4-6 Writing Rubric Beginning Developing Mature Ideas As yet the paper has no clear sense The writer is beginning to define the The paper is clear and focused. It of purpose or central theme. To topic, even though development is still holds the reader’s attention. extract meaning, the reader must basic or general. Relevant anecdotes and details make inferences based on sketchy - The topic is fairly broad; however, you enrich the central theme. or missing details. can see where the writer is headed. - The topic is narrow and manageable. . - The writer is still in search of a topic - Support is attempted, but doesn’t go far or has not yet decided what the main enough in fleshing out the key issues or Relevant, quality details give the idea of the piece will be. story line. reader important information that - Information is limited or unclear, or - Ideas are reasonably clear, though they goes beyond the obvious or the length is not adequate for may not be detailed, personalized, predictable. development. accurate, or expanded enough to show - Reasonably accurate details are - The idea is a simple restatement of in-depth understanding or a strong sense present to support the main ideas. the assigned topic or an answer to of purpose. - The writer seems to be writing from the question with little or no attention - The writer seems to be drawing on knowledge or experience; the ideas to detail. knowledge or experience, but has are fresh and original. - The writer has not begun to define difficulty going from general observations - The reader’s questions are the topic in a meaningful, personal to specifics. anticipated and answered. way. - The reader is left with questions. More - Insight—an understanding of life and - Everything seems as important as information is needed to “fill in the a knack for picking out what is everything else; the reader has a blanks.” significant—is an indicator of high hard time sifting out what is - The writer generally stays on the topic level performance, though not important. but does not develop a clear theme. The required. - The text may be repetitious, or may read writer has not yet focused the topic like a collection of disconnected, random beyond the obvious. thoughts with no discernable point.

Culham, R. (2004). 6+1 Writing Traits 4-6 Writing Rubric Word The writer demonstrates a limited The language is functional, even if it Words convey the intended Choice vocabulary or has not reached for lacks much energy. It is easy to figure message in a precise, interesting, words to convey specific meaning. out the writer’s meaning on a general and natural way. The words are  Words ate so nonspecific and level. powerful and engaging. distracting that only a very limited  Words are adequate and correct in a  Words are specific and accurate. It meaning comes through. general sense, and they support the easy to understand just what the  Problems with language leave the meaning by not getting in the way. writer means. reader wondering. Many of the words  Familiar words and phrases  Striking words and phrases often just don’t work in this piece. communicate but rarely capture the catch the reader’s eye and linger in  Audience has not been considered reader’s imagination, the reader’s mind, effective. Language is used  Attempts at colorful language show a  Language and phrasing is natural, incorrectly, making the message willingness to stretch and grow, but and appropriate for the audience. secondary to the misfires with the sometimes teach beyond the audience  Lively verbs add energy while words. (thesaurus overload). specific nouns and modifiers add  Limited vocabulary and/or misused  Despite a few successes, the writing is depth. parts of speech seriously impairs marked by passive verbs, everyday nouns,  Choices in language enhance understanding. and mundane modifiers. meaning and clarify under- standing.  Words and phrases are so  The words and phrases are functional with  Precision is obvious; the writer has unimaginative and lifeless that they only one or two fine moments. taken care to put just the right word detract from the meaning.  The words may be refined in a couple of or phrase in just the right spot.  Jargon or clichés distract or mislead. places, but the language looks more like the Redundancy may distract the reader. first thing that popped into the writer’s mind.

Culham, R. (2004). 6+1 Writing Traits