5 / EXCELLENT

This paper is clear and

focused. It holds the
reader's attention. Relevant
Ideas details and quotes enrich
the central theme.

The organization enhances

and showcases the central
idea or theme. The order,
structure of information is
Organization compelling and moves the
reader through the text.

The writing has an easy

flow, rhythm, and cadence.
Sentences are well built,
with strong and varied
structure that invites
Sentence Fluency expressive oral reading.

The writer demonstrates a

good grasp of standard
writing conventions (e.g.,
spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, grammar,
usage, paragraphing) and
Conventions uses conventions effectively
to enhance readability.
 The form and presentation
of the text enhances the
ability for the reader to
understand and connect
Presentation with the message. It is
pleasing to the eye.
 4 / VERY GOOD 3 / AVERAGE
This paper is mostly The writer is beginning to
focused, and has some define the topic, even though
good details and quotes. development is still basic or
general.

Paper (and paragraphs) The organizational structure is

are mostly organized, in strong enough to move the
order, and makes sense reader through the text without
to the reader. too much confusion.

The writing mostly flows, The text hums along with a

and usually invites oral steady beat, but tends to be
reading. more businesslike than
musical, more mechanical than
fluid.

The write understands The writer shows reasonable

good writing conventions control over a limited range of
and usually uses them standard writing conventions.
correctly. Paper is easily Conventions are sometimes
read and errors are rare; handled well and enhance
minor touch-ups would readability; at other times,
get this piece ready to errors are distracting and
publish. impair readability.
The format only has a The writer's message is
few mistakes and is understandable in this format.
generally easy to read
and pleasing to the eye.
 2 / NEEDS
1 / UNACCEPTABLE
IMPROVEMENT
Topic is not well- As yet, the paper has no clear sense of
defined and/or there purpose or central theme. To extract
are too many topics. meaning from the text, the reader must
make inferences based on sketchy or
missing details.

Sentences within The writing lacks a clear sense of

paragraphs make direction. Ideas, details, or events seem
sense, but the order of strung together in a loose or random
paragraphs does not. fashion; there is no identifiable internal
structure.

The text seems choppy The reader has to practice quite a bit in
and is not easy to read order to give this paper a fair interpretive
orally. reading.

The writer seems to Errors in spelling, punctuation,

have made little effort capitalization, usage, and grammar and/or
to use conventions: paragraphing repeatedly distract the
spelling, punctuation, reader and make the text difficult to read.
capitalization, usage,
grammar and/or
paragraphing have
multiple errors.
The writer's message The reader receives a garbled message
is only understandable due to problems relating to the
occasionally, and presentation of the text, and is not typed.
paper is messily
written.