Informational/Expository Writing Rubric
6
Focus
Analysis
Exemplary understanding of
task.
Clear understanding of
task.
Clear, specific focus is
maintained.
Specific focus is
maintained.
Critically engages with the
task.
Engages with the task.
Specific focus is ​mostly
maintained.
Some understanding of
task.
General focus is
maintained, but specific
focus may not be.
2
Weak understanding of task
General focus is ​mostly
maintained, but specific focus
may not be.
1
Little or no understanding of
task.
Little or no focus.
Minimally engages with the task.
Demonstrates little or no
understanding of the task.
Presents a thoughtful
analysis that discusses
implications and
complications of the
subject.
Presents an analysis that
recognizes implications
and complications of the
subject.
Analysis is oversimplified
or imprecise.
Weak or inconsistent skill in
presenting an analysis.
Little or no skill in presenting
an analysis.
Implications or complications
are not included.
Purposeful movement
between specific details
and generalized ideas.
Clear movement between
specific details and
generalized ideas.
Implications or complications
are not clearly relevant.
Any connections between
specific details and generated
ideas are unclear or incomplete.
Lacks connections between
specific details and generalized
ideas.
Development is mostly
elaborated, specific and
logical.
Development is
adequate.
Development is limited
and repetitious.
Thinly developed with general
ideas that are not clearly
relevant.
Minimally developed or
repetitive.
Clear and somewhat
developed introduction
and conclusion.
Underdeveloped
introduction and
conclusion.
Clear, logical, but
predictable
organization.
Apparent, somewhat
logical, but predictable
organization.
Simple organization with
little or no logical
sequencing of ideas.
Variety of transitions.
Attempts a variety of
transitions
Transitions are simple
and obvious.
Tone is appropriate and
maintained throughout the
response.
Tone is appropriate and
maintained throughout
most of the response.
Tone is appropriate, but
may be inconsistently
maintained.
Tone is somewhat
appropriate, but are
inconsistently maintained.
Varied and precise sentences
and word choice.
Somewhat varied and
precise sentences and
word choice.
Adequate sentence
variety and appropriate
word choice.
Attempts sentence variety
and word choice.
​
Development is thorough,
ample, specific, and logical.
Effective, clear,
well-developed introduction
and conclusion.
Clear, logical organization.
Effective, integrated
transitions.
Language
Understanding of task.
3
Usually engages with the
task.
Skillful movement between
specific details and generalized
ideas.
Organization
4
Adequately engages with
the task.
Presents a complex analysis
that addresses implications and
complications of the subject.
Development
5
Clear, generally
well-developed
introduction and
conclusion.
Implications or
complications are only
somewhat clear or
relevant.
Minimal introduction and
conclusion.
Missing introduction or
conclusion.
Some indication of a simple
organizational structure.
There is little or no evidence of
an organizational structure.
Transitions may be inappropriate
or misleading.
Transitions are rarely used.
Tone may not be appropriate.
Tone is not appropriate.
Sentence structure and word
choice are ​usually
​ simple.
Sentence structure and word
choice are ​always simple.
Conventions
Few, if any, ​distracting errors.
A few errors, but they
are rarely distracting.
Some distracting errors,
but they do not impede
understanding.
NO SCORE: Blank, off-topic, illegible, not in English, or void
Errors are distracting and
occasionally impede
understanding.
Frequent distracting errors that
sometimes impede
understanding.
Frequent distracting errors that
significantly impede
understanding.