Todd MS Writing Rubric - Grade 7
ORGANIZATION

DEVELOPMENT
Exemplary Organization
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
WORD CHOICE/GRAMMAR USAGE
Exemplary Sentence Structure
Exemplary Word Choice/Grammar Usage
MECHANICS
Exemplary Mechanics
Exemplary Development
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
Score
of 5



Score
of 4
Clearly stated topic sentence/thesis
Strong and logical progression of
ideas
Strong introductory paragraphs,
supporting paragraphs and
concluding paragraph
Smooth transition among sentences,
ideas and paragraphs
Clarify relationship among claim,
reasons and evidence
Effective Organization
 Clearly stated topic sentence
 Clear and logical progression of ideas
 Effective introductory paragraph, supporting
paragraphs and concluding paragraph
 Clear use of transitions among sentences,
ideas and paragraphs
 Thorough development of the assigned task for narrative and
descriptive writing or strong thesis statement for development of
informative and persuasive writing

Strong use of examples, evidence, illustrations, relevant
details, or anecdotes
Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on
narrated experiences , events or claims
Effective Development
Score
of 3
Satisfactory Development
 Satisfactory development of the assigned task for narrative and
descriptive writing or satisfactory thesis statement for
development of informative and persuasive writing
 Satisfactory use of examples, evidence, illustrations, relevant
details, or anecdotes
Limited Organization/Limited Response
 Unclear topic sentence
Score  Limited evidence of a logical progression of
ideas
of 2  Lacks Strong paragraph, supporting
paragraphs and/or concluding paragraph
 Overuse or misuse of transitions
Lack of Evidence of Organization
Score
of 1




Lacks topic sentence
No logical pattern; difficult to follow
Ineffective paragraphing
Little or no transition
Effective Sentence Structure
 Clear development of the assigned task for narrative and
 Complete and correct sentences
descriptive writing or clear thesis statement for development of
 Some sentence variation
informative and persuasive writing
 Simple
 Compound
 Clear use of examples, evidence, illustrations, relevant details, or
anecdotes
 Complex
Evidence is relevant and sufficient to support claims
Satisfactory Organization
 Stated topic sentence
 Some evidence of a logical progression of
ideas
 Adequate introductory paragraph and
concluding paragraph and supporting
paragraphs
 Use of transitions
 Complete and correct sentences
 Vivid, precise/appropriate, relevant, concise
connotative, content specific
 Sentence variation
 Simple
 Consistent grammar usage
 Compound
 Subject/verb agreement
 Complex
 Singular/plural nouns
Vary sentence pattern for meaning, reader
 Verb (tense and usage)
interest, style
 Pronouns agree in number
 Accurate use of Adjective/Adverb forms
 Eliminate wordiness
Limited Development/Limited Response


Satisfactory Sentence Structure
 Minor errors in sentence structure
 Some sentence variation
 Simple
 Compound
 Complex
Limited Sentence Structure/Limited
Response
Limited development of the assigned task for narrative and
descriptive writing or limited thesis statement and development  Contains fragments and/or run-ons
of informative and persuasive writing
 Limited sentence variation
Limited use of examples, evidence, illustrations, relevant
 Simple
details, or anecdotes
 Compound
 Complex
(errors in sentence structure detract)
Lack of Evidence of Development
Lack of Evidence of Sentence Structure
 Little or no development of the assigned task for narrative and
descriptive writing or unclear thesis statement and development
for informative and persuasive writing
 Few or no examples, evidence or relevant details, use of
examples, evidence, illustrations, relevant details, or anecdotes
 Contains numerous fragments and/or runons
 Little or no sentence variation
 Simple
 Compound
 Complex
(errors in sentence structure detract)
Effective Word Choice/Grammar Usage
 May have minor errors but does not
impact readability
 Proficient Punctuation
 Proficient use of Capitalization
 Spelling is accurate; commas are
use to set off parenthetical
expressions and to indicate
possessive case
 Needs little or no editing
Effective Mechanics
 Concise, precise/appropriate, connotative , content
specific
 Mostly consistent grammar usage
 Subject/verb agreement
 Singular/plural nouns
 Exhibits Verb tense consistency
 Sentences are complete
 Adjective/Adverb forms used well
Satisfactory Word Choice/Grammar Usage
 Few errors does not impact readability
 Few Punctuation Errors
 Few Capitalization Errors
 Few Spelling Errors
Commas used to separate items
in a series
 Needs some editing
 Appropriate, specific, somewhat simplistic,
connotative, content specific
 Mostly consistent grammar usage
 Subject/verb agreement
 Singular/plural nouns
 Verb tenses somewhat consistent
 Pronouns usually agree in number
 Adjective/Adverb forms mostly accurate
Limited Word Choice/Grammar Usage
 Some errors may impact readability
 Good Use of Punctuation
 Good Use of
Capitalization
 Spelling mostly accurate
 Needs editing but doesn’t substantially
impede readability
 Vague, redundant, simplistic
 Several inconsistencies in grammar usage
 Subject/verb agreement
 Singular/plural nouns
 Verb (tense and usage)
 Pronoun usage
 Adjective/Adverb
Lack of Evidence of Word Choice/Grammar
Usage
 Frequent errors impacts readability
 Punctuation
 Capitalization
 Spelling
 Begins to impede readability
substantially
 Rambling, inappropriate, incorrect, unclear
 Distracting inconsistencies in grammar usage
 Subject/verb agreement
 Singular/plural nouns
 Verb (tense and usage)
 Pronoun usage
 Adjective/Adverb
Satisfactory Mechanics
Limited Mechanics
Lack of Evidence of Mechanics
 Serious and consistent errors
readability greatly impacted
 Punctuation
 Capitalization
 Spelling
 Impedes understanding/communication
FINAL
6/18/12