Evaluation Criteria
Grabs readers' attention ( Hook).
Convincingly builds to a forceful conclusion.
Clearly states the writer's opinion in a logical order with feeling.
Describes subject so that readers can clearly understand and visualize it.
Gives background information (if needed).
Contains support for the writer's opinion based on
- personal experience, preferences or taste
- evidence/examples (quotes, plot summaries, etc.)
- comparison/contrast to related subjects
Anticipates and addresses readers' questions/concerns.
Uses first person point of view.
Informational/Expository
States clearly in the opening what you will be writing about and why you chose it.
Supports the premise with sufficient details to allow readers to under-stand your viewpoint.
Has topic sentences that explain what each paragraph is about.
Sticks to the facts. Don't give in to the temptation to tell your opinions without supporting what you say with facts and evidence.
Explains the evidence and tells what you think it means.
Summarizes the key points (from the topic sentences) in the conclusion and tells what your viewpoint is (based on why you chose your topic in the first place).
Has a clear, logical and sequential organization.
Tells what the research says and what you think it means.
Observation – Criteria
Describes what you saw, heard, tasted, etc.
Written so readers can see what you saw.
Gives an impression based on your observations.
Reports from an objective point of view.
Uses information you gained first-hand.
Presents the subject but doesn't try to persuade
Story
Introduces/Describes characters and setting.
Develops the characters (characters change).
Shows characters in action.
Uses dialogue.
Tells how characters react to each other.
Shows characters' emotional responses to situations.
Reveals characters' relationships with each other.
Has characters change as a result of their actions.
Provides motivations for character' behavior or decisions.
Contains conflict within the plot.
Poetry
Clearly sets up subject
Conveys how the subject impacts the poet,
Uses creative, “wordsmithed”wording
Uses images of sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch effectively
Integrates figures of speech—metaphors, similes, personification
Employs effective rhythm, meter, rhyme or not, visual imagery, and other poetic nuances as applicable.