SecSoph

Campbell County School District - Assessment Rubric

Department: Language Arts Course: Sophomore English and Honors English
Essential and Enduring Learning: Writing
Curriculum Code: LA-08-06-01, LA-10-07-01 and LA-H1-07-01
Task: Writing for Six-Trait Analytical Scoring

Indicators

Level 5 Level 3 Level 1

Ideas and Content This paper is clear, focused, and interesting. It holds the reader's attention. Relevant anecdotes and details enrich the central theme or story. The paper is clear and focused, even though the overall result may not be captivating. Support is attempted, but it may be limited, insubstantial, too general, or out of balance. The paper lacks a central idea or purpose, or forces the reader to make inferences based on very sketchy details.

Organization The organization enhances and showcases the central idea or theme. The order, structure, or presentation is compelling and moves the reader through the text. The reader can readily follow what's being said, but the overall organization may sometimes be ineffective or too obvious. Organization is haphazard and disjointed. The writing lacks direction, with ideas, details, or events strung together helter skelter.

Voice The writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is individualistic, expressive, and engaging. Clearly, the writer is involved in the text and is writing to be read. The writer seems sincere but not fully involved in the topic. The result is pleasant, acceptable, sometimes even personable, but not compelling. The writer seems wholly indifferent, uninvolved, or dispassionate. As a result, the writing is flat, lifeless, stiff, or mechanical. It may be (depending on the topic) overly technical or jargonistic.

Word Choice Words convey the intended message in an interesting, precise, and natural way. The writing is full and rich, yet concise. The language is quite ordinary, but it does convey the message. It's functional, even if it lacks punch. Often, the writer settles for what's easy or handy, producing a sort of "generic paper" stuffed with familiar words and phrases. The writer struggles with a limited vocabulary, groping for words to convey meaning. Often the language is so vague and abstract or so redundant and devoid of detail that only the broadest, most general sort of message comes through.

Sentence Fluency The writing has an easy flow and rhythm when read aloud. Sentences are well built, with consistently strong and varied structure that makes expressive oral reading easy and enjoyable. Sentences tend to be mechanical rather than fluid. The text hums along efficiently for the most part, though it may lack a certain rhythm or grace, tending to be more pleasant than musical. Occasional awkward constructions force the reader to slow down or reread. The paper is difficult to follow or to read aloud. Sentences tend to be choppy, incomplete, rambling, irregular, or just very awkward.

Conventions The writer demonstrates a good grasp of standard writing conventions (e.g., grammar, capitalization, punctuation, usage, spelling, paragraphing) and uses them effectively to enhance readability. Errors tend to be so few and so minor that the reader can easily skim right over them unless specifically searching for them. Errors in writing conventions, while not overwhelming, begin to impair readability. While errors do not block meaning, they tend to be distracting. Numerous errors in usage, sentence structure, spelling, or punctuation repeatedly distract the reader and make the text difficult to read. In fact, the severity and the frequency of errors tend to be so overwhelming that the reader finds it very difficult to focus on the message and must reread for meaning.

Initial Source: Northwest Regional Educational Lab.
Scoring Process:
Level 4 = Total 25 - 30

Level 3 = Total 16 - 24

Level 2 = Total 10 - 15

Level 1 = Total 6 - 9

	Indicators
	Level 5	Level 3	Level 1
Ideas and Content	This paper is clear, focused, and interesting. It holds the reader's attention. Relevant anecdotes and details enrich the central theme or story.	The paper is clear and focused, even though the overall result may not be captivating. Support is attempted, but it may be limited, insubstantial, too general, or out of balance.	The paper lacks a central idea or purpose, or forces the reader to make inferences based on very sketchy details.
Organization	The organization enhances and showcases the central idea or theme. The order, structure, or presentation is compelling and moves the reader through the text.	The reader can readily follow what's being said, but the overall organization may sometimes be ineffective or too obvious.	Organization is haphazard and disjointed. The writing lacks direction, with ideas, details, or events strung together helter skelter.
Voice	The writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is individualistic, expressive, and engaging. Clearly, the writer is involved in the text and is writing to be read.	The writer seems sincere but not fully involved in the topic. The result is pleasant, acceptable, sometimes even personable, but not compelling.	The writer seems wholly indifferent, uninvolved, or dispassionate. As a result, the writing is flat, lifeless, stiff, or mechanical. It may be (depending on the topic) overly technical or jargonistic.
Word Choice	Words convey the intended message in an interesting, precise, and natural way. The writing is full and rich, yet concise.	The language is quite ordinary, but it does convey the message. It's functional, even if it lacks punch. Often, the writer settles for what's easy or handy, producing a sort of "generic paper" stuffed with familiar words and phrases.	The writer struggles with a limited vocabulary, groping for words to convey meaning. Often the language is so vague and abstract or so redundant and devoid of detail that only the broadest, most general sort of message comes through.
Sentence Fluency	The writing has an easy flow and rhythm when read aloud. Sentences are well built, with consistently strong and varied structure that makes expressive oral reading easy and enjoyable.	Sentences tend to be mechanical rather than fluid. The text hums along efficiently for the most part, though it may lack a certain rhythm or grace, tending to be more pleasant than musical. Occasional awkward constructions force the reader to slow down or reread.	The paper is difficult to follow or to read aloud. Sentences tend to be choppy, incomplete, rambling, irregular, or just very awkward.
Conventions	The writer demonstrates a good grasp of standard writing conventions (e.g., grammar, capitalization, punctuation, usage, spelling, paragraphing) and uses them effectively to enhance readability. Errors tend to be so few and so minor that the reader can easily skim right over them unless specifically searching for them.	Errors in writing conventions, while not overwhelming, begin to impair readability. While errors do not block meaning, they tend to be distracting.	Numerous errors in usage, sentence structure, spelling, or punctuation repeatedly distract the reader and make the text difficult to read. In fact, the severity and the frequency of errors tend to be so overwhelming that the reader finds it very difficult to focus on the message and must reread for meaning.