Writing Standards: Producing Clear and Coherent Writing (CCSS.W.5.4)
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Common Core 5th Grade ELA › Writing Standards: Producing Clear and Coherent Writing (CCSS.W.5.4)
My class is writing an argument about a school rule we would change. At recess, we run, laugh, and cool down after long lessons. More time outside lets kids return to class focused, and moving keeps our bodies healthy. Teachers also need a short break to reset. I sometimes bring a book to the playground, and I feel calm afterward. Extra minutes give space for quieter students to join games, and it spreads out lines at the swings. When the bell rings, we can get water and be ready to learn.
Which revision best improves this paragraph for its argumentative purpose?
Replace sentence 1 with: "Our school should extend recess by ten minutes because it improves focus and health."
Change "also" to "however" in sentence 4 to sound more formal.
Add this sentence after sentence 2: "The cafeteria menu is different every day."
Move sentence 5 to the beginning to start with a personal detail.
Explanation
Because the task is to argue for a change, replacing sentence 1 with a clear claim focuses the purpose and organizes the reasons that follow.
I am writing to inform our class about how composting works and why it helps the environment. Composting turns food scraps and leaves into rich soil by letting tiny organisms break them down. First, people collect fruit peels, coffee grounds, and yard clippings. Then those materials are mixed and kept slightly damp so they can decompose. Turning the pile adds air, which speeds the process. I had soccer practice on Tuesday, and our team wore blue jerseys. After several weeks, the pile becomes dark and crumbly, ready to feed gardens without using chemical fertilizers.
Which revision best improves this paragraph?
Add this concluding sentence: "In my opinion, composting is the absolute best hobby."
Move the soccer sentence to the beginning to grab attention.
Delete the sentence about soccer practice because it does not explain composting.
Replace "are mixed" with a longer phrase to sound more detailed and formal.
Explanation
The stated purpose is to inform about composting, so removing the off-topic soccer sentence improves organization and keeps the focus clear.
My purpose is to tell a small moment about riding the city bus alone for the first time. My hands shook as I paid the fare and grabbed a strap. The bus groaned, and the streets blurred past the foggy windows. The driver called my stop, and I squeezed between tall backpacks. I thanked my aunt at her front door and laughed with relief. The ride felt like a maze, and my chest thumped between each turn. I want readers to follow the steps I took and feel my nervous excitement.
Which revision best improves this paragraph?
Add a sentence listing bus fare prices in the city.
Insert after sentence 4: "A few moments later, the aisle opened, so I edged forward, stepped off at my stop, and hurried along the block to her building."
Change all verbs to present tense to make the story more exciting.
Replace sentence 7 with a definition explaining what public transportation means.
Explanation
Because the purpose is narrative, adding a clear transition between hearing the stop and arriving at the door fixes the gap in events and improves flow.
For our persuasive unit, I am writing a letter to the principal to argue that our school should build a garden. A garden would give students hands-on science lessons about soil, insects, and plant life cycles. It could also provide fresh herbs and vegetables for cooking projects in the cafeteria. We could invite families to help weed and water on weekends, which builds community pride. Once I grew a tomato plant at home, and it tasted sweet. With a small grant and volunteer hours, we could start with a few raised beds this spring.
Which option best matches the author's purpose?
To entertain readers with a spooky story about a stormy night.
To inform readers how to identify different types of butterflies.
To describe step-by-step how to bake a loaf of bread.
To persuade the principal to start a school garden that benefits students and families.
Explanation
The paragraph presents reasons and a call to action to the principal, so the purpose is to persuade the school to build a garden.
I am writing an argument to our principal to start a morning walking club at school. A short walk before class would help students wake up and focus. It is free, safe on the track, and teachers could take turns leading it. Walking together also builds a friendly community where new students feel welcome. My favorite video game has bright characters and secret levels. We could track our laps each week and celebrate progress at assemblies. Please consider this club so our school can be healthier and more connected.
Which revision best improves this paragraph for its argumentative purpose?
Add a sentence describing a walking app's features.
Delete the sentence about my favorite video game.
Move the last sentence to the beginning, before the claim.
Replace the word "also" with "in addition" in the fourth sentence.
Explanation
B removes an off-topic detail about a video game, keeping the focus on reasons that support the argument for a walking club.
This informative paragraph explains how composting turns food scraps into soil. First, people collect things like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and dry leaves. In a bin, tiny organisms break these materials down, and turning the pile adds air that speeds the process. Everyone should be forced to compost. As the pile warms, it changes into crumbly, dark material called compost. Gardeners mix it into the ground to help plants grow. For example, our class compost made tomatoes grow taller because the soil held more moisture.
Which revision best improves this paragraph for its informative purpose?
Add a sentence praising the smell of fresh soil.
Swap the order of the last two sentences so the example comes before the definition.
Replace the word "First" with "To start with," in the second sentence.
Remove the sentence that says "Everyone should be forced to compost."
Explanation
D removes an opinionated, argumentative sentence so the paragraph stays focused on explaining how composting works.
This narrative describes the moment I finally climbed the big rock at the park. The sun slid low as I stared at the rough face, heart thumping. I wiped my palms on my jeans. A family flew a kite nearby, and a dog barked. The next thing I knew, I was standing on the top, wind in my cheeks, the town small below. I raised my arms and shouted, not because anyone was watching, but because I had done something hard.
Which revision best improves this paragraph as a narrative?
Add a showing detail between staring and reaching the top, such as "Hand over hand, I felt for small holds and pulled myself upward."
Insert a science fact about how rocks form.
Add a persuasive sentence explaining why recess should be longer.
Change every "I" to "we" to sound more formal.
Explanation
A adds a transitional action that connects the beginning to the outcome, improving the flow and clarity of the narrative.
I am writing about our school library. Many students need a quiet place to finish homework after the bus drops them off. The computer lab is often full, and the cafeteria is noisy during clubs. If the library stayed open a little later, students could get help from the librarian and find the right books. Families would appreciate a consistent schedule. Please consider this change so more students can complete assignments.
Which revision best improves this paragraph for its argumentative purpose?
Move the last sentence to the very beginning as a hook.
Add a sentence describing the smell of new books.
Replace the first sentence with "Our school library should stay open for one extra hour two days a week."
Change "students" to "kids and teens" throughout to sound friendlier.
Explanation
C states a clear claim that matches the reasons provided, strengthening the organization and purpose of the argument.
I'm writing to the principal because I like to be outdoors. Our school should have a garden. In science, we talk about plant life cycles, and a garden would let us observe real examples. We could also grow herbs and vegetables for the cafeteria. Video games can also teach strategy. Students and families could volunteer on weekends to help water and weed. We might build raised beds from recycled wood. I want to persuade you to approve this idea, but my paragraph jumps from reasons to a plan without a clear connection.
Which revision best improves this paragraph for its argumentative purpose?
Add a sentence describing different types of video games.
Replace the first sentence with a clear claim ("Our school should start a garden because it will teach science and provide fresh food.") and add a transition ("To make this happen,") before the plan.
Move the video games sentence to the end of the paragraph.
Add more adjectives to describe the flowers in the garden.
Explanation
Because the purpose is to persuade, a clear claim and a transition linking reasons to the plan strengthen organization. Option B states the argument and connects ideas.
My purpose is to inform readers about how tornadoes form. Warm, moist air near the ground rises and meets cooler, drier air above. When winds at different heights blow in different directions, the air can begin to spin. A thunderstorm can tilt this spinning air upright, making a tight column that reaches from cloud to ground. I also felt scared during a storm last year and hid in the hallway for an hour. Meteorologists watch radar to see rotation and warn people to take shelter. This paragraph explains the steps, but one sentence doesn't fit the sequence.
Which revision best improves this informative paragraph's organization?
Add a lighthearted joke about clouds to keep readers interested.
Change "warm" to "super warm" to add vivid detail.
Explain how to plant a garden after storms pass.
Remove the sentence about my personal fear during last year's storm to keep the sequence focused on how tornadoes form.
Explanation
The purpose is to inform by explaining steps. Removing the personal anecdote keeps the paragraph focused and logically organized.