Essay Writing Rubric

Criteria 4 3 2 1
Category Excellent Good Fair Poor
Use of Free of spelling and Some spelling and Man problems with Spelling and
Conventions punctuation errors punctuation errors; spelling and punctuation errors
Grammar usage is meaning is not punctuation causes are frequent and
controlled and error interrupted by these some interruption in interrupt reading of
free errors reading essay
Grammar is Several grammatical incorrect use of
somewhat problems are evident grammar and
controlled; minimal punctuation
errors interferes with
understanding the
writing
Organization The message The message is The message is The message does
engages the somewhat engaging slightly engaging not engage the
audience Supportive rationale Weak rationale for audience
Strong, supportive for message message provided No rationale for
rationale for provided message provided
message provided
Ideas Essay is very clear Essay is clear and Essay is somewhat Essay does not
(originality) and focused focused clear and focused maintain a focus
Essay captures and Essay does not Essay does not
maintains the Essay captures the capture the reader’s capture nor maintain
reader’s attention reader’s attention attention right away the reader’s attention
but does not but includes
maintain it interesting details
throughout
Sentence Sentences are Sentences are Sentences are Sentences are
Fluency varied and natural somewhat varied routine and unclear
Impressive variety and natural functional Repetition in
of sentence Some variety of Little variety in sentence beginnings
beginnings sentence beginnings sentence beginnings
Word Choice All words are Most words are Some of the words Words chosen do
carefully chosen carefully chosen chosen help convey not convey meaning
and help convey and help convey meaning Most verbs chosen
meaning meaning Some verbs are are passive
Overall, verbs are Many verbs are active and energetic
active and energetic active and energetic
Voice Writer’s unique Writer’s unique Writer’s unique Writer’s unique
perspective is very perspective is perspective is perspective is not
evident evident somewhat evident evident
 Short Story Rubric

Category 15 13 12 11
The main characters The main characters The main characters It is hard to tell who
are named and are named and are named using few the main characters
clearly described described using direct and indirect are and there is little
using variety of some direct and characterization or no use of direct or
Characterizat direct and indirect indirect techniques. techniques. The reader indirect
ion techniques. Most Most readers would knows very little characterization
readers could have some idea of about the characters. techniques.
describe the what the characters
characters are like.
accurately.
Many vivid, Some vivid, The reader can figure The reader has
descriptive words descriptive words out when and where trouble figuring out
Setting are used to tell when are used to tell the the story took place, when and where the
and where the story audience when and but the author didn't story took place.
took place. where the story took supply much detail.
place.
The story is very The story is pretty The story is a little Ideas and scenes
well organized. One well organized. One hard to follow. The seem to be randomly
Organization idea or scene follows idea or scene may transitions are arranged.
of Plot another in a logical seem out of place. sometimes not clear.
sequence with clear Clear transitions are
transitions. used.
Research for short Research for short Research for short Research for short
story is very story somewhat story is not effective story is not apparent
Research for effective with three effective with two with one source that is and without any
Short Story or more sources that sources that are documented. documented sources.
are well documented.
documented.
The story contains The story contains a The story contains a There is little
many creative few creative details few creative details evidence of creativity
details and/or and/or descriptions and/or descriptions, in the story. The
descriptions that that contribute to but they distract from author does not seem
Creativity contribute to the the reader's the story. The author to have used much
reader's enjoyment. enjoyment. The has tried to use his/her imagination.
The author has really author has used imagination.
used his/her his/her imagination.
imagination.
Sentence All sentences are Most sentences are Most sentences are Sentences lack
Structure well-constructed well-constructed well-constructed but structure and appear
(Fluency) with varied and with varied and have similar and incomplete or
interesting structure interesting structure uninteresting structure rambling.
patterns. patterns. patterns.
10 8 4 2
Writer makes no Writer makes 1-2 Writer makes 3-4 Writer makes more
errors in grammar or errors in grammar errors in grammar or than 4 errors in
Grammar spelling that distract or spelling that spelling that distract grammar or spelling
and Spelling the reader form the distract the reader the reader form the that distract the
(Conventions) content. form the content. content. reader form the
content.
 Poem Writing

Criteria 4 3 2 1

Word Choice Writer uses vivid Writer uses great Writer uses words Writer uses an
words and phrases words and phrases that lack in variety immature and
that paint a picture in that sometimes and it is sometimes limited vocabulary
the reader’s mind. paint a picture in dull and boring. that is not at grade
Every word is in the the reader’s mind. level.
perfect place.

Grammar and If mistakes in Writer makes 1-2 Writer makes 3-4 Writer makes 5 or
Spelling grammar and mistakes in mistakes in spelling more mistakes in
spelling are made it spelling and or grammar. spelling or
is clear that they grammar. grammar and/or the
were made on project is presented
purpose to advance in pencil.
the poem. Other
wise- no mistakes
were made.

Adding The writer seems to The writer may be The writing does not The ideas and the
Personality be writing from writing from “belong” to the way they are
(voice) experience. The experience, but writer. It is boring, expressed seem to
ideas are fresh and there is some lack dull, or seems belong to someone
new! of ownership. It rushed. else. There seems
does not always to be little effort
sound fresh and shown and/or it is
new. presented in pencil.

Literary The writer uses 3 or The writer uses 3 The writer uses less The writer does
Devices more literary devices or more literary than 3 literary little to attempt
and they are clearly devices. They devices. The attempt identifying literary
and correctly labeled attempt to label to label and identify devices or did not
and identified. and identify them, them is incorrect, no include any literary
but some mistakes obvious or rushed. devices within their
were made. poetry.