Above Standard / 3
At Standard / 2 Approaching Standard / 1
Below Standard
Structure: 5 paragraphs (introduction, body and conclusion) / 5 well-crafted paragraphs; with smooth transitions between paragraphs and wrap up statements for each / 5 paragraphs with transitions between paragraphs
and wrap up statements for each / 5 paragraphs; missing some transitions or wrap up statements / Missing one of the five paragraphs; missing transitions and wrap up statements
Introduction: thesis or big idea; 3elements stated, supporting ideas included; angled retelling; title, author and character identification / Compelling thesis statement and 3elements stated, supporting ideas; brief and angled retelling that fits into thesis / Clear thesis statement and 3 supporting ideas; brief and angled retelling / A thesis statement that lacks clarity; missing or irrelevant supporting ideas; retelling is not angled to support thesis; may be missing title, author or character identification / No clear thesis statement; missing supporting ideas; retelling incomplete and irrelevant; no retelling; missing title, author or character identification
Body: 3 body paragraphs that support ideas with evidence from text to support those ideas. Evidence zooms in and links to thesis statement. / Begins with lead sentence. Interesting topic sentence; 3 supporting ideas with well-chosen evidence from text to support ideas. Evidence zooms in and links to thesis statement. / Begins with lead sentence. Topic sentence; 3 supporting ideas with evidence from text to support ideas. Evidence zooms in and links to thesis statement. / Topic sentence unclear; missing a supporting idea; some evidence doesn’t fit ideas or is missing.
Lead sentence missing. / Missing topic sentence; missing supporting idea/s; missing evidence
lead sentence
Conclusion: makes connections to your life or the world / Powerful ending that makes a connection to your life or the world. Thesis statement is stated. Clear wrap up. / Ending that makes a connection to your life or the world. Thesis statement is stated. Clear wrap up. / Ending attempts to make a connection to your life or the world. Thesis statement is stated. / Ending with little or no connection to your life or the world
Thesis statement and wrap up statement are missing.
Conventions: Grammar, spelling and punctuation; including underlining or italicizing book title / Almost perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation / Some mistakes in grammar, spelling and punctuation / A number of mistakes in grammar, spelling and punctuation / Many mistakes in grammar, spelling and punctuation
Rubric for the 5-Paragraph Literary Essay
Name______