Journal Writing Rubric

Categories and
criteria
Knowledge/Underst
anding
Information and
ideas

Thinking/Inquiry
Analyzing and
Explaining

Communication
Language and
Style

Application
Language
conventions
Making
Connections

Other

Level 1
Presents
incomplete
and/or
inaccurate
information
and ideas
Expresses few
ideas, with
limited support
by relevant
evidence or
rationales
Asks few
questions

Level 2
Presents some
accurate
information
and ideas

Level 3
Presents
accurate
information
and ideas

Level 4
Presents some
accurate
information
and insightful
ideas

Expresses
some ideas,
support by
relevant
evidence or
rationales
Asks some
questions

Expresses
ideas, support
clearly by
relevant
evidence or
rationales
Asks good
questions

Meaning and
intent are
frequently
unclear
Demonstrates
limited sense
of purpose and
audience
Frequent,
major
mechanical
errors
Makes few
personal (or
other)
connections
with topic or
theme
Makes
connections
reluctantly

Meaning and
intent are
sometimes
unclear
Demonstrates
some sense of
purpose and
audience
Some major
mechanical
errors

Meaning and
intent are clear
Demonstrates
clear sense of
purpose and
audience

Expresses
many ideas,
supported
effectively by
relevant
evidence or
rationales
Asks probing
and insightful
questions
Meaning and
intent are clear
and engaging
Demonstrates
strong sense of
purpose and
audience

Some minor
mechanical
errors

Few minor
mechanical
errors

Makes some
personal (or
other)
connections
with topic or
theme
Makes
connections
tentatively

Makes
considerable
personal (or
other)
connections
with topic or
theme
Makes
connections
willingly

Makes many
personal (or
other)
connections
with topic or
theme
Makes
connections
enthusiastically