Name: ______Date: ______

Open-Ended Scoring RubricPeriod: ______

HOLISTIC SCORING RUBRIC- OPEN-ENDED WRITING

CATEGORY / VALUE / 4 / ADVANCED PROFICIENT / 3 / PROFICIENT / 2 / PARTIAL PROFICIENT / 1 / BASIC
Restatement of Opening Statement
Value = 10% / Student correctly restates opening statement with zero errors OR student has some form of a strong introductory phrase/sentence. / Student restates opening statement with almost no errors OR student has some form of a strong introductory phrase/sentence. / Student restates opening statement, but with numerous errors. / Student does not restate opening statement
Answer All Questions
Value = 20% / Student provides an accurate and clear answer to the question. The question is clearly rephrased in a way that the reader knows what question the student is responding to.
If there is more than one bullet/question then the student has multiple paragraphs. / Student provides an accurate answer to the question.
The question is rephrased in a way that gives the reader some idea of what the student is responding to.
If there is more than one bullet/question then the student attempts to respond in multiple paragraphs. / Student provides an answer to the question which may or may not be correct.
The question is not effectively rephrased, causing the reader confusion.
If there is more than one bullet/question the student has chosen not to respond to all requirements. / Student does not answer the question and/or is off task/topic. Student may have only answered one question.
If there is more than one bullet/question the student has only written a small amount of sentences as a response.
Citing Text Evidence
Value = 30% / Student cites accurate and relevant evidence from the text.
Text evidence is clearly explained with detail and supportive of the student’s answer. / Student cites evidence from the text.
Text evidence is somewhat explained as relevant and supportive of the student’s answer. / Student refers to evidence from the text but is not specific.
Text evidence is barely explained and does not support student’s answer. / Student does not cite or use any evidence from the text to support his or her answer.

CATEGORY / VALUE / 4 - ADVANCED PROFICIENT / 3 - PROFICIENT / 2 – PARTIALLY PROFICIENT / 1-BASIC / PARTIAL PROFICIENT / 1 / BASIC
Extending Answer with Meaningful Connection
Value = TOTAL 30%
Detailed Response and background information/Analysis
Part I / Example is thorough, provides background information, and relates specifically to the stated theme/writing topic/text evidence. Analysis is relevant and demonstrates a deeper understanding of the text and student’s ability to ask him/herself “why” the character does or says something or “why” the author writes a certain way or feels a certain way. / A specific example is identified, but may lack some detail and important background information. Examples and responses may have drifted a bit and may have lost focus in some parts. Analysis is relevant and demonstrates strong skill, however, could have been a bit deeper. / Example is not thoroughly explained and may not truly connect to a stated theme/writing topic/or text evidence. Responses may be a bit off topic. Analysis is somewhat relevant and demonstrates some understanding of the skill, however, could have gone a bit deeper. / Student makes little attempt to provide any detail within his/her example and does not demonstrate an understanding of analyzing a text.
“MEANINGFUL” CONNECTION
Part II / Student provides a meaningful connection (text to text, text to self, text to world or text to media) that is strong, relevant and important. It enhances his/her writing and makes the response even more impactful. / Student provides a connection that may be relevant but is not as “meaningful” or impactful as it could be OR the connection may lack significant detail. / Student tries to provide a meaningful connection, but it does not connect to the specific text evidence or topic of response, OR the connection may lack significant detail. / Student makes little effort to include a meaningful connection.
CONNECTION back to text or writing topic/ The use of Transition words/phrases
Part III / Student uses connecting words or phrases: “similarly,” “similar to,” “just as,” or “just like”. The connection to the text evidence or writing topic is clear and seamless. / Student uses connecting words or phrases: “similarly,” “similar to,” “just as,” or “just like”. The connection to the text evidence or writing topic is clear, but may lack a few specific, and needed, connecting ideas. / Student does not utilize connecting transition words/phrases but attempts to make a connection back to the text evidence or writing topic which is unsuccessful. / Student makes little effort to connect the example back to the text evidence or writing topic.
Restate Answer for Closure
Recheck your grammar and punctuation
Value = 10% / Student correctly restates his/her answer in a closing statement;. Student uses an acceptable concluding transition and CONNECTS his/her answer back to the original question/topic/theme.
Concluding transitions:
Clearly, Hence, Evidently, Ergo, Therefore, As one can see,
Student’s grammar and punctuation are above average and contain hardly any errors.
Student also tries to include strong transition words/phrases, complex sentences and correct punctuation skills. / Student attempts closure by restating answer.
Student uses an acceptable concluding transition and tries to CONNECT his/her answer back to the original question/topic/theme.
Student’s grammar and punctuation are average and contain few errors.
Student attempts to include transition words/phrases, complex sentences and correct punctuation skills, with a few errors. / Student attempts closure by restating answer
Student uses a concluding transition and tries to CONNECT his/her answer back to the original question/topic/theme but does not do a good job – is not “successful”.
Student’s grammar and punctuation are below average and contain several errors.
Student fails to include transition words/phrases, complex sentences or correct punctuation skills. It’s obvious student did not “recheck” his/her written response. / Student does not restate answer in a closing statement. There are no transitions or they are weak. There is no connection back to the original question/topic/theme.
Student’s grammar and punctuation are below average and contain numerous errors.
Student fails to include transition words/phrases, complex sentences and correct punctuation skills. It’s obvious student did not “recheck” his/her written response.

Updated and modified by Melissa Stauss and her students:Wednesday, November 6, 2013