ISTEP+ Writing Applications Overview - Grades 6-12

Score Level / Ideas and Content / Organization / Style / Voice
Does the writing sample: / Does the writing sample: / Does the writing sample: / Does the writing sample:
6 / -fully accomplish the task (i.e., support an opinion, summarize…
  • present a unifying theme or main idea with going of on tangents?
  • stay completely focused?
-include thorough, relevant, and complete ideas? / -present a meaningful, cohesive whole with a beginning, middle & end w/ an inviting introduction & strong conclusion?
-progress in an order that enhances meaning
-include smooth transitions (topic sentences) betweens sentences and paragraphs to enhance meaning of text? / -exhibit exceptional word usage – include vocabulary to make explanations detailed and precise, rich descriptions, clear actions
-demonstrate exceptional writing technique?
-is the writing exceptionally fluent? / -demonstrate effective adjustment of language and tone to task and reader?
-exhibit appropriate tone (formal, personal) to suit task?
-demonstrates a strongsense of audience?
-exhibit an original perspective (i.e., lively)
5 / -fully accomplish the task?
  • present a unifying theme or main idea with going of on tangents?
  • stay focused?
-include many relevant ideas? / -present a meaningful, cohesive whole with a beginning, middle & end
-progress in an order that enhances meaning of text?
-include smooth transitions (topic sentences) between sentences and paragraphs to enhance meaning of text? / - exhibit very good word usage
- includes vocabulary to make explanations that are detailed and precise
-demonstrate very good writing technique?
-is the writing very fluent? / -demonstrate effective adjustment of language and tone to task and reader?
-exhibit appropriate tone (formal, personal) to suit task?
-demonstrate a sense of audience? (i.e., lively)
4 / - accomplish the task?
  • present a unifying theme or main idea (may include minor tangents)
  • stay mostly focused?
-include relevant ideas? / - are the ideas presented logically?
-present a meaningful, cohesive whole with a beginning, middle & end despite an occasional lapse
-include transitions (may be rough)
-some topic sentences / - exhibit good word usage
-demonstrate very good writing technique?
-is the writing fluent? / -generally exhibit appropriate tone (formal, personal) to suit task?
-demonstrate some sense of audience?
3 / - minimally accomplish the task?
-include some relevant ideas? / -have a beginning, middle & end that may be weak or absent?
-demonstrate an attempt at order?
-demonstrate an attempt to include transitions? / - exhibit ordinary word usage
-demonstrate mostly simple sentences
-generally ordinary & predictable? / - demonstrate difficulty in establishing a tone
-demonstrate little sense of audience?
-lacks original perspective
2 / - attempt a main idea?
- includes few relevant ideas? / -only have one or two of the 3 elements?
-sometimes difficult to follow? / - contain limited vocabulary
- have simple sentences? / -difficulty choosing an appropriate tone?
-lacks a sense of audience
1 / - fails to accomplish task?
- difficult to discern a main idea? / -illogically organized?
-difficult to follow? / - words used incorrectly?
- lacks fluency?
- sentence pattern problems? / -use an inappropriate tone
-no sense of audience
-no original register