Attributes

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

Three essential structural elements are present -- introduction, body text, and  conclusion

Lacks two of the essential elements.

Lacks one of the essential elements.

Has introduction, adequate body text and conclusion.

All elements are present at high level of skill – appropriate proportions; high comprehension.  

Interest level

Simplistic in style and content -- uses simple sentence structures; not original in ideas nor execution.

Addresses the topic in cursory manner.  Mixes simple and some compound sentences.  Has adequate content.  

Intersperses higher level content with adequate content.  Uses compound and complex sentences as appropriate.  

Excels in content and creative content with original ideas.  Skillful use of sentence types.

Use of details and descriptive phrases

Has only basic details – uses few descriptive terms, and they are mostly concrete.

Has basic details with some descriptive terms, a few descriptive phrases, and some abstract descriptive terms.  

Skillfully uses more descriptive terms and phrases and other modifiers.

Exceptional use of abstract and concrete modifiers, phrases and descriptive language.  

Use of transitions -- coherence

Little flow of ideas.  Blocky and disjointed.  Relevance not always clear.

Ideas have some flow, and are mostly on topic.

Ideas flow with transitional words, yet organization remains evident.  Included parts address the topic.  

Exceptional use of vivid transitions.  Topical flow and organization are evident.  All parts highly relevant.  

Use of supporting ideas

Expresses ideas with few supporting facts or opinions.

Expresses ideas with some supporting details and/or opinions.

Ideas are well supported with adequate detail and facts/opinions.  

Exceptional use of supporting detail.  Facts and opinions are distinguished.  

Mechanics and grammar are correct – end-marks, capitals, punctuation, subject/verb agreement

More than seven errors per 100 words.

Four to six errors per 100 words.

Two to three errors per 100 words.

Error free, or one error per 100 words.

Spelling (this may not be a graded element for some special need groups)

More than seven errors per 100 words.

Four to six errors per 100 words.

Two to three errors per 100 words.

Error free, or one error per 100 words.