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Writing Assignment
My Big Adventure
Grade 3 W.3.3 5 steps
Standard: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences, including establishing a situation, using dialogue and descriptions, using temporal words, and providing a sense of closure.

What to Do

  1. Read the passage carefully. You may underline or annotate as you read.
  2. Review the vocabulary words.
  3. Complete each writing step in order. Follow the instructions and hints.
  4. Use the Self-Check Rubric and checklist to review your work.

Assignment Overview

Let's write a story about an adventure! You'll plan the story, write a beginning, middle, and end, then make it even better so the reader feels like they were right there with you.

Vocabulary Bank
WordDefinition
adventure An exciting experience or trip.
explore To look around a new place and discover things.
amazing Very surprising and wonderful.
Writing Steps
1 Think About Your Story
Think about your story:
- What happens?
- Who is in it?
- Where does it take place?

You can write words, draw ideas, or make a list!
An adventure is when you go somewhere or do something exciting! Maybe you explored a forest, went on a trip, found a secret hiding spot, or had an exciting day at an amusement park. Adventures can be big or small — what matters is that something interesting happened.
Write a story about your adventure. It can be real or made up. Help the reader feel like they were there!


Before you write, think about the story you want to tell!

Note: This part is just for thinking. It won't be in your final story.
Scoring Guidance — Step 1
Look for:
  • What will your story be about?
  • Who is in your story?
Main Idea
Detail / Evidence 1
Detail / Evidence 2
Detail / Evidence 3
2 Start Your Story
Write 2-3 sentences to start your story:
- Who is in your story?
- Where does it happen?

Try starting with: "One day..." or "It all started when..."
Time to start your story!

Tell the reader:
- Who is in your story
- Where it happens
- Help the reader picture the scene
Scoring Guidance — Step 2
Role: introduction
Look for:
  • Who is your main character?
  • Where does the story take place?
  • Try: 'One day...'
Who is your main character?
Where does the story take place?
Try: 'One day...
Sentence Starters
One day, ___.
It all started when ___.
The story begins with ___.
3 Tell What Happens
Write 2-4 sentences about what happens:
- What is the main thing that happens?
- What do the characters say or feel?

Try using words like: then, next, suddenly, after that.
Great start! Now tell the reader what happens in your story.

This is the exciting part!
- What happens next?
- What do the characters say or do?
- How do they feel?

Use words like: then, next, after that, suddenly to keep your story in order.
Scoring Guidance — Step 3
Role: body paragraph
Look for:
  • What happens in the middle of your story?
  • What does your character say or feel?
  • Try: 'Then...' or 'Suddenly...'
What happens in the middle of your story?
What does your character say or feel?
Try: 'Then...' or 'Suddenly...
Sentence Starters
Suddenly, ___.
Next, ___ happened because ___.
Without warning, ___.
4 End Your Story
Write 1-2 sentences to end your story:
- How does your story end?
- How does the character feel?

Try: "In the end..." or "After that day..."
Almost done! Now end your story.

Tell the reader how the story finishes.
How do the characters feel at the end?
Scoring Guidance — Step 4
Role: conclusion
Look for:
  • How does your story end?
  • How does the character feel?
  • Try: 'In the end...'
How does your story end?
How does the character feel?
Try: 'In the end...
Sentence Starters
In the end, ___.
Finally, ___.
Looking back, I ___.
5 Make It Even Better
Read your story and make it better:
- Fix any mistakes you see
- Add words that tell what order things happened (then, next, after that)
- Make sure it sounds good!
You wrote your whole story! Great job!

Now let's make it even better:
- Read it to yourself
- Fix any spelling mistakes
- Add time words (then, next, suddenly, after that)
Scoring Guidance — Step 5
Look for:
  • Read it to yourself. Does it sound right?
  • Can you add 'then' or 'next' anywhere?
Read it to yourself. Does it sound right?
Can you add 'then' or 'next' anywhere?
Sentence Starters
One day, ___.
Suddenly, ___.
In the end, ___.
Self-Check Rubric
Criteria ●●●●●
5 — Advanced		 ●●●●○
4 — Proficient		 ●●●○○
3 — Developing		 ●●○○○
2 — Emerging		 ●○○○○
1 — Beginning
Ideas Original, well-developed ideas with depth Clear ideas with good development Ideas present with basic development Ideas unclear or underdeveloped Off-topic or missing
Evidence Strong, specific text evidence with explanation Relevant text evidence cited Some evidence but vague Little or no evidence No text support
Organization Logical flow with effective transitions Clear structure with transitions Basic structure, some transitions Disorganized No structure
Language Precise vocabulary, varied sentences, few errors Grade-appropriate language, minor errors Basic language, some errors Limited vocabulary, frequent errors Difficult to understand

Before You Turn In

I completed the planning step
I wrote my introduction
I wrote my body paragraph
I wrote my conclusion
I completed Step 5: Make It Even Better
I re-read my writing and fixed any spelling or grammar mistakes
I am proud of this work

Reflection

What was the hardest part of this assignment? What would you do differently next time?

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