Writing Skills Assessment Task

Year 8 English — Crafting & Refining Writing

Name:

Date:

Class:

📋 About This Task

In this assessment, you will plan, write, and edit a piece of writing that clearly communicates your ideas. You will make deliberate choices about language, structure, and style — and then independently improve your own work.

Your Writing Prompt (choose ONE):

Option A — Persuasive Writing

"Intermediate students should have a say in how their school is run." Write a persuasive piece arguing your point of view. Use evidence, examples, and persuasive language to convince your reader.

Option B — Descriptive / Narrative Writing

Write about a moment when you felt truly proud of yourself or someone else. Use descriptive language, sensory details, and a clear structure to bring the moment to life for your reader.

Option C — Expository Writing

Explain why something you care about matters to others. This could be a hobby, a local issue, a sport, or a cause. Use clear explanations, examples, and an organised structure.

Circle your chosen option:

Option A — Persuasive

Option B — Descriptive / Narrative

Option C — Expository

✏️ Part 1: Planning Your Writing

Use this space to organise your ideas before you write. Strong planning leads to stronger writing!

1. What is the main idea or argument of your writing? (one or two sentences)

2. Who is your audience, and what tone will you use? (e.g. formal, conversational, passionate)

3. Plan your structure below. List your key points or sections in order:

Opening / Hook: _____________________________________________________________________________

Point / Section 1: ___________________________________________________________________________

Point / Section 2: ___________________________________________________________________________

Point / Section 3: ___________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion / Ending: ________________________________________________________________________

4. Choose at least THREE language features you plan to use deliberately. Tick your choices:

Metaphor or simile

Rhetorical question

Repetition for effect

Vivid / sensory description

Varied sentence length for pace

Emotive language

Facts, statistics, or examples

Direct address ("you")

📝 Part 2: Your Writing

Write your full piece here. Aim for 3–5 paragraphs. Focus on communicating your ideas clearly and making deliberate language choices.

🔍 Editing & Refining (complete after your first draft)

Read your writing back carefully. Make changes directly on your draft above using a different colour pen or pencil.

5. What is ONE change you made to improve your tone or style? Explain why you made it.

6. Highlight or underline ONE language feature you used deliberately in your writing, then explain its effect below:

Feature used: _______________________________________________________________________________

Effect on the reader: ________________________________________________________________________

🌟 Part 3: Self-Assessment

Be honest with yourself — this helps you grow as a writer!

7. Read each success criteria. Circle where you think your writing sits:

I communicated my main idea clearly throughout my writing.

Emerging

Developing

Consolidating

Proficient

Exceeding

I used language features deliberately to create an effect on my reader.

Emerging

Developing

Consolidating

Proficient

Exceeding

My writing has a clear structure with a strong opening and conclusion.

Emerging

Developing

Consolidating

Proficient

Exceeding

I independently edited my writing to improve tone, style, and clarity.

Emerging

Developing

Consolidating

Proficient

Exceeding

8. What is one thing you are proud of in this piece of writing?

9. What is one thing you would improve if you had more time?

📊 Performance Level Descriptions

Emerging: Beginning to organise ideas; some language features attempted with support.

Developing: Ideas are present but may lack clarity; language features used, though not always effectively.

Consolidating: Ideas are mostly clear; language features used with some deliberate effect; some editing evident.

Proficient: Ideas communicated clearly and confidently; language features used deliberately for effect; effective editing improves the piece.

Exceeding: Sophisticated, controlled writing that engages the reader; language choices are precise and purposeful; insightful self-editing shows strong metacognitive awareness.