July 2015

C4T Writing Scorecard: Lab 2, Assignment 1

Client-ready
3 / Developing
2 / Emerging
1
Writing Requirements / An e-mail message tailored to a non-expert audience. The message:
  • States its purpose near the beginning of the message
  • Follows a clear, logical structure
  • Gives the audience all the information needed to make a decision and act as desired
  • Encourages a specific, timely response
/ An e-mail that has a slightly loose or flawed structure and/or provides only some of the information for the audience to make a decision or take action. / An e-mail that arranges ideas and information in a rambling or jumbled order (so that the key message and main points are difficult to discern) and/or omits key information the audience needs to make a decision or take action.
Focus / Emphasizes how the technical content of the messageis relevant and beneficial to the target audience. / Emphasizes the what and how of the technical content, with some mention of how the technical information relates to the audience’s context. / Emphasizes the what and how of the technical content.
Audience / The e-mail is closely aligned with audience needs, values, and interests. The message:
  • Provides the appropriate kind and amount of context
  • Uses appropriate word choices
  • Creates a consistently friendly, polite, and personable tone that builds rapport with the target audience
/ The e-mail is somewhat aligned with audience needs, values, and interests. / The e-mail is seriously out of alignment with regards to audience needs, values, and interests. There is a risk that the message will be unintelligible or off-putting for the target audience.
Design / The e-mail demonstrates effective use of principles of document design. It exhibits such features as the following:
  • Appropriate use of typography
  • Generous whitespace
  • Bulleted lists
  • Headings
  • Bold type for emphasis
  • Appropriate use of visuals and/or attachments
/ The e-mail applies some principles of document design, but they may be applied inconsistently or inappropriately so that the writing lacks professional polish. / The e-mail makes little use of principles of document design (the message may, for instance) consist largely of long paragraphs.
Written Expression / The writing is clear and technically correct. It shows command over grammar, punctuation, mechanics, usage,and style, exhibitingthese features:
  • Negligible number of errors (errors that do occur do not interfere with clarity)
  • Concise, clear phrasing
  • Variety of vocabulary and sentence structure
/ The writing is mostly clear and mostly technically correct. It shows control over grammar, punctuation, mechanics, usage, and style, exhibiting such features as the following:
  • Some issues with grammar and punctuation, but they do not significantly impede reading
  • Phrasing that is clear but not always concise
/ The writing is unclear due to a lack of control over one or more elements of written expression. Issues with grammar, punctuation, or usage are so frequent or serious that the writer’s meaning is obscured in places.

1