6 TRAITS WRITING RUBRIC (FOR TEXT-BASED ANALYSIS)

  EXEMPLARY   STRONG   PROFICIENT   DEVELOPING   STRUGGLING  

ORGANIZATION  Click  here  for  tips  

• Organizational  structure  is  enhances  and  showcases  the  central  idea  or  theme.  

• Inviting  lead  (introduction)  draws  the  reader  in  and  a  satisfying  conclusion  leaves  the  reader  with  sense  of  closure.  

• Sequence  of  ideas  is  logical  an  effective;  best  order  of  ideas.  

• Thoughtful  transitions  show  how  ideas  connect.    

• Structure  works  well  for  the  topic  and  purpose.  

• The  lead  introduces  the  reader  to  the  main  ideas  and  the  conclusion  wraps  up  main  points.  

• Sequence  of  ideas  strengthens  the  thesis  by  having  nothing  out  of  place.  

• Transitions  smoothly  connect  ideas.  

 

• Structure  fits  the  purpose.  • A  lead  and  conclusion  are  included  to  introduce  and  close  the  essay.  

• Sequence  helps  the  reader  understand  the  thesis.  

• Transitions  connect  most  ideas  together.  

• Structure  is  present,  but  may  be  too  obvious  or  distract  from  the  meaning.  

• Lead  and  conclusion  attempted  but  may  need  work.  

• Some  parts  are  out  of  sequence  or  not  needed.  

• Some  transition  words  are  used  to  connect  some  ideas.  

• Not  a  clear  structure  OR  the  structure  is  not  logical.  

• Lead  and/or  conclusion  missing  or  need  work.  

• Some  attempts  at  sequence,  but  ideas  are  hard  to  follow.  

• Some  transitions  are  used,  but  don’t  connect  ideas  clearly.  

IDEAS  &  CONTENT  

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• Focused  and  clear  topic.  

• Thesis  is  clear  to  the  reader.  

• Information  makes  connections  and  shows  significant  insight  about  the  text.  

• Evidence  from  text  is  smoothly  integrated  with  appropriate  context.  

• Ideas  thoughtfully  explained  with  best  evidence  from  the  text*  

• Focused  and  clear  topic.  • It  is  easy  for  the  reader  to  

figure  out  the  thesis.  

• Information  shows  insight  into  the  text.  

• Evidence  from  the  text  is  introduced  with  appropriate  context.  

• Ideas  are  explained  and  supported  with  sufficient  evidence  from  the  text.  

• Clear  topic.  • The  reader  can  tell  what  the  thesis  is.  

• Information  is  sometimes  presented  in  an  interesting  way.  

• Evidence  from  the  text  is  introduced  using  some  context  clues.  

• Ideas  are  supported  with  some  evidence  from  the  text.  

• Topic  apparent,  but  may  be  too  general.  

• The  reader  can  guess  what  the  thesis  is.  

• Some  of  the  information  isn’t  related  to  the  main  idea.  

• Evidence  from  the  text  included  but  limited.  

• Topic  not  readily  apparent.  

• The  reader  must  do  a  lot  of  work  to  figure  out  the  thesis.  

• Irrelevant  information  distracts  from  thesis.  

• Evidence  is  insufficient  to  support  ideas.  

VOICE  Click  here  for  tips  

• Writing  evokes  a  personal  tone,  flavor,  or  feeling  at  meaningful  times.  

• Personal  experiences  are  thoughtfully  chosen  to  connect  with  the  reader.  (the  necessary  v.  unnecessary  “I”).  

• Reader  can  sense  the  writer’s  excitement  and  engagement  with  the  ideas.  

• Writing  sometimes  evokes  a  personal  tone  or  feeling  at  times.  

• Personal  experiences  used  or  hinted  at  to  connect  with  reader.  

• Reader  can  sense  the  writer’s  interest  in  the  topic.  

 

• Tone  is  appropriate,  but  generally  non-­‐descript.  

• Some  personal  experiences  used  or  attempted  to  create  a  connection  to  reader.  

• Reader  can  sense  some  of  the  writer’s  interest  in  the  topic.  

• Writing  is  safe  and  the  tone  non-­‐descript.  

• Reader  can  sense  the  writer’s  lack  of  interest  or  engagement  with  the  topic.    

• Much  of  the  writing  is  flat  or  uninteresting.  

*Includes  minimum  number  of  examples  from  the  text  as  required  by  the  assignment  (minimum  of  6  quoted  examples  for  literary  analysis)  

CONTINUED: 6 TRAITS WRITING RUBRIC (FOR TEXT-BASED ANALYSIS)

  EXEMPLARY   STRONG   PROFICIENT   DEVELOPING   STRUGGLING  

WORD  CHOICE  Click  here  for  tips  

• Powerful  words  contribute  to  conveying  the  writer’s  ideas.  

• Strong  verbs,  sensory  words,  precise  nouns  and  modifiers  are  used  to  help  reader  visualize  the  events  or  understand  the  ideas.  

• Wide  variety  of  words  or  phrases  skillfully  placed  and  integrated  in  a  natural  way.  

• Words  and  phrases  work  together  to  create  depth  of  thought.    

 

• Words  are  chosen  carefully  to  convey  the  writer’s  ideas.  

• Some  strong  verbs,  sensory  words,  and  precise  nouns  are  used  in  places  to  help  the  reader  visualize  events  and  understand  ideas.  

• Variety  in  word  choice  and  phrases.  

• No  unnecessary  words  or  phrases.  

• Words  chosen  are  clear;  writing  makes  sense.  

• Some  strong  verbs,  words,  or  nouns  to  convey  events  and  ideas.  

• Some  variety  in  word  choice  and  phrases.  

• Some  unnecessary  words  or  phrases  can  be  removed.  

• Words  convey  ideas  but  may  be  in  an  ordinary  way.  

• Some  active  verbs,  words,  or  nouns  used  but  not  necessarily  the  most  effective  choices.  

• Some  attempt  at  word  choice  variety,  some  inappropriate  choices  for  task.  

• Too  many  unnecessary  may  make  the  writing  feel  cluttered.  

• Some  of  the  words  chosen  leave  the  reader  confused  or  unclear  about  the  meaning.  

• Words  are  not  specific  or  colorful.  

• Overused  or  inappropriate  words  or  expressions  (slang)  detract  from  ideas.    

SENTENCE  FLUENCY  

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• Writing  has  an  easy  rhythm  and  cadence  that  invites  readers  into  the  ideas.  

• Purposeful  writing  with  varied  sentence  beginning,  lengths  and  structure;  writing  is  energetic.  

• Stylistic  elements  are  used  to  enhance  ideas.  

 

• Writing  sounds  natural  and  easy  to  read  aloud  with  expression.  

• Writing  flows  smoothly  because  it  includes  variety  in  sentence  beginnings,  lengths,  and  patterns.  

• Some  stylistic  elements  are  used  to  enhance  ideas.  

• Writing  is  natural  and  easy  to  follow.  

• Some  variety  in  sentence  beginnings,  lengths,  and  patterns.  

• Some  stylistic  elements  are  attempted  to  enhance  ideas.  

• Sentences  generally  clear,  but  some  choppy  or  rambling  sentences  slow  the  reader  down.  

• Some  variety  in  sentence  structure.    

• Sentences  may  be  confusing,  which  make  it  difficult  for  the  reader  to  follow  the  ideas.  

• Little  variety  in  sentence  structure.  

CONVENTIONS  Click  here  for  tips  

• Capitalization,  punctuation,  spelling,  grammar,  and  paragraphing  are  used  effectively  to  enhance  readability.  

• Writer  may  manipulate  conventions  for  stylistic  effect.  

• Little  to  no  editing  needed.    

• Capitalization,  punctuation,  spelling,  grammar,  and  paragraphing  are  correct  and  make  the  writing  easy  to  read  and  understand.  

• Writer  effectively  uses  a  variety  of  conventions.  

• Little  need  for  editing.  

• Capitalization,  punctuation,  spelling,  grammar,  and  paragraphing  may  include  minor  mistakes  but  do  not  distract  the  reader.  

• Writer  uses  conventions  correctly.  

• Need  for  some  editing.  

• Some  errors  in  capitalization,  punctuation,  spelling,  grammar,  and  paragraphing  may  be  distracting  for  reader.  

• Writer  may  misuse  some  conventions.  

• Need  for  major  editing.  

• Frequent  and  significant  errors  in  capitalization,  punctuation,  spelling,  grammar,  and  paragraphing  detract  from  meaning.  

• Some  conventions  consistently  misused.  

• Need  for  major  editing  or  revision.