This sampler discusses California's English-language arts assessment program and presents examples of middle grades reading assessments, writing assessments, and writing prompts. The first section of the sampler takes an integrated look at the changes which make up the new English-language arts assessment. The second section presents the scoring guide for reading, six student responses to a sample middle grades reading prompt, and commentary on each student response using the criteria in the scoring guide. The third section of the sampler notes that the grade eight writing assessment will include the full range of writing types that have been assessed in previous years, and provides references to where scoring guides and sample essays may be found. The fourth section presents a writing prompt: a short story with directions for students to write about their reading; guidelines for students on working in small groups to discuss the story; and three writing assignments based on the short story. (RS)