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1st Grade · English Language Arts · Domain guide

1st Grade Writing Standards: Opinions, Facts, and Stories (W.1)W.1 Standards

Short answer. The drawing-and-dictating days of kindergarten give way to actual composed pieces in 1st grade. Under W.1, your child writes an opinion and backs it with a reason, writes a few facts about a topic, and tells a story with two or more events in order, using words like first, then, and after. Every piece needs some sense of an ending, even if the ending is just 'and that is why dogs are the best.'

Three clusters organize the domain. Text Types and Purposes covers the three kinds of writing: opinion, informative, and narrative. Production and Distribution of Writing is about revising, staying on topic, taking suggestions, adding details, and trying digital tools, with adult guidance expected. Research to Build and Present Knowledge means shared projects, like reading a few how-to books and writing instructions together. As in kindergarten, there is no W.1.4 or W.1.9; the numbering skips them by design.

Grade
1st Grade
Learning level
Subject
English Language Arts
Skill area
Standards
7
Skills in this domain
Clusters
3
Related skill groups

Complete domain directory

Every W.1 standard, in order

Open a code for the official wording, a plain-English answer, what the skill can look like at home, and simple activities. The list below follows the Common Core sequence.

01
Cluster

Text Types and Purposes

3 standards

  1. W.1.1Writing an Opinion and Backing It Up (W.1.1)

    Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.

  2. W.1.2Writing to Teach: Facts About a Topic (W.1.2)

    Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.

  3. W.1.3Telling a Story in Order With Details (W.1.3)

    Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.

02
Cluster

Production and Distribution of Writing

2 standards

  1. W.1.5Adding Details to Make Writing Stronger (W.1.5)

    With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.

  2. W.1.6Using Digital Tools to Publish Writing (W.1.6)

    With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

03
Cluster

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

2 standards

  1. W.1.7Shared Research and Writing Projects (W.1.7)

    Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of "how-to" books on a given topic and use them to write a sequence of instructions).

  2. W.1.8Gathering Information to Answer a Question (W.1.8)

    With guidance and support from adults, recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

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More than a standards list

Use the framework guide for context, the learning hub for explanations, or printable practice when your child is ready to work on a skill.

W.1 is part of the Common Core State Standards. Whizki keeps official wording separate from parent-friendly explanations.

All Common Core parent guides

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