Criteria

Exceeds Expectations

Meets
Expectations

Does Not Yet
Meet Expectations

Presentation of the Narrative

Clear focus, subject conveys the narrative and provides meaningful insight into the thoughts and ideas of the characters involved. Voice and tone are appropriate for audience & purpose. Transitions enhance story.

Subject of the story conveys an event. Some insight into thoughts/ideas present. Voice & tone are apparent.

Transitions are present.

Subject does not convey a clear narrative and/or story is not developed. Lacks clear insight. Voice and/or tone are inappropriate for audience or purpose. Transitions are ineffective or missing.

Use of Description, Detail, and Dialogue

Description, detail, and dialogue enhance the event and make the story come alive for the reader. It shows, not tells.

Uses description, detail, and dialogue to recount the story. (More showing than telling.)

In telling the story, description, detail, and/or dialogue is not apparent - or it is very weak.

Sensory Details

Sensory details help the reader establish setting or plot and further the reader’s understanding of the story.

Sensory details are incorporated in the story.

Sensory details do not help the reader establish setting or plot and do not further the reader’s understanding of the story.

Language and Writing Conventions:

Writing conventions and language contain few errors. Student uses appropriate conventions and mechanics, i.e.  spelling, grammar, verb tense, subject-verb agreement, capitalization, punctuation (esp. commas), vocabulary usage, sentence structures and sentence variety.

There are few, if any, grammatical errors.

Language and writing conventions are used correctly, with some occasional errors. Student’s writing is limited by an inappropriate use of proper conventions and mechanics, i.e. spelling, grammar, verb tense, subject-verb agreement, capitalization, punctuation (esp. commas), vocabulary usage, sentence structures and sentence variety. There are more than a few major grammatical errors.

Language and writing conventions contain many errors. Student’s writing is riddled with inappropriate and inconsistent use of proper conventions and mechanic. The writing is plagued by numerous grammatical errors.

Drafts, revisions, outline and pre-writing is included with final draft

Student has included all elements of writing process.

One element of writing process is not included.

There is more than one missing element of the writing process.

Use of Grading Rubric

Student has self-edited more than once using the rubric and has had more than one peer editor.

Student has self-edited using the rubric and had one peer editor.

Student has not self-edited, nor had a peer editor.