4

3

2

1

NS

Purpose / Organization

Writing has a clear and well-defined organization. It creates a complete response that is sustained, consistent, and purposeful.

• Claim is introduced and clear. Focus is strongly maintained.
• Effective introduction and conclusion. Reader understands argument and is shown relevance of topic.
• Ideas are laid out in a logical sequence / order.
• Strong connections between and among ideas with variety in presentation.
• Recognizes a strong opposing view and writes an effective counterargument

Writing has organization. It creates a complete response but may have small mistakes. Ideas are loosely connected and generally focused.

• Claim is clear. Focus is mostly maintained.
• Adequate introduction and conclusion.
• Ideas are laid out in an adequate sequence / order.
• Adequate connections between and among ideas.
• Recognizes an opposing view and writes an adequate counterargument.

Writing has inconsistent organization. Mistakes are evident. The response is somewhat sustained but becomes unfocused.

• Claim is somewhat unclear. Focus is not sustained.
• Weak introduction and conclusion
• Ideas are laid out in an uneven sequence / order.
• Inconsistent and unclear connections between and among ideas.
• Opposing argument may be confusing or partially addressed.

Writing has little or no organization. The response be related to the claim but may have no focus.

• Claim is confusing or unclear. Brief response. Little focus.
• Introduction and/or conclusion are missing.
• Random sequence of ideas.
• Extra unrelated ideas are present. No connections between ideas.
• Opposing argument and counter argument missing.

Not understandable
Off topic
Copied text
Off purpose

4

3

2

1

NS

Evidence / Elaboration

Writing has evidence and support that is thorough and convincing. Effectively and accurately uses facts and details to support claim. Clearly expresses ideas with precise vocabulary / language.

• Strong evidence from sources is well blended. Evidence is relevant and specific
• Elaborates using a variety of techniques or resources.
• Vocabulary is appropriate (content related).
• Style enhances content. Writer’s voice is present.

Writing has adequate evidence and support. Uses facts and details to support claim. Adequately expresses ideas using a mix of precise vocabulary / language and more general language.

• Adequate evidence from sources is blended. Evidence is general.
• Elaboration is adequate.
• Vocabulary is generally appropriate (content related)
• Style is generally appropriate. Writer’s voice is developing.

Writing has uneven, weak evidence and support. Uses partial or uneven use of facts and details to support claim. Expresses ideas using uneven and simplistic language.

• Evidence from sources is weakly blended. Evidence is vague or repetitive.
• Elaboration is weak, relying on summary or emotional appeal.
• Vocabulary is uneven an ineffective (content related)
• Presence of writer’s style and voice is weak.

Writing has minimal evidence and support. Uses little or no facts and details to support claim. Ideas expressed are vague, lacks clarity, confusing.

• Evidence from sources is weakly blended. Evidence is vague or repetitive.
• Elaboration is weak, relying on summary or emotional appeal
• Vocabulary is limited (content related)
• Little or no evidence of writer’s style or voice.

Not understandable
Off topic
Copied text
Off purpose

Score

2

1

0

Conventions

Writing shows adequate use of conventions.

• Uses correct sentence formation, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, and spelling

Writing shows partial use of conventions.

• Limited use of  correct sentence formation, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, and spelling

Writing shows little or no use of conventions.

• Infrequent use of correct sentence formation, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, and spelling

Not understandable
Off topic
Copied text

*Off purpose responses will still receive a score on conventions.