English Language Arts - A Curriculum Guide for the Elementary Level (2002)

Sample Rubric for Narrative Writing

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

A well-sequenced and detailed story that is clearly organized. The story is logically sequenced. The story is unfocused by lacking an ending or an effective introduction. There is a basic story but it lacks plot and detail.

Ideas are clearly expressed. Ideas are expressed appropriately. Ideas are somewhat confusing and details are missing. The ideas are simply expressed.

Sentences are varied and word choices are appropriate. There is good sentence variety and word choices are appropriate. Some sentence variety is evident and word choices are appropriate. The writer has used simple sentences and there are several errors including fragments and run-ons.

There are few, if any, errors in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation. Minor errors are found in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation. Some errors are found in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation. There are a number of errors in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation.

Sample Rubric for Explanatory Writing

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

The text is well organized and well written. The text is well organized. The text is organized with simple ideas. The text has limited organization.

The text conveys a clear message and main ideas are well supported with evidence. The ideas are clearly stated but not always supported with sufficient evidence. Although the ideas are clear, the details are limited and inconsistently supported with evidence. The ideas are unclear. Some details are irrelevant, do not support the main idea, or fail to give evidence.

The sentences are varied and word choice is appropriate. The writer uses good sentence variety. The writer relies on simple sentence structures and basic but appropriate vocabulary. The writer shows limited sentence variety and word choice.

There are few, if any, errors in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation. Word choice is appropriate and there are only minor errors in spelling and punctuation. Some errors are found in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation. There are a number of sentence, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Level 4	Level 3	Level 2	Level 1
A well-sequenced and detailed story that is clearly organized.	The story is logically sequenced.	The story is unfocused by lacking an ending or an effective introduction.	There is a basic story but it lacks plot and detail.
Ideas are clearly expressed.	Ideas are expressed appropriately.	Ideas are somewhat confusing and details are missing.	The ideas are simply expressed.
Sentences are varied and word choices are appropriate.	There is good sentence variety and word choices are appropriate.	Some sentence variety is evident and word choices are appropriate.	The writer has used simple sentences and there are several errors including fragments and run-ons.
There are few, if any, errors in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation.	Minor errors are found in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation.	Some errors are found in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation.	There are a number of errors in grade-appropriate spelling and punctuation.