Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Rubric

Name: Date: Score:

6.W.3.1 The student will write arguments in a variety of forms.
Standard 4 3 2 1
The writing begins
The introductory with an introduction
Introduction paragraph creatively that clearly
The writing
Introduce claim(s), using introduces the claim With help, the
hooks the reader, introduces the
strategies such as textual in a simple writing briefly
forecasts the argument, claim(s), using
analysis, introductory introduces the
and uses a variety of strategies such as
comparison/contrast, & statement or claim.
strategies to build a textual analysis,
cause/effect paragraph.
strong claim. comparison/contrast,
& cause/effect.
The related ideas
There are multiple Related ideas are
that support the
Organization paragraphs
argument are
grouped together in
Use an organizational purposefully arranged a logical order using With help, the
grouped together in
structure to group related to develop the sections or related ideas are
a cohesive and
ideas that support the argument. The reasons paragraphs but may grouped together.
organized manner
argument. are in an order that are not clearly support
with multiple
most convincing. the argument.
paragraphs.
The writing includes a
The writing supports
variety of robust
Reasons & Evidence evidence citing multiple
the claim(s) with
Support claim(s) with clear clear reasons and The writing includes
Argumentative Writing

trusted sources, With help, the

reasons and relevant relevant evidence, occasional use of
explains how the writing includes
evidence, using credible using credible reasons & evidence
evidence supports the reasons to support
sources & demonstrating an sources & but may not use a
claim, & acknowledges/ the claim.
understanding of the topic demonstrating an credible source.
responds to counter
or text. understanding of the
argument(s) in multiple
topic or text.
paragraphs.
The writing includes
Reasons & claims are
Transitions skillfully connected
appropriate
The claim & reasons
Use appropriate transitions transitions that With help, the
using a strong voice in are connected using
that enhance the enhance the reasons are
transitions that help the phrases & clauses
progression of the text & progression of the connected using
reader understand the like for example,
clarify the relationships text & clarify the words like because,
relationships between another example &
among the claim(s) and relationships among another, & also.
the claim(s) & the in addition to.
reasons. the claim(s) and
reasons.
reasons.
The writing includes
The writing
Style purposeful, deliberate
establishes & Sections of the
With help, there is
Establish and maintain a word choice that some use of style &
maintains a writing are
consistent style and tone strongly convinces the tone appropriate to
consistent style and appropriate to the
appropriate to purpose & reader & includes the purpose &
tone appropriate to purpose & audience.
audience. emotion to affect the audience.
purpose & audience.
meaning & tone.
The concluding section With help, the
The writing has a The writing has a
Conclusion highlights the
concluding concluding
writing has a
Provide a concluding significance of, simple concluding
statement/section statement/section
statement or section that reinforces, and builds statement that is
that follows directly related to the
follows from the argument on the claims in a way related to the
from the argument argument
presented. that makes the entire argument
presented. presented.
text a cohesive whole. presented.
Totals: 4: 21-24 3: 15-20 2: 9-14 1: 6-8
 Sixth Grade Argumentative Writing Rubric

Standard 4 3 2 1
Student plans &
develops; drafts;
Draft & Revise Students bring all revises using Student uses a With help, the
6.W.4 they know about appropriate tool (graphic student is able to
Apply the writing revision into the reference organizer) to draft and use a
process to initial draft. Varied materials; organize ideas and tool(e.g., graphic
generate a draft and revision strategies rewrites; tries a revises writing for organizer) to
revise to improve make the piece new approach; & basic mistakes revise a piece of
writing. stronger and more edits to produce & (repeated words writing for basic
succinct. strengthen writing and organization). mistakes.
that is clear &
coherent.
The writing
contains simple,
The writing
Edit for Grammar & The writing compound, &
Writing Process

Usage contains both With help, the

contains an compound-
simple, student can write
6.W.6.1 appropriate use of complex sentence
Demonstrate command of compound, & using simple
varied sentence structure with
English grammar and usage. complex sentence sentence
structures with correct grammar
structure with structure and can
few to no errors in & usage;
* See standards for specific noticeable correct errors in
essential skills for grammar
grammar and recognizing
grammar and grammar.
and usage. usage. sentence
usage mistakes.
fragments & run-
ons.
Capitalization,
Punctuation & Spelling There are There are
6.W.6.2 There are few to
occasional errors frequent errors in With help, the
The student will: no errors in
in spelling or spelling and student can
demonstrate command of spelling or
punctuation, but punctuation. The correct errors in
capitalization, punctuation, punctuation. The
and spelling. they do no piece is still capitalization,
punctuation used
distract from the readable, but punctuation or
adds interest to
* See standard for specific smooth reading of mistakes are spelling.
essential skills for the writing.
the piece. noticeable.
capitalization, punctuation
and spelling.

Required Vocabulary: evidence, sources, claim, citing, explanation, introductory paragraph, concluding
statement/paragraph/section, format, headings, multimedia, tone, style, audience, purpose, phrase, clause, relevant, format,
nouns, pronouns (relative, reflexive, subject, object ,possessive), antecedent, progressive verb tenses, verb tense, modal
auxiliaries, relative adverbs, prepositions, sentences (simple, compound, complex and exclamatory) coordinating and
subordinating conjunctions, sentence fragments, run-ons, capitalization, apostrophes, possessives, contractions, quotation
marks, direct speech, comma, parentheses, dashes, nonrestrictive/parenthetical elements, semicolons, main clauses,
colons, homophone, homograph.