Assessment and Instructional Guide for the Georgia Middle Grades Writing Assessment.

Students should realize that writing is a process of discovery which transcends the English classroom. Writing only about literature limits their experiences. The types of writing assessed on the Georgia Middle Grades Writing Assessment (MGWA) are: Narrative Writing, Persuasive Writing, and Report Writing (Expository). This MGWA guide is divided into the following parts: (1) The Georgia Middle Grades Writing Assessment at a Glance (How to Use the Assessment and Instructional Guide for MGWA; Types of Writing Assessed; Establishing an Effective Writing Program; Prompt Specifications; Sample Prompts; Scoring System; What Teachers Need to Know; What Students Need to Know); (2) Foundations (Overview of Writing Assessment in Georgia; History of MGWA; Philosophy; QCC Coverage in Middle Grades Writing Assessment); (3) Writing Instruction (Structure of Middle Grades Writing Assessment; What Do 6th and 7th Grade Teachers Need to Know?; Vertical Teaming Suggestions; Steps of the Writing Process; Illustrating Steps of the Writing Process); (4) MGWA Scoring Rubrics; and (5) Student Papers, Annotations, and Teaching Tips. Contains additional resources and blackline masters. (NKA)