Name: Date: Period:

Letter to Author Rubric

Learning Outcome: Students will be able to critically read scientific texts adapted for classroom use to determine the central ideas and/or obtain scientific and/or technical information to describe patterns in and/or evidence about the natural and designed world(s). (NGSS Practice 8)

Project Description:

After reading a non-fiction science book (see your science teacher for a list of titles), write a letter to the author discussing the following:

·  Explain why you chose to read his/her book.

·  Your favorite part(s) of the book and why they were your favorite.

·  How reading his/her book somehow changed your way of thinking about yourself or the world around you. Make a connection between yourself and a concept, character, or an event in the story.

·  Why you would recommend his/her book to other people.

·  Ask the author clarifying questions you have about him/her and about the book you read.

CATEGORY / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Format / The letter is written in a friendly letter format and includes all five (5) required parts (heading, greeting, body, closing, signature) / The letter includes four (4) parts of the friendly letter format. / The letter includes three (3) parts of the friendly letter format. / The letter includes two (2) or less parts of the friendly letter format.
Reference to book / The letter contains at least five (5) accurate references to the book. / The letter contains four (4) accurate references to the book. / The letter contains three (3) accurate references to the book. / The letter contains two or fewer accurate references to the book.
Conventions
(Grammar, punctuation and spelling) / Writer makes one (1) or no errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling. / Writer makes two (2) errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling. / Writer makes three (3)errors in grammar, punctuation or spelling / Writer makes more than four (4) errors in grammar punctuation or spelling.