caesar. If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I love hearing from fellow teachers who share a passion for great literature! 

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Remember to “follow” my store to receive email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Feel free to check out these complete units on Shakespeare's masterpieces:

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Romeo and Juliet

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Julius Caesar

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Macbeth

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Othello

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Hamlet

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Much Ado About Nothing

INTRO TO SHAKESPEARE: Biography, Globe Theater, Language, & Meter

Students are Hollywood stars in this movie-themed, narrative writing project. Differentiated writing project Includes: Brainstorming handouts Plot line for upper level students Lined essay paper Credits/playbill page Directions for use Narrative definition Project Extensions for GT/AP Supplemental Resources Fun, engaging format for working with narrative writing. Use as introduction to narratives or for assessment purposes. Meets CCSS.

Learning involves both oral and written presentations, which are crucial to mastering presentation skills. To aid in the evaluation process, this rubric covers both types of presentations and is presented on a single, user-friendly page. It can be used by students, teachers, or paraprofessionals. Additionally, a digital version is provided for students to assess their peers.

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This product has 3 parts. First, there is a hi-lighting activity that requires students to go back into an Argument Essay they've already written and color-code the different essential parts of their writing. You could post this assignment on Google classroom or project the directions onto the Smart Board. The second part is a checklist for Argument Writing. You will make a copy for each student. The students could use it themselves for self- assessment, OR they could switch and use it for peer feedback. Finally, there is a very helpful chart that includes transition words for Argument Writing, including power words, transition words, turnback words, and counter argument words. You can copy this for all students, hang it on the wall, project it on the Smart Board, or post it on Google classroom. My students keep this in their binders to refer to all year long.

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This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
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• Homeschooling
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• Struggling Readers
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This rubric looks at 6 different areas when students are being assessed on writing instructions. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: instructions are in order, steps, details, and materials are included in the instructions, the instructions relate with the topic, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the writing instructions assignment out of 18 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

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Writing Instructions

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This bundle should accompany Kwame Alexander's novel The Door of No Return. The story is not included in this resource.

This bundle includes:

- Chapter Vocabulary Lists

- Chapter Vocabulary Quizlet Links

- Google Form Vocabulary Tests

- A Reading Journal with 8 Prompts

- A Thorough Study Guide with Middle School English Vocabulary Embedded (personification, summarize, simile, etc.)

- A Final Writing Project Including Research

- A Final Writing Project Rubric

BONUS: Two prompts and worksheets for a socratic seminar discussion regarding the book.

These resources cover everything you could need for a unit about this novel.

This product features all the materials you need to assign a compare/contrast essay for Edgar Allan Poe's two famously gruesome tales: "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Black Cat."

For this assignment, students will need to think critically and specifically about the similarities and differences between the two famous stories. A comprehensive chart is provided to prompt students to take a close look at both tales and to think beyond the obvious (like the fact that they are both written by Edgar Allan Poe) and consider the deeper similarities and differences (like plot structure, mental state of the narrators, and elements of suspense) between them. These thoughtfully-constructed materials will help students develop exemplary compare/contrast essays that they can be proud of!

Product Includes:

• Complete assignment directions
• Specific similarities/differences chart with 17 story components
• Venn diagram template
• Essay graphic organizer (Block Method)
• Rubric
• Teacher key for chart

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Check out these great products to supplement your study of The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat:

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Literature Guide

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Anticipation Guide and Lesson Plan

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Creative Writing Assignment on Perspective

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart Figurative Language Challenge Activity

⭐ Unreliable Narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart Lesson Plan

⭐ The Black Cat Literature Guide

⭐ The Black Cat ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Unreliable Narrator of The Black Cat Lesson Plan

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe "Breaking News" Article and Illustration Activity

⭐ The Tell-Tale Heart/The Black Cat Socratic Seminar Materials

More resources to round out your Edgar Allan Poe unit:

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe PowerPoint

⭐ Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Bell Ringer Journal Prompts

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Crossword Puzzle

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Brochure

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe's Obituary

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Quote Posters

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Resource Bundle

But why stop with two stories? We have enough Edgar Allan Poe resources to frighten your students for months!

⭐ The Raven Literature Guide

⭐ The Pit and the Pendulum Literature Guide

⭐ The Masque of the Red Death Literature Guide

⭐ The Cask of Amontillado Literature Guide

⭐ The Fall of the House of Usher Literature Guide

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe Short Story BUNDLE

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Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This "A WHITE HERON" Essay Exam provides students a chance to show what they know. 15 Essay Writing Prompts to encourage insightful responses from this canonized work. Also, there are an additional 15 Discussion Questions to be used for additional essay practice or group projects, and NEW, 2 Working with "A WHITE HERON" handout have been included. 6th - 10th Graders will love this essay exam. Check it out!

SUMMARY:

Sarah Orne Jewett's "A White Heron," is about love, loyalty, and choice. This 1886 story takes place in the woods during a summer evening in June as a young girl is doing her regular chores meets a bird hunter who forces her to question her loyalty to man or nature. This story that highlights Regionalism begs students to look at who they are loyal to, who they love, and the choices they make.

This 6th - 10th grade canonized work allows students to look at themselves, nature, and our flawed society.

This Product Includes:

1. 15 Essay Writing Prompts

2. 15 Discussion Questions

3. 2 "HERON" Worksheets

4. Suggested Uses

You may also appreciate:

• A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND [UNIT QUIZZES]
• SHOOTING AN ELEPHANT [UNIT QUIZZES]
• THANK YOU, MA'AM [LESSON ACTIVITIES]
• THE TELL-TALE HEART [MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ]

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Use this quick & easy freebie in your classroom while teaching personal narrative writing! This checklist is for students to use in order to monitor and self-assess their writing. This product comes two to a page, so it is very convenient to print!

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Unlock the Power of Student Voices with Our Human Rights Research Project!

Are you looking to engage your middle school students in meaningful learning while empowering them to explore critical global issues? Our Human Rights Research Project is designed to do just that! Perfect for cross-curricular activities, social justice units, or as an extension of your writing or research lessons, this comprehensive resource provides everything you need to guide your students through an in-depth exploration of human rights.

What's Inside?

• 5 Detailed Lesson Plans – Tailored for middle school students, these plans come with built-in scaffolds and IEP accommodations to ensure every student can participate meaningfully.
• Essay Graphic Organizer – Simplify the writing process with an easy-to-use organizer that helps students structure their ideas and evidence.
• Engaging Videos – Incorporate multimedia learning with carefully selected videos that complement each lesson and keep students engaged.
• Teacher Slides – Save time with ready-to-use slides that guide you through each lesson, complete with discussion prompts and visuals to enhance learning.
• Human Rights Research Guide – Equip students with the tools they need to conduct effective research on relevant human rights issues.

Checklist for Teachers:

• Ready-to-use, standards-aligned lesson plans.
• Built-in supports for diverse learners, including IEP and 504 accommodations.
• Engaging multimedia resources (videos and slides).
• Graphic organizers to scaffold the writing process.
• Opportunities for cross-curricular integration.

Benefits for You and Your Students:

• Empower Student Voice: Encourage your students to dive deep into human rights issues that matter to them, fostering a sense of global citizenship and advocacy.
• Time-Saving Resources: With everything prepared for you, from lesson plans to slides, you can focus on what you do best – teaching!
• Differentiated Instruction: Our materials include IEP accommodations and multiple entry points, making it easy to reach every student.
• Critical Thinking and Research Skills: Guide students in developing their research, analysis, and writing skills through a topic that’s both relevant and impactful.

Make your next unit unforgettable with our Human Rights Research Project! Your students will not only learn about the world around them, but they’ll also be inspired to make a difference. Download now and bring this powerful learning experience to your classroom!

This is a prompt for whether or not Shakespeare wrote his own plays. It includes three articles, an outline sheet, and a grading rubric for the essay. This is a great resource for if you are covering essay writing but also doing Shakespeare plays or sonnets before or after. This product works great in any digital classroom. This is editable in Google Docs. You must have Google Drive to use this product! You may sign up for Google drive for free Visit here for help with Google Drive

Looking for a final writing assignment on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? This resource features everything you'll need to lead students through the process of writing an analytical essay about Romeo and Juliet. The resource features 5 writing prompts which will motivate students to think with nuance about important themes in the play. The resource also includes scaffolding to help students select evidence, generate an outline, and begin writing. For teachers, the resource features an assessment rubric which can be used to grade and provide feedback on students' analytical writing.

Here's what you'll find in this editable 8-page resource:

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Let students choose from one of 5 thought-provoking sample topics — or invite them to develop a topic of their own. Includes a handout introducing students to the elements in an analytical essay as well as a scaffolded writing schedule with each step in the essay writing process. (4 pages)
• Outline Template: Scaffold the writing process by having students fill out an outline before they write their papers. The outline template has boxes where students can write out their hook, thesis, topic sentences, textual evidence, and so on. (3 pages)
• Assessment Rubric: A detailed assessment rubric enables teachers to grade student papers in a fast and efficient manner. (1 page)

The entire unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word Docs *and* PDFs. Because the Word docs are fully editable, you'll be able to customize them to match the skill levels of your students year after year. If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access PDF versions which are easy to navigate and quick to print.

Rigorous Resources is your one-stop shop for top-quality resources on William Shakespeare. Wishing you an amazing experience with teaching the Romeo and Juliet. If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I love hearing from fellow teachers who share a passion for great literature! 

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

P.S. Remember to “follow” my store to receive email updates on new products by Rigorous Resources. New products will be 50% OFF for the first 24 hours!

Feel free to check out these complete units on Shakespeare's masterpieces:

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Romeo and Juliet

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Julius Caesar

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Macbeth

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Othello

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Hamlet

COMPLETE UNIT with Workbooks on Much Ado About Nothing

INTRO TO SHAKESPEARE: Biography, Globe Theater, Language, & Meter

A quick, two page review of Grammar Tips (sentence variety with examples and reader as writer instructions) along with a five-step format for structuring standardized essays. Easy to follow with color-coded examples.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction

• differentiating instruction

• on level learners

• ESL/ENL/ELL

• Deaf Education

• Homework

• Classwork

• Homeschooling

• Bell Work

• Virtual Instruction

• Remote Instruction

• Struggling Readers

• Struggling Writers

This rubric looks at 5 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a story. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: the story outline relates with the graphic organizer, all parts of the story are written in sequential order, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the story writing assignment out of 15 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

This resource should accompany Kwame Alexander's book The Door of No Return. This writing project asks students to conduct a small amount of research about the real Door of No Return. They will consider why the author may have chosen this title for his book, and they will think about how their reading experience may have been different if they had known about the door before reading.

This resource includes the writing prompt, a space for collecting information regarding the research questions, an essay outline, and a grading rubric. All sheets come in color and black/white for easy printing.

This product contains 9 thoughtful essay prompts for A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, all perfect for a 5 paragraph essay or a short open response for a test (I have used them in both ways). A detailed rubric is also included.

Here is an example of a prompt:

Although A Midsummer Night’s Dream is categorized as one of Shakespeare’s comedies, much has been written about the darker side of this play including some of terrible ways the characters treat one another. Identify three separate instances in which the play is dark and discuss why each instance could be considered tragic. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Save 20% off this resource when you purchase as part of a bundle of all A Midsummer Night's Dream products by Language Arts Excellence:

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream Activity BUNDLE

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Also, check out these great products to complement your unit on A Midsummer Night's Dream:

⭐ Introduction to Shakespeare Powerpoint

⭐ Shakespeare Scavenger Hunt

⭐ Shakespeare ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream Anticipation Activity

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream Bell-Ringer Prompts

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream Puzzles

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream Socratic Seminar Lesson Plan and Materials

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream HOT SEAT!

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream Social Media Materials

⭐ A Midsummer Night's Dream Literature Guide

__________________________________________________________________________________________

⭐ Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

This "THE MEDICINE BAG" Essay Exam resource provides students a chance to show what they know. 15 Essay Writing Prompts to encourage insightful responses from this canonized work. Also, there are an additional 15 Discussion Questions and 2 Short Response Worksheets to be used for additional essay practice or group projects. 6th and 8th Graders will love this essay exam. Check it out!

SUMMARY:

Hawk Sneve's The Medicine Bag highlights Martin and his relationship with his grandfather who belongs to the Native American land of South Dakota. Hailing from a mixed heritage, Martin is conscious about his grandfather’s unexpected visit to his house and fears the oblivion of the fantastical image surrounding the old man that he otherwise shares with his friends after every summer visit. the visit that would change his life forever.

This 6th - 8th grade canonized work allows students to look into their own self worth, and the strength of family and heritage.

You may also appreciate:

THE PIANO LESSON [GALLERY WALK]

THE PIANO LESSON [TASK CARDS]

QUICK READS [Series#2]

THE PEARL [LESSON ACTIVITIES]

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING ME ON THESE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS:

TheAngryTeacherBLOG

EMAIL LIST

INSTAGRAM

Youtube

Facebook

Pinterest

TIKTOK

THREADS

Hey Angry Teacher Fam,

I'm Richard Williams, The Angry Teacher. I've been teaching for 20+ Years , and have amassed quite a bit of knowledge to share. Please consider joining the Angry Teacher family; we'll enjoy having you in the fam!

Please consider checking out the other EDUCATIONAL materials and resources in my store.

Also, guys, remember that leaving REVIEWS is a way that TeachShare gives you credit on products! So let's do it!

Thanks for stopping by!

1. 90 Day Reading Comprehension Bell Ringer Warm-Up Routine: This daily bell-ringer routine provides 90 days of reading comprehension practice, helping students build consistency in analyzing texts, identifying main ideas, and drawing inferences. Perfect for regular, bite-sized practice that reinforces key comprehension skills.
2. ECR Relay Race: Engaging STAAR Writing Prep: This interactive relay race activity is designed to make STAAR writing preparation engaging. With 12 prompts focused on extended constructed responses (ECR), students will work on crafting thoughtful, structured responses, honing their ability to articulate ideas clearly and support their answers with evidence.
3. STAAR ECR Mastery Resource for Informational Essays: This resource focuses on informational essay writing with a strong emphasis on developing thesis statements, claims, and supporting evidence. It’s a targeted approach to mastering the essential components of STAAR informational essays, equipping students with skills in organization and argumentation.
4. Thanksgiving Argument Writing Unit: Debate Topics & Lesson Plans: This seasonal resource engages students in argument writing through Thanksgiving-themed debate topics. Students will practice constructing persuasive arguments, making claims, and providing relevant evidence—core skills for STAAR ECRs and persuasive writing in general.

This bundle provides comprehensive practice in reading comprehension, essay structure, argumentation, and evidence-based responses, setting students up for success in standardized test preparation.