JFKHS WRITING RUBRIC
NO EVIDENCE (1) EMERGING: PARTIALLY DEVELOPING: MEETS
MEETS STANDARD (2)
THESIS Thesis is missing; no May begin with response
clear focus or topic to topic, but not
developed; ideas
repeated frequently or
randomly
ORGANIZATION Not enough written to Writing is brief or all one
show any organization. paragraph
Topic sentences missing.
CONTENT Not enough written to Writing is brief, support
show understanding. or details absent or
extremely limited
TRANSITIONS No clear transitions Very limited use of
transitions
SENTENCE VARIETY Not enough written to Mostly simple sentences,
show any variety. very narrow range of
Frequent run-ons or sentence patterns. Some
fragments. run-ons or fragments.
LANGUAGE USE Limited to no use of Occasional use of
accurate vocabulary accurate vocabulary.
Limited word choice and
variation in sentence
form and structure.
Limited coherence and
readability.
MECHANICS Parts of speech show lack Inconsistent agreement
of agreement. Frequent between parts of speech.
errors in mechanics. Many errors in
Little or no evidence of mechanics. Limited
spelling strategies. Not evidence of spelling
enough written strategies. Very limited
control of verb tenses.
c2012
PROFICIENT: MORE EXEMPLARY (5)
BASIC STANDARD (3) THAN MEETS THE
STANDARD (4)
Thesis addresses topic Appropriately addresses Clear thesis statement
adequately topic and thesis with effectively addresses
logical support topic with logical
supports
Uses correct writing Provides introduction Effective introduction
format (introduction, with thesis statement; that captures interest
body, conclusion). Topic clear organization of and provides clear thesis;
sentence may be evident. ideas within the body; body is organized to
restatement of thesis in strongly support thesis;
conclusion. Topic Conclusion restates
sentences present in all thesis and broadens
body paragraphs. readers perspective.
Contains some specific Varied support of main Strong support of main
examples or references idea; contains specific idea; sentences
with partial support. examples or references, supported with reasons,
and concrete, specific specific examples, or
details details.
Some transitions, Transitions consistent Clear transitions
sometimes lacking and appropriate throughout, some
sophisticated transitional
devices
Uses sentence variety Good handling of Consistent variety of
including simple, complex and compound sentence structure
compound and complex sentences, some variety. throughout.
sentences.
Acceptable use of Ample use of accurate Extensive use of accurate
accurate vocabulary. vocabulary. Effective vocabulary.
Adequate word choice. word choice. Substantial Extraordinary word
Suitable variation in variation in sentence choice. Extensive
sentence form and form and structure. variation in sentence
structure. Occasional Usually coherent and form and structure.
coherence and readable. Consistently coherent
readability and reads extraordinarily
well.
Occasional errors Consistent agreement Uses consistent
between parts of speech. between parts of speech. agreement between parts
Some errors in Uses correct punctuation, of speech. No errors in
mechanics. Some capitalization, etc. mechanics. Creative and
evidence of spelling Consistent use of spelling effective use of spelling
strategies. Verb tenses strategies. Verb tenses strategies. All verb
generally correct with are correct most of the tenses are used correctly
some tense shifting. time. and consistently