Grades 3–5
Teacher-Friendly Scoring Guide for Informational Writing
The primary purpose of informational writing is to describe or explain using reliable, accurate, and well-organized information. Although often associated with reports or essays, it can contain more than “just the facts,” from reasons to explanations or even personal experiences, to enliven the piece. It is written in a knowledgeable voice that lends credibility. To accomplish that, the writer must apply the key qualities of the mode with skill and confidence.
6 EXCEPTIONAL
A. Facts and Details : The writer provides accurate, specific information and details that come from reliable sources. B. Structure and Features : The writer conveys the idea logically and clearly from beginning to end, using an identifiable text structure (compare/contrast, problem/ solution, procedural, and so on). Text features enhance understanding of significant information and concepts (pictures, headings, charts, graphs and so on). C. Clarity and Focus : The writer conveys essential information and delves into what really matters about the topic. The writer sticks with the topic and uses rich vocabulary to reveal key insights.
5 STRONG
4 REFINING
A. Facts and Details : The writer provides an overview of the topic, relying on mostly superficial facts and details from sources that may be questionable. B. Structure and Features : The writer uses a tried-and-true structure, such as an obvious five-sentence paragraph or a stilted five-paragraph essay. Text features are not well- placed or lack enough information to be meaningful. C. Clarity and Focus : The writer has a topic, but it’s just a simple overview. He or she makes few attempts to reach for the “just right” words and content-specific language to bring the topic to life. The piece is an outsider’s perspective looking in.
3 DEVELOPING
2 EMERGING
A. Facts and Details : The writer makes sweeping statements; nothing new is shared. Facts and details are unsupported or inaccurate. B. Structure and Features : The writer provides no sense of internal organization to guide the reader from beginning to end. The piece is illogical. C. Clarity and Focus : The writer does not have a clear topic and uses stilted and confusing language. It is completely an outsider’s perspective.
1 RUDIMENTARY
Grades 3–5
Teacher-Friendly Scoring Guide for Narrative Writing
Narrative writing captures a real or imagined experience. It usually contains three primary elements: characters, setting, and plot. The writer grabs and holds the reader’s attention by developing believable characters and putting them in interesting situations, establishing a clear sense of time and place, weaving in vivid details and plot twists, and creating a central conflict or problem that is resolved in a compelling way. To accomplish that, the writer must apply the key qualities of the mode with skill and confidence.
6 EXCEPTIONAL
A. Plot : The writer moves the story forward with fresh, original, and logically sequenced events. There is a compelling conflict or problem that is solved thoughtfully and credibly. The writer intrigues, delights, surprises, entertains, and/or informs the reader. B. Characters : The writer creates believable real or imagined characters who are fresh and original. The writer provides direct evidence throughout the piece of how the characters grow, change, and learn. C. Setting : The writer makes time and place work in harmony. He or she creates a visual setting for the reader by establishing the mood or atmosphere using unique and rich details.
5 STRONG
4 REFINING
A. Plot : The writer mingles significant events with trivial ones, and sometimes strays from the main story line, distracting the reader from the major conflict or problem and its solution. B. Characters : The writer uses predictable and ordinary details and anecdotes that don’t bring the characters to life in a memorable way. There is little attention to how their thinking changes or grows. C. Setting : The writer describes time and place but without much imagination or clarity. The details do not stand out as original.
3 DEVELOPING
2 EMERGING
A. Plot : The writer offers simple, incomplete events that don’t relate to one another and/or add up to much. The writer creates no clear conflict or problem to be solved. B. Characters : The writer creates characters that don’t feel real or possible; they are stereotypes or cardboard cutouts. The writer has not developed the characters. C. Setting : The writer does not clearly describe the setting or completely omits it.
1 RUDIMENTARY
Grades 3–5
Teacher-Friendly Scoring Guide for Opinion Writing
Opinion writing lays out a position logically and adheres to it. The writer uses solid evidence to convince the reader to understand or embrace the claim and point of view, believe in an idea, or take action. In some ways, opinion writing is strong informational writing—with an attitude! The writing needs to be clear, compelling, and well-supported. To accomplish that, the writer must apply the key qualities of the mode with skill and confidence.
6 EXCEPTIONAL
A. Claim/Opinion : The writer makes a clear statement about his/her position on a well-defined topic. B. Evidence : The writer supports his or her opinion with a variety of different types of evidence from personal experiences and credible sources. C. Logic : The writer expresses sound reasoning throughout. By putting the right evidence in the right place, he or she structures the piece logically: compare/ contrast, cause/effect, problem/solution, and so on. The writer recognizes opposing positions and exposes weaknesses in them.
5 STRONG
4 REFINING
A. Claim/Opinion : The writer may start out strong from the original claim, but the focus fades. Or, the writer makes a claim, but it is very general. B. Evidence : The writer uses a minimal amount of evidence other than personal experience to support a credible opinion. The writer uses generalities or exaggerations, with a few clear, concrete specifics. C. Logic : Connections between ideas are hit or miss. The writer attempts to expose holes in opposing positions, but with mixed results.
3 DEVELOPING
2 EMERGING
A. Claim/Opinion : The writer has not made his/her position clear. The piece misses the point of opinion writing. B. Evidence : The writer provides only generalities and exaggerations, and no hard facts that could sway the reader. C. Logic : The writer fails to provide sound reasoning to support the opinion. The writer forgets to consider opposing positions.
1 RUDIMENTARY
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