Writing Descriptors (2nd draft)

Opinion Paragraphs
Band Task achievement (D1) Coherence & cohesion (D2) Lexical resource (D3) Grammatical range and accuracy. Capitalization and
Punctuation (D4)

5  Addresses all parts of the task given:  Logically organizes information and ideas; there is  Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow  Uses error-free complex and compound sentences.
- Fully interprets the topic. clear progression throughout. some flexibility and precision (e.g.  Has good control of grammar but may make a few
- Presents first draft  Uses a range of connectors and discourse markers vocabulary studied). errors (two)
- Follows teacher’s instructions given in first draft. appropriately to make ideas flow.  Uses less common lexical items with some  Uses periods and commas well.
- Clearly presents the paragraph organization (A Topic Sentence, Supporting  Presents a clear central main idea within the awareness of style and collocation  Capitalizes words when necessary.
Sentences and a Concluding Sentence). paragraph (collocations, phrasal verbs, affixes).
- Uses clear sentences.  Always uses. referencing clearly or appropriately  May produce occasional errors in word
- Includes at least two relevant supporting ideas. (pronouns, determiners, etc.) choice, spelling and/or word formation
- Closes paragraph with an effective concluding sentence. (two) without affecting communication.
- Meets word length.

4  Addresses most parts of the task given:  Logically organizes information and ideas; there is  Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary  Uses compound sentences which are error-free
- Fully interprets the topic. clear progression throughout. (studied) to allow some flexibility and  Makes some errors in grammar but they rarely reduce
- Presents first draft  Uses a range of cohesive devices with some precision. communication (four).
- Follows teacher’s instructions given in first draft. precision.  Uses less common lexical items with some  Text requires some more punctuation.
- Clearly presents the paragraph organization (A Topic Sentence, Supporting  Presents a clear central main ideas within the awareness of style and collocation.  Sentences may be too long without punctuation
Sentences and a Concluding Sentence). paragraph.  Produces occasional errors in word  A few slips in capitalization.
- Uses mostly clear sentences.  Often uses referencing clearly or appropriately choice, spelling and/or word formation
- Includes at least two relevant supporting ideas. May include irrelevant (Pronouns, determiners, etc.) (three).
information.
- Closes paragraph with an effective concluding sentence.
- Meets word length.

3  Addresses the task only partially:  Presents information with some  Uses a limited range of vocabulary.  Uses only simple sentences.
- Doesn’t present first draft organization, but there may be a lack of overall  Makes noticeable errors in spelling  Attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less
- Doesn’t completely present the paragraph organization (A Topic Sentence, progression. and/or word formation that may cause accurate than simple sentences.
Supporting Sentences and a Concluding Sentence).  Makes inadequate, inaccurate or over use of some difficulty for the reader.  Makes frequent grammatical errors which can cause
- Uses partially clear sentences. cohesive devices. some difficulty for the reader
- Supporting ideas include irrelevant information.  May be repetitive because of lack of referencing and  Respects sentence components
- Doesn’t Close paragraph with an effective concluding sentence. substitution.  Overuse of the comma / period affects the text.
- Meets word length.  Paragraphing may be inadequate or illogically  Some slips in capitalization.
developed.

2  Responds to the task only in a minimal way:  Presents information and ideas but these are not  Uses only basic vocabulary which may  Uses only simple sentences.
- Doesn’t present first draft. arranged coherently, and there is no clear be used repetitively or which may be  Some structures are accurate but errors predominate.
- Doesn’t present accurately the paragraph organization (A Topic Sentence, progression in the response. inappropriate for the task.  Inappropriate punctuation.
Supporting Sentences and a Concluding Sentence).  Uses some basic cohesive devices but these may  Has limited control of word formation  Frequent slips in capitalization
- Uses unclear sentences. be inaccurate or repetitive. and/or spelling; errors may cause strain
- Includes one Supporting idea which includes irrelevant information. for the reader.
- Lack of a concluding sentence.
- Word length is under the expected.

1  Does not adequately address the task.  Does not organize ideas logically. Uses only a very limited range of words and  Attempts sentence forms but errors in grammar and
 Presents few ideas, which are largely undeveloped or irrelevant.  May use a very limited range of cohesive devices, expressions with very limited control of punctuation predominate and distort the meaning.
and those used may not indicate a logical word formation and/or spelling.  Inadequate punctuation and incorrect capitalization or
relationship between ideas.  Errors severely distort the message. lack of it.

0  Does not attend

 Does not attempt the task in any way
 Writes a totally memorized response