ABSTRACT
An academic standard defines what you want students to know or be able to do in a general sense. Benchmarks are the products or performances used to determine if students have met a standard. Academic standards and benchmarks need to be carefully unpacked before deciding how to best address them. Academic standards should inform our curriculums but should never become our curriculum. There are two kinds of academic standards related to writing: Required and necessary. Academic standards that are required should be covered. Academic standards that are necessary should be taught.
