Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Research a topic and gather evidence from 3 sources
1–2 weeks (research and note-taking phase)
Choose a topic of genuine interest, find 3 credible sources (published articles, books, or authoritative websites — not Wikipedia as a primary source), and take notes documenting the source name, author or publisher, and at least 2 specific facts or quotes from each. A parent or teacher reviews the sources and confirms they are credible and the notes are substantive.
Proof required
Submit a research notes document with 3 clearly identified sources — each with author/publisher, title, and at least 2 quotes or facts you will use — and a parent or teacher note confirming the sources are credible (not Wikipedia alone) and the notes are substantive enough to build an essay from.
What gets checked
- 3 distinct sources (not 3 pages from the same website)
- Author or publisher identified for each source
- At least 2 usable quotes or facts per source — not just page titles
Common mistakes
- Using Wikipedia as a primary source — Wikipedia is a starting point for finding real sources, not a citable source itself; follow the Wikipedia article's references to find the originals
- Notes that only record source URLs without quotes or facts — the notes should contain the actual content that will appear in the essay, not just links
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Check source credibility: author or publisher should be identifiable; avoid anonymous websites or content farms
- Confirm 3 distinct sources — not 3 articles from the same website
- The notes must contain usable quotes and facts, not just headlines — check that the student has extracted specific information
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Write a 500-word analytical essay with citations
2 weeks (drafting and revision)
Draft a 500+ word analytical essay that integrates at least 3 quotations or specific facts from the research sources, cites each source inline (Author surname, year) or with a footnote, and presents a clear argument (not just a description) supported by the evidence. The essay should be longer and more complex than a 5-paragraph format — ideally 4–6 paragraphs with evidence woven in throughout.
Proof required
Submit a typed essay of 500+ words on a topic of your choice, including at least 3 correctly cited quotations or facts, with a parent or teacher note confirming the citations are accurate, the essay presents an argument (not just a description), and the evidence supports the thesis.
What gets checked
- 500 words minimum (check word count)
- At least 3 inline citations or footnotes, correctly formatted
- Essay presents an argument — a thesis the evidence is used to prove — not just a description of the topic
Common mistakes
- Essay that describes the topic without making an argument — 'dogs are popular pets because they are loyal and friendly' is a description; 'emotional support animals should be regulated differently from service animals' is an argument
- Quotations dropped in without explanation — every quote needs a sentence explaining what it shows
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Check the word count — essays under 500 words need revision
- Verify that each quoted or cited fact has an explanation sentence following it
- Ask 'what is this essay arguing?' — if the student can't state the argument in one sentence, the essay is descriptive rather than analytical
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Essay reviewed by an adult reader as meeting college-prep standard
Final review session (1–2 days after last revision)
The completed essay is reviewed by an adult reader — a teacher, school counselor, tutor, or other qualified adult — who confirms it meets college-preparatory writing standards: a clear arguable thesis, evidence from credible sources correctly cited, coherent organization with clear transitions between paragraphs, and accurate grammar and mechanics throughout. This is the capstone of the ELA Mastery Progression — successful completion demonstrates writing readiness for secondary-level academic work.
Proof required
Submit the final essay with a signed review note from an adult reader (name, role, and date) confirming: (1) a clear arguable thesis, (2) at least 3 sources cited correctly, (3) coherent organization with transitions, and (4) grammar and mechanics do not impede meaning.
What gets checked
- Adult reader is not the student's own parent or household member (unless no other option is available — teacher or tutor strongly preferred)
- Signed note addresses all 4 criteria explicitly — not just a general 'good work'
- Final essay represents the student's own work — the reader confirms this
Common mistakes
- Self-evaluation — the student cannot review their own essay for this milestone
- Reviewer who gives generic positive feedback without addressing the 4 criteria — the review note must specifically address thesis, citations, organization, and mechanics
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- You are confirming this is college-preparatory writing — a passing mark is an essay you would accept as meeting a secondary English class standard, not a university standard
- Address all 4 criteria in your review note: thesis (is it arguable and clear?), citations (are sources correctly attributed?), organization (do paragraphs flow logically?), mechanics (do grammar errors impede reading?)
- If one criterion is not met, note it specifically and the student should revise before re-submitting for review
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