Annotating Fiction Evaluation Rubric – English 10F – Semester 1 – Period 6

Learning Out of Range Approaching Meeting Level Excellent Skill

Outcome 0 Level 3-4 Level
1-2 5
Organize Student did Annotation is Annotation is Annotation is on
information: not try to partially on topic mostly on topic topic and
Show you can annotate the and there are and fairly descriptive (full
organize text. few details. descriptive. of details in the
information and margins).
ideas by Ideas are not Ideas are your Ideas are your
developing and on topic. own but not fully own and fairly Ideas are your
selecting developed. developed. own and well
appropriate Ideas are developed.
information plagiarized. Symbols and Symbols and
from the text. highlighting are highlighting are Symbols and
disorganized and organized and a highlighting are
very few are few types are organized, and a
Record
used. used. variety are used.
information:
Identify writing Questions and Questions and Questions and
techniques, conclusions are conclusions are conclusions are
record vague or somewhat descriptive and
information, ask confusing. descriptive but thought-
questions, draw not thought- provoking.
conclusions Shows little provoking.
through understanding of Connects
referencing the content and Shows some opinions to
text. author’s craft. understanding of examples from
content and the text.
author’s craft.
Shows
sophisticated
understanding of
content and
author’s craft
including diction
(word choice),
literary devices
(example:
foreshadowing
events), and tone
(suited to the
audience).
 Advice for Annotating Fiction
Reading Deeply

- Before reading the text, think about the structure (what does the text look like), the
author (anything you know about the author), the genre (what kind of writing piece is
it), and connections to other stories
- Annotate after your first reading
- Annotate small portions of writing one at a time; break it down!
- Use many different techniques, such as underline (for characterization), write down
predictions and questions, note morals/themes in the story, and many more!
- Stop every so often to predict what you think will happen next in the story
- Not just writing symbols; also, writing down the meaning of the symbol and your
thoughts or feelings about that part of the text
- Reread the story over again to clarify your understanding
- Highlight important information; write your thoughts/feelings or summarize what you
read in your own words
- Answer your questions (in the margins)
- Define words you don’t know (in the margins)
- Use examples from the text to back up your opinions.
- Make notes about author’s craft including diction (word choice), literary devices used
(such as metaphor, foreshadowing, personification, etc.), and tone (how is the tone
suited to the audience?); making notes about author’s craft helps you learn from the
author about becoming a better writer