Descriptive Writing Rubric

4- Excellent 3- Very Good 2-Satisfactory 1-Needs Improvement

(20 points each) (17 points each) (15 points each) (10 points each)
Title Title is creative, Title is related to the A title is present but No title is present
interesting and topic but needs to be is not related to the
related more creative. topic.
the topic.
Organization well-focused on the creates some clear sometimes strays poorly focused on the
Ideas topic images for the reader from the topic topic

clear ideas are well- focused on the topic ideas are not well- ideas are unclear
supported with ideas are well- developed
few details are given
interesting and good supported with
more details are
details well-focused details
needed not focused on the
on the topic generally focused on
topic
the topic somewhat focused on
logical organization
the topic no clear organization
some lapses in
excellent transitions
organization poor organization no transition words
easy to follow
some transitions few transition words difficult to impossible
to follow
most of the writing is difficult to follow
easy to follow
Description Uses at least five Uses at least four Uses at least three Uses less than 3
Word choice adjectives (or adjectives (or adjectives (or adjectives (or
statements) to statements) to statements) to statements) to
describe the describe the describe the describe the
character, setting character, setting character, setting character, setting
and events. and events and events and events

Interesting word fairly precise, wording is sometimes very limited word

choices in description interesting and repetitive choices
somewhat varied word
more descriptive wording is plain and
choices
words are needed not descriptive
Sentence Fluency uses complete uses complete occasional sentence frequent use of
sentences sentences fragment or run-on sentence fragments
sentences or run-on sentences
varying sentence generally simple
structure and lengths sentence structures sentences are
difficult to
understand
Grammar proper grammar, few errors of errors in grammar, frequent errors in
usage grammar and usage usage and spelling grammar, usage,
sometimes make spelling, capitalization
correct spelling mostly correct
understanding and punctuation
spelling, punctuation
correct punctuation difficult make understanding
and capitalization
difficult or impossible
correct capitalization less than 4 errors some errors in
punctuation and
capitalization
5- 6 errors

Writing conference notes:

Student Self Checklist – Descriptive Writing
 What is the title of your story?
____________________________________________________________

Is the title creative, interesting and related the topic. _______

 Did you use transition words like first, then, next last? Which ones?
____________________, ______________________, _______________

 Find at least 5 adjectives in your writing? What are they?

What are they describing?

Adjective (describing word) What is this word being used to describe?

Did you describe your character?

What they look like? ___________

How they are feeling? _______________

Did you describe the setting?

What can be seen? _____________________ heard, ___________________

Did you use complete sentences? _________

Did you check for punctuation? ________________