Out of their comfort zones: Unit Standard 8812
Teacher Mike Fowler
| Year
|
NCEA Level
|
Suggested duration
|
| 11
|
1
|
3 weeks
|
| Achievement Standard Being Assessed
|
Achievement Criteria
|
| Unit Standard 8812 version 4: Produce transactional writing in simple forms.
|
- 1.1: Writing develops ideas.
- 1.2: Ideas are logically sequenced and supported by relevant details and/or examples.
- 1.3: Conventions of chosen form are observed and appropriate to purpose.
- 1.4: Final product is crafted to publication standard.
|
Assessment note
This activity assesses one of the two pieces required for unit standard 8812. For another unit plan for 8812, see Yes ... but
.
Unit standard 8812 assesses similar outcomes to achievement standard 90053 Produce formal writing [1.2], even though 90053 is externally assessed. Both standards require the same overall standard of writing to gain achievement [1.2] and credit [8812]. Even though the two standards assess similar outcomes, there are some differences in terminology. The term "conventions" is used in performance criteria 1.3 [8812] to mean style and structure. "Conventions" in the formal writing achievement standard refers to grammar, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
The standard of technical accuracy required in 8812's pc 1.4: "Final product is crafted to publication standard" is identical to achievement level for 1.2 conventions criterion: "use writing conventions without intrusive errors."
Guidelines for use
Students will develop pieces of writing about characters from two short stories who are 'out of their comfort zones.'
Conditions
The same conditions for assessment apply when assessing 8812 and the internally assessed writing achievement standard 90052 Produce creative writing [1.1] – or any internally assessed unit or achievement writing standard at any level. Teachers must be satisfied that the work is the student's. Students should complete internally assessed writing work in class. If the pieces are to be assessed for summative assessment, teachers should ensure that the extent of teacher input does not compromise assessment validity; in other words, the writing is the student's, not the teacher's.
Teachers may guide students actively through the initial tasks helping them to identify techniques mentioned. Teachers may show how the techniques used in the exemplars can be applied to students' own writing.
As they develop drafts, teachers can advise students that their writing may need further work on ideas, language, structure or accuracy in spelling, punctuation or paragraphing but not correct errors. Students should have access to dictionaries to check their writing. Word processing is acceptable providing it is done under teacher supervision.
Students should have several opportunities during the year to develop their transactional writing skills.
Possible local adaptation
Where local adaptations are made, teachers and schools should ensure that they have:
- checked that the adapted assessment validly assesses the standard;
- checked the copyright status of any material imported into the assessment resource;
- complied with all internal and external quality assurance requirements.
Teaching and learning activities
Select and adapt these learning activities to best meet the needs of your students, and to fit the time available:
Learning task 1
Learning task 2
Activating prior knowledge
To learn something new, students need to make connections between what is known and what is unknown. They need a peg on which to hang new learning. Helping students to recall what they know is the first step in this process.
See ESOL Online activiating prior knowledge
for more information.
Student instructions:
In this activity you will read several short stories where characters must deal with situations that make them feel 'out of their comfort zones' for a variety of reasons. After studying exemplars showing how to structure your writing, you will select two stories then write about the situations facing the central characters and how the characters deal with the challenges or issues they face.
Your writing will be at least 300 words long.
Before you begin writing, you will look at techniques you could use to develop your own writing effectively.
You will be assessed on
- how well you express and develop your ideas
- how well you organise your material
- your ability to use a writing style that is appropriate to the task
- your accuracy in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and paragraphing.
Assessment
See the
assessment (RTF 13KB)
which is also linked to the exemplars.
Exemplars
exemplar_a (RTF 45KB)
,
exemplar_b (RTF 39KB)
,
exemplar_c (RTF 41KB)
Successful completion of this task will fulfil part of the range statement [one of two pieces] for level 1 unit standard 8812 Produce transactional writing in simple forms.
