Category

Commendable

3 – Meets Standards

2 – Approaching Standards

1 – Below Standards

Writing Strategies

Content

Focus

Organization

Mature Writing that demonstrates sophistication beyond grade level

Piece fully addresses the topic in a clear multi-paragraph response

• There is a clear, focused topic

• Strong introduction including a clearly stated topic sentence

• Relevant, telling, quality details give the reader important information

• The conclusion is strong and leaves the reader with a sense of closure

Piece partially addresses the topic

• Main idea is somewhat clear, but there is a need for more supporting information

• Introduction is present but simple

• Some supporting details and information are relevant

• Conclusion is recognizable

Piece does not / or minimally address(es) topic

• Main idea is not clear. There is a seemingly random collection of information

• There is no introduction of the main topic or structure of the paper

• Supporting details and information are unclear or not related to the topic

• The conclusion is weak or missing

Writing Applications

Sentence Structure

Vocabulary

Voice

Mature Writing that demonstrates sophistication beyond grade level

Language is clear

• Use of compound and a few complex sentences attempted

• Precise and vivid vocabulary

• Writer’s voice comes through and reflects their experience of a subject

Language is inconsistent

• Some evidence of sentence variety

• Some evidence of precise/vivid vocabulary

• Writer’s voice is inconsistent

Language is vague

• Little or no sentence variety

• Limited, simple vocabulary

• Writer’s voice is not present

Writing Conventions

Spelling

Grammar

Punctuation

Capitalization

Mature Writing that demonstrates sophistication beyond grade level

Student has control of most 4^th grade appropriate conventions

• Grammatical errors are limited and not distracting

• Spelling does not distract from the content, common multisyllabic words are generally spelled correctly

• There are few errors in capitalization and punctuation (including correct usage of quotation marks, commas and apostrophes)

Errors in grammar, punctuation and/or spelling are distracting

• There are some grammatical errors that distract the reader

• Some common words are spelled incorrectly, spelling errors may distract the reader from some content

• There are some errors in capitalization and/or punctuation that catch the reader’s attention and interrupt the flow.

Errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation make the piece difficult to read

• There are many grammatical errors that cause the piece to be hard to read

• Many common words are spelled incorrectly and are distracting to the reader

• There are many errors in capitalization and/or punctuation that distract the reader’s attention