Writing Rubric – Grades 6-8

Vocabulary is grade level appropriate

STANDARD BEGINNING APPROACHING MEETING EXCEEDING

1. Writes Clearly and Student identifies a Student identifies and Student identifies and Student identifies and
Effectively central topic in the elaborates on a central elaborates on a central elaborates on a
• Content opening paragraph topic in the opening topic in the opening sophisticated central
paragraph and uses some paragraph and uses topic using complex,
supportive detail in the relevant and adequate unique, and relevant
body paragraphs that supporting details in the detail. Adequate
follow. body paragraph that supporting details follow
follows and concludes in the body paragraphs
with a clear closing and the concluding
paragraph that is paragraph is evaluative
reflective of the central rather than summative.
topic.
• Organization Student organizes Student organizes Student organizes Student organizes
information into information into information into logical information into highly
paragraphs with some beginning, middle, and sequence of ideas effective structure using
use of transitions. end structure; uses connected by strong creative transitions.
transitions to connect transitions.
ideas.
• Conventions Student demonstrates Student demonstrates Student demonstrates Student demonstrates
knowledge of simple knowledge of compound correct use of use of a variety of
sentence construction; sentence structures; uses compound-complex sentence structures
uses end punctuation correct internal and end sentence structures; appropriate to form and
and capitalizes correctly. punctuation and consistently audience; always uses
capitalizes correctly . demonstrates correct use language conventions
of grammatical appropriately.
structures, punctuation,
and capitalization.
2. Addresses Audience, Student demonstrates Student uses deliberate Student uses specialized Student presents
Purpose, and *Form awareness of audience word choice and some vocabulary relevant to argumentation logically,
• Style and purpose in word variety in sentence the topic and considers uses language and
choice and sentence structure appropriate to possible connotations in sentence structure to
* Expository, structure. Writes in form, audience, purpose, word choice; uses a enhance style; critiques
Persuasive, Narrative, limited number of forms. and topic. Writes variety of sentence writing of others for
Poetic, …) appropriately in more structures and cadence style. Writes in a variety
than one form. for effect. Writes in a of forms creatively.
variety of forms
appropriately.
3. Understands and Student uses stages of Student independently Student skillfully uses Student expertly
Uses the Writing the writing process with uses some stages of the all stages of the writing completes all stages of
Process assistance writing process process to create a piece the writing process;
of writing suitable for revises to enhance style
publication
4. Analyzes and Student makes some Student identifies some Student demonstrates Student uses feedback to
Evaluates Writing attempt at self- strengths and weakness awareness of the create strong, effective
assessment in own writing; sets standards of good writing; provides
goals for improvement writing; evaluates feedback to others
strengths and regarding their writing
weaknesses in own
writing and that of
others; uses feedback to
improve writing