Fort Smith Writing Assessment Rubric

Consistent Control - 4 / Reasonable Control - 3 / Inconsistent Control -2 / Little or No Control – 1
CONTENT
  • Central idea
  • Elaboration
  • Unity
  • Organization
/ *Clear central idea
*Clear, specific supporting details
*Transitions, point of view, closure
*Clear organization, appropriate for
purpose / *Clear central idea
*Focused
*Point of view may shift
*Sense of closure
*May be repetitive / *Central idea may not be clear
*May not be focused
*May have more than one idea
*Weak progression
*No elaboration, listy / *Unclear
*May have central idea,
but little else
*No elaboration
*Focus shifts
*Random organization
Style:
  • Selected Vocabulary
  • Selected Information
  • Sentence Variety
  • Tone
  • Voice
/ *Purposefully chosen vocabulary
*Precise, vivid, descriptive
*Sustained throughout
*Information that promotes message
*De-selects info that isn’t purposeful
*Variety in sentences
*Strong voice / *Some specific vocabulary, not sustained
*Less Precise
*Not as selective in info.
*Not just one type sentence
*Apparent voice / *Functional, basic vocab.
*Not much info selected for
effect
*Choppy sentences, awkward
*Same sentence pattern
over and over
*Inconsistent tone and voice / *Very anemic
*Info. is sparse and not
controlled
*Stilted, choppy
sentences
*Flat tone and voice
Sentence Formation
  • Completeness
  • No run-ons
  • Expansion/not choppy
  • Subordination and
modifiers / *Control of variety of sentence
structures
*Ideas are combined and embedded
with skill
*Fragments may be used for effect / *Sentences not as skillful as a “4”
*May have some weaknesses (run-ons,
fragments), but majority well-
constructed.
*No skill in subordinating or combining / *May have too many run-ons,
comma splices, and fragments.
*A pattern of missing words / *Often there is one long
sentence with no
punctuation or
capitalization
*Period may be placed
arbitrarily.
Usage:
  • Standard Inflections
  • Agreement
  • Word Meaning
  • Conventions
/ *All features are handled well / *Enough errors in one or more
features to conclude control is not
consistent / *Significant weakness shown in
several features.
*Reading is interrupted due to
errors. / *Many errors
*Reading and
understanding are
impeded
Mechanics:
  • Capitalization
  • Punctuation
  • Formatting
  • Spelling
/ *All features are handled well / *Some errors in one or more features
may be present, but control is
reasonable / *Many errors across all
features / *Serious errors across all
features

Content = ______Style = ______Sentence Formation =______Usage = ______Mechanics = ______Total _____/20