PSSA Writing Rubric

FOCUS

/ CONTENT / ORGANIZATION / STYLE / CONVENTIONS
4 / Very good ideas about one specific topic. / Many detailed descriptions and examples to show, not tell. Minimum of 15 vocabulary words underlined or highlighted & used accurately / Strong introduction, body, and conclusion. Clear and orderly details. New ideas begin new paragraphs. / Excellent word choice. Sentences have different beginnings and lengths. / Very few mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
3 / Good ideas about one topic. / Some examples and descriptions. 10-15 vocabulary words underlined or highlighted & used accurately / Clear introduction, body, and conclusion. / Good word choice. Some sentences have different beginnings and lengths. / Some mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
2 / A few ideas about a topic. / Few examples and descriptions. 7-10 vocabulary words underlined or highlighted & used accurately / Unclear introduction, body, or conclusion. Confusing details. / Some overused words. Many sentences have same beginning and length. / Many mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization, but still understandable.
1 / Topic is unclear. / No examples or descriptions. 1-6 vocabulary words underlined or highlighted & used accurately / No introduction, body, or conclusion. / Many overused words. Most sentences have similar beginnings and lengths. / Difficult to understand because of mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.

Responding to Reading SAT Superhero Vocabulary Project

You are a concerned citizen who lives in a quiet community in the suburbs. Your quiet community has been going through a number of changes and is not so quiet anymore. You have taken it upon yourself to activate your super powers and become the guardian of the community. Your audience is the mayor of your community and 100’s of concerned citizens. Your task is to design a poster of you as a superhero advertising your super powers. In addition you will write a story about your life/experiences as a superhero. You are required to use 5 SAT vocabulary words on your poster and 15 SAT words in your story. Yes, the 5 SAT words from your poster may also be included in your story. You will be graded on content, mechanics, creativity, appearance, and presentation in accordance to the attached rubric. Your completed project will be due November 18th.

Created by Miss Jonelle L. Pall

Dallas Middle School 2002