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Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing Syllabus

The English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing syllabus for Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) in full: 5 chapters, 19 topics and 29 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 50 English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing flashcards with answers.

5Chapters

19Topics

29Sub-topics

50Flashcards

English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing syllabus: all 5 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

Narrative Writing
4 topics
- Developing Real or Imagined Experiences
  - Establishing situation and point of view
  - Introducing narrator and characters
- Narrative Techniques
  - Dialogue, pacing, and description
  - Sensory language and detail
- Sequencing and Transitions
  - Logical event order
  - Signal words for time and shift
- Conclusions That Reflect on Experience
Informative and Explanatory Writing
4 topics
- Introducing and Controlling a Topic
  - Thesis or controlling idea
  - Previewing what follows
- Developing with Facts and Examples
  - Relevant evidence and details
  - Definitions, quotations, and data
- Organization and Cohesion
  - Grouping related ideas
  - Transitions linking sections
- Formal Style and Objective Tone
Argumentative and Opinion Writing
4 topics
- Stating and Supporting a Claim
  - Clear position statement
  - Relevant reasons and evidence
- Addressing Counterclaims
  - Acknowledging opposing views
  - Rebutting with reasoning
- Logical Organization of Argument
- Persuasive Conclusion and Call to Action
Research and Source-Based Writing
3 topics
- Gathering and Evaluating Sources
  - Assessing source credibility
  - Relevance to the research question
- Integrating Evidence Responsibly
  - Quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing
  - Avoiding plagiarism and citing sources
- Synthesizing Multiple Sources
  - Combining information from texts
  - Resolving conflicting information
Language and Conventions
4 topics
- Grammar and Usage
  - Parts of speech and agreement
  - Pronoun use and clarity
  - Verb tense consistency
- Sentence Structure
  - Simple, compound, and complex sentences
  - Correcting fragments and run-ons
- Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling
  - Commas, semicolons, and colons
  - Apostrophes and quotation marks
- Editing and Revising for Clarity

Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing flashcards — 50 questions with answers

In narrative writing, what does it mean to 'develop real or imagined experiences'?
To build a story (true or fictional) using descriptive detail, well-chosen events, and characters so the reader can vividly picture and connect with the experience.
What is an 'engaging narrative opening' expected to establish?
It establishes the situation/context, introduces a narrator and/or characters, and sets up the point of view or problem to hook the reader.
Name four core narrative techniques writers use to develop events and characters.
Dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection (often combined with sensory detail).
What is the purpose of dialogue as a narrative technique?
To reveal character, advance the plot, show relationships and conflict, and create realism through characters' spoken words.
In narrative writing, what does 'pacing' control?
The speed at which events unfold—slowing down for important moments with detail and speeding up to summarize or build tension.
What is sensory detail and why is it used in narratives?
Description appealing to the five senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch) used to make scenes vivid and immersive for the reader.
Why is sequencing important in a narrative?
A clear sequence of events lets the reader follow the chronology or logical unfolding of the story so it makes sense and flows naturally.
What are transition words and phrases used for in writing?
To signal time, order, cause/effect, or shifts between ideas and events, creating smooth movement and coherence between sentences and paragraphs.
Give three examples of transitional words that signal time/sequence in a narrative.
Examples: meanwhile, later, afterward, suddenly, eventually, then, finally.
What should a strong narrative conclusion do?
Provide a sense of closure and reflect on what was experienced, observed, or resolved—often showing the significance or what the narrator learned.
What is 'reflection' in a narrative conclusion?
The narrator's commentary on the meaning of the events—how they were changed, what they realized, or why the experience mattered.
When introducing a topic in informational/explanatory writing, what must the introduction do?
Clearly introduce and preview the topic, often with a thesis or controlling idea, and orient the reader to what will follow.
What does it mean to 'control a topic' in expository writing?
To keep the writing focused on the main idea, grouping related information logically and avoiding irrelevant content.
Name four ways to develop a topic with supporting information.
Facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, examples, and other relevant information/data.
What is the difference between a fact and an example as support?
A fact is a verifiable piece of true information; an example is a specific instance or illustration used to demonstrate or clarify a point.
What is 'cohesion' in writing?
The quality of sentences and paragraphs connecting smoothly and logically so ideas flow as a unified whole, often achieved with transitions and consistent references.
How does 'organization' differ from 'cohesion'?
Organization is the overall logical arrangement/structure of ideas; cohesion is the sentence-to-sentence and paragraph-to-paragraph connectedness that holds it together.
What is a 'formal style' in academic writing?
An impersonal, precise tone that avoids slang, contractions, and casual language, using standard English and discipline-appropriate vocabulary.
What does maintaining an 'objective tone' mean?
Presenting information without personal bias or emotional language—focusing on facts and evidence rather than opinions or feelings.
In argument writing, what is a 'claim'?
A debatable statement or thesis asserting a position that the writer must support with reasons and evidence.

Show the other 30 English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing flashcards

What distinguishes a strong claim from a weak one?
A strong claim is specific, arguable, and focused; a weak claim is vague, obvious, or merely a statement of fact that cannot be debated.
What is a 'counterclaim' in argumentative writing?
An opposing viewpoint or objection to the writer's claim that the writer acknowledges and then responds to (rebuts).
What is a 'rebuttal' and why is it important?
The writer's response that refutes or weakens a counterclaim; it strengthens the argument by showing the writer has considered other perspectives.
How should an argument be logically organized?
Claim → reasons and evidence → acknowledgment of counterclaims and rebuttals → conclusion, with ideas arranged so each point logically supports the position.
What is a 'call to action' in a persuasive conclusion?
A statement urging the reader to think, feel, or do something specific as a result of the argument.
What should a persuasive/argumentative conclusion accomplish?
Restate the claim, summarize key support, and leave the reader with a compelling final thought or call to action—without introducing new evidence.
What does it mean to evaluate a source for 'credibility'?
Judging whether a source is trustworthy by checking the author's authority/expertise, accuracy, publisher, bias, and currency (date).
What is the difference between a primary and a secondary source?
A primary source is original/firsthand (e.g., a diary, interview, original data); a secondary source analyzes or interprets primary sources (e.g., a textbook or review article).
What is 'plagiarism' and how is it avoided?
Using someone's words or ideas without credit; avoided by quoting, paraphrasing properly, and citing all sources.
What does it mean to 'integrate evidence responsibly'?
Smoothly incorporating quotations, paraphrases, and data with proper attribution and citation, and explaining how the evidence supports the point.
What is a 'signal phrase' when integrating quotations?
A phrase that introduces a source's words (e.g., 'According to Smith...') to attribute the quote and blend it into the writer's sentence.
What does it mean to 'synthesize' multiple sources?
Combining information and ideas from several sources to form a unified, coherent understanding or argument rather than summarizing each separately.
How is synthesizing sources different from summarizing one source?
Synthesis weaves together and shows relationships among multiple sources; summary restates the main points of a single source.
What is the difference between paraphrasing and quoting?
Quoting copies a source's exact words in quotation marks; paraphrasing restates the source's idea in your own words—both require citation.
What does 'grammar and usage' refer to in editing?
Following the conventions of standard English—correct verb tense, subject-verb agreement, pronoun use, and word choice.
What is subject-verb agreement?
The rule that a verb must match its subject in number—singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs (e.g., 'She runs'; 'They run').
What is a pronoun-antecedent agreement error?
When a pronoun does not match its antecedent in number, gender, or person (e.g., 'Each student forgot their book' where 'student' is singular).
What is a complete sentence required to have?
A subject, a predicate (verb), and a complete thought (independent clause).
What is a sentence fragment?
An incomplete sentence that is missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought and cannot stand alone.
What is a run-on sentence (and a comma splice)?
A run-on joins two independent clauses with no proper punctuation/conjunction; a comma splice joins them with only a comma.
Name the four sentence structures by clause type.
Simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
What is the difference between a compound and a complex sentence?
A compound sentence joins two independent clauses; a complex sentence joins an independent clause with at least one dependent (subordinate) clause.
List the seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS).
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.
When are words capitalized in standard English?
The first word of a sentence, the pronoun 'I', and proper nouns/adjectives (names of specific people, places, days, months, titles).
What is the main use of a semicolon?
To join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, or to separate items in a list that already contains commas.
What is the difference between its and it's?
'Its' is the possessive form (belonging to it); 'it's' is the contraction of 'it is' or 'it has'.
How is an apostrophe used to show possession?
Add 's to singular nouns (the dog's bone) and to plural nouns not ending in s; add only an apostrophe to plural nouns ending in s (the dogs' bones).
What is the difference between revising and editing?
Revising improves content, organization, clarity, and ideas (big-picture changes); editing corrects surface errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
What does 'editing for clarity' involve?
Removing wordiness, fixing ambiguous or awkward sentences, choosing precise words, and ensuring each sentence clearly conveys its intended meaning.
What is the typical order of the writing process steps?
Prewriting (planning), drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.

Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing FAQ

What is in the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing syllabus?

Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing is split into 5 chapters: Narrative Writing, Informative and Explanatory Writing, Argumentative and Opinion Writing, Research and Source-Based Writing and Language and Conventions. Together they contain 19 topics and 29 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing?

5 chapters, containing 19 topics and 29 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Narrative Writing, with 4 topics.

Are there flashcards for Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing?

Yes — a 50-card English Language Arts / Literacy: Writing deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.