Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)

This standard requires that students demonstrate their ability to attend to the writing context they are given. First, students need to examine what the assignment is and what type of writing will best address the assignment. They’ll need to know the genre conventions and be able to choose a structure and style that’s appropriate to the given genre. Next, students must know what they hope to achieve through their writing. Their purpose will determine how their ideas develop and what information will be included or left out. Finally, students must identify their audience. Who will be reading this text or to whom is it addressed? Students need to be able to identify the knowledge and concerns of their audience and tailor their writing to meet those needs.

Take a look at the following example for how students might make some of these choices for a writing assignment. Refer to standards 1-3 for specific information about each type of writing.