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Georgia Milestones Writing Student Checklist
A one-page student checklist for the Georgia Milestones Extended Writing Task: the eight-point, three-trait rubric, what the top score asks for in each trait, and the length rule for conventions.
For students · Grades 3, 5, 8 · Lit and Comp II · 1 page · PDF
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How to use it: The Georgia Milestones Writing Task Explained: A Guide for Georgia Teachers
What's on the sheet
How your writing is scored
| Trait | Points |
|---|---|
| 1. Purpose and Organization | 0–3 |
| 2. Evidence and Elaboration | 0–3 |
| 3. Language Usage and Conventions | 0–2 |
| Total | 8 |
Write enough
Very brief responses, even with few or no errors, may not earn the conventions points.
Use the provided sources, and don’t copy them. Copied responses get a condition code instead of a score.
Grades 3 and 5 write opinion pieces; grade 8 and Literature and Composition II write arguments with a claim. Read "claim" below as "opinion" if you are in grade 3 or 5.
Trait 1: Purpose and Organization
- I clearly state my claim (or opinion) and stay focused on it.
- My introduction is strong and leads into my claim.
- My structure holds together: each paragraph has a clear job.
- I used effective transitions between ideas.
- My conclusion is strong and connects back to my claim.
Trait 2: Evidence and Elaboration
- I gave reasons that support my claim.
- I used relevant evidence from more than one source.
- I elaborated on my evidence, using the techniques we practiced.
- I named the source each time I used it.
Trait 3: Language Usage and Conventions
- My sentences are complete, and I varied them.
- I used verb tense correctly and wrote mostly in active voice.
- I proofread: any errors are small and don’t get in the way of meaning.
My plan
My claim (or opinion)
Reason 1 + source
Reason 2 + source
You get a Writer's Checklist during the test, but you can't use it as scratch paper. Student summary based on GaDOE's Eight-Point, Three-Trait Writing Rubric (grade 8 top-score descriptors). Not an official GaDOE document.