NAME: _____________________
Descriptive Essay Rubric
Main Claim &
Organization
• ¶s well-organized and clear
focus and organization of whole
piece
6 • effectively SHOWS chosen
emotion (author’s purpose)
• ¶s well-organized and focused
resulting in good focus and
organization of whole piece
5 • adequately SHOWs emotion
• highlights change resulting from
event by painting before and
after
• ¶s generally organized and
focused resulting in focus and
organization of whole piece
4 • may tell rather than show
event
• may minimally present change
resulting from event
• ¶s limited in its organization or
focus
• tells rather than shows event
3 • may fail to present change
resulting from event
• ¶s poorly organized and/or
focused
• tells rather than shows event
2 • fails to present change resulting
from event
• ¶s disorganized or unfocused,
resulting in a disjointed or
incoherent narrative failing to
1 describe change at all
• fails to show or tell event
• fails to present change resulting
from event
SCORE: ____
2 2 2 21 20 19 18
4 3 2 7
A A A A A B B B
- - + +
Evidence, Support, &
Textual Details
• uses clearly relevant examples,
comments, and other evidence
to SHOW purpose
• effectively and insightfully uses
sensory details to communicate
clearly important aspects of
experience
• uses relevant examples,
comments, and other evidence
to SHOW purpose
• effectively uses sensory details
to communicate important
aspects of experience
• uses adequate examples,
comments, and other evidence
to SHOW purpose
• uses sensory details to
communicate aspects of
experience that may not be key
• uses examples, comments, and
other evidence to SHOW
purpose inconsistently or
support is inadequate
• use of sensory details is random
and fails to communicate
important aspects of experience
• uses examples, comments, and
other evidence to SHOW
purpose that is inappropriate or
insufficient
• limited use of sensory details to
communicate aspects of
experience
• fails to use examples,
comments, and other evidence
to SHOW purpose
• fails to use sensory details to
communicate aspects of
experience
1 1 1 1 13
6 5 4 1
B B B C
- - + +
Sentences &
Words
• exhibits skillful use of
language, using apt,
varied, and accurate
vocabulary
• demonstrates meaningful
variety in sentence
structure
• exhibits facility in written
English, using appropriate
vocabulary
• demonstrates variety in
sentence structure
• exhibits adequate but
inconsistent facility in
written English, using
generally appropriate
vocabulary
• demonstrates some variety
in sentence structure
• displays developing
facility in written English,
but sometimes uses weak
vocabulary or
inappropriate word choice
• lacks variety or
demonstrates problems in
sentence structure
• displays very little facility
in written English, using
very limited vocabulary
or incorrect word choice
• demonstrates frequent
problems in sentence
structure
• displays fundamental and
meaning inhibiting errors
in vocabulary
• demonstrates severe flaws
in sentence structure
12 1 1 9 8
0
C C C C C D
- -
Conventions of
English Language
• is free of most errors in
grammar, usage, and
mechanics
• assignment parameters1
respected flawlessly
• is generally free of most
errors in grammar,
usage, and mechanics
• assignment parameters
generally respected but
there is exactly one
issue
• has some errors in
grammar, usage, and
mechanics
• assignment parameters
generally respected but
there are exactly two
issues
• contains an
accumulation of errors
in grammar, usage, and
mechanics
• assignment parameters
respected but there are
three or more issues
• contains errors in
grammar, usage, and
mechanics so serious
that meaning is
somewhat obscured
• assignment parameters
respected but there are
three or more issues
• contains pervasive
errors in grammar,
usage, or mechanics that
persistently interfere
with meaning
• assignment parameters
respected but there are
three or more issues
7 6 5 4
D D D
+ +