Cayman Islands Writing Exemplar

AF4: 

Organisation 

– Construct paragraphs and use cohesion within and between paragraphs

•  The author relies on simple, generic linking words (e.g., “first,” “then,” and/or “finally”) to signal the passage of 

time and to transition into the next detail. Longer linking phrases would help to make the text more cohesive. 

• 

The author effectively groups his/her ideas into a beginning (opening), a middle (details), and an end (closing);  

however, he/she should separate the middle into more than one paragraph.

AF5: 

Sentence Fluency

 – Vary sentences for clarity, purpose, and effect

• 

The author writes his/her thoughts in full sentences. In several instances, the author starts his/her sentences in 

a few different ways, but in the body, he/she relies on beginning with “I” (after the linking word or phrase). The 

author is beginning to use some short sentences for effect (e.g., “Splash!” and “I was scared!”).  

• 

The majority of the text is written in simple past tense and the author demonstrates an understanding of regular 

and irregular past tense verbs. Some inconsistencies exist with the insertion of “had” before a verb (e.g., “I had 

fell in”). The author changes to present tense appropriately when using dialogue (e.g., “Am I swimming?”) and in 

the closing which is a reflection from the present time. 

•  The author confidently writes compound sentences by using “and” and “but” to connect two independent clauses 

(e.g., “I thought I wouldn’t make it but 

all of a sudden I was floating”

). The author is also beginning to write longer, 

more complex sentences.