NORTH COLONIE CENTRAL SCHOOLS

LATHAM, NEW YORK

3rd Grade Informational Writing Rubric

Student Name _________________________

Date____________________

Teacher_______________________________

School _____________________

4-Excelling

Meaning

accurately conveys ideas

and information about a
topic
the main/central idea is
consistently and
purposefully focused

Grade 3 Draft - November 2015

3-Proficient

2-Partially Proficient

accurately conveys ideas

and information about a
topic
may include minor
inaccuracies that do not
interfere with the overall
meaning
the main/central idea is
adequately sustained and
generally focused

conveys ideas and

information about a topic
inaccuracies interfere with
the overall meaning
the main/central idea is
somewhat sustained and
may have a minor drift in
focus

1-Well Below Proficient

conveys confusing or
inaccurate information
about a topic
the main/central idea may
be related to the topic but
provides little or no focus

Development

Organization

*Appropriate
transition words
and phrases may
include, but are
not limited to,
before, after,
then, later,
however, and but.

Language

develops the topic fully,

making effective use of
relevant facts, definitions,
details, or other information
and examples
includes (when appropriate)
a relevant text features to
support meaning

develops the topic with

relevant facts, definitions
and details, or other
information and examples
includes (when
appropriate) drawings or
other visual displays to
support meaning

4-Excelling

3-Proficient

develops ideas briefly with incomplete, vague, or

limited use of facts,
largely underdeveloped with
definitions, details, or
little to no use of facts,
other information and
definitions, details, or other
examples
information and examples
drawings or other visual
drawings or other visual
displays are included
displays are not included or
(when appropriate) but
unrelated to the topic
may not support meaning

2-Partially Proficient

1-Well Below Proficient

groups related information in groups related

a clear and purposeful
information in paragraphs
manner, using paragraphs
or sections
or sections
introduction and
contains an effective and
conclusion relates to the
engaging introduction and
information presented
conclusion that relates to the uses appropriate
information presented
transition words to
consistent use of a variety of
connect ideas within
transition words and phrases
categories of information
to connect ideas within
categories of information

related information may

not be grouped logically
introduction or conclusion
is attempted but may be
underdeveloped
little variety and/or
inconsistent use of
transition words

exhibits no organizational
structure
introduction and/or
conclusion may be missing
or unrelated to the topic
few or no transition words
are used

skillfully uses academic

and/or domain specific
vocabulary related to the

attempts to use academic

and/or domain specific
vocabulary related to the

does not use academic

and/or domain specific
vocabulary related to the

Grade 3 Draft - November 2015

uses academic and/or

domain specific
vocabulary related to the

topic
skillfully varies sentence
structure for meaning and
reader/listener interest

Conventions

skillful use of correct

sentence formation,
punctuation, capitalization,
grammar usage, and
spelling

Grade 3 Draft - November 2015

topic
varies sentence structure
for meaning and
reader/listener interest

adequate use of correct

sentence formation,
punctuation,
capitalization, grammar
usage, and spelling

topic
attempts to vary sentence
structure for meaning and
reader/listener interest

topic
does not vary sentence
structure for meaning and
reader/listener interest

inconsistent use of
correct sentence
formation, punctuation,
capitalization, grammar
usage, and spelling

infrequent use of correct

sentence formation,
punctuation, capitalization,
grammar usage, and
spelling

errors may obscure the

meaning

errors interfere with the

meaning