Category

4

3

2

1

Strong Verbs

Student consistently includes strong verbs.

Student includes strong verbs most of the time.

Student includes few strong verbs.

Student includes no strong verbs.

Specific/

Descriptive Details

Student writes consistently with specific details.

Student includes several specific details.

Student includes few specific details.

Student includes no specific details.

Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation

There are minimal or no grammatical errors.

There are few grammatical errors.

There are several grammatical errors.

There are severe grammatical errors.

Adjectives

The author includes several effective adjectives to enhance the writing.

The author includes some adjectives to enhance the writing.

The author includes few adjectives to enhance the writing.

The author includes no adjectives to enhance the writing.

Adverbs

The writer includes several effective adverbs to enhance the writing.

The author includes some adverbs to enhance the writing.

The author includes few adverbs to enhance the writing.

The author includes no adverbs to enhance the writing.

Vocabulary/

Word Choice

The student includes several strong vocabulary words and uses them correctly in context.

The student includes some strong vocabulary words.

The student  includes few strong vocabulary words.

The student includes only basic vocabulary.

Presentation/Organization

The final draft is legible, organized, and appealing. It looks like the author took great pride in it.

The final draft is legible, organized, and appealing. It looks like the author took some pride in it.

The final draft is presentable, but it may be difficult to read or disorganized. It looks like parts of it might have been done in a hurry.

The final draft lacks appeal and organization. It looks like the writer did not take pride in it.