CATEGORY

4

3

2

1

Ideas

Ideas were expressed in a clear and organized fashion. It was easy to figure out what the letter was about.

Ideas were expressed in a pretty clear manner, but the organization could have been better.

Ideas were somewhat organized, but were not very clear. It took more than one reading to figure out what the letter was about.

The letter seemed to be a collection of unrelated sentences. It was very difficult to figure out what the letter was about.

Format and Organization

Complies with all the requirements for a formal letter. -has a clear beginning, middle, and end -main idea and supporting details of each paragraph are clear; paragraphs are linked to each other

Complies with almost all the requirements for a formal letter. -has a beginning, middle, and end -main idea and supporting details of each short paragraph are clear; paragraphs are linked to each other

Complies with several of the requirements for a formal letter. -has a beginning, middle, and end -some attempt to structure paragraphs; sentences and paragraphs are somewhat related

Complies with little of the requirements for a formal letter. -little evidence of beginning, middle, and end -no evidence of paragraphs; sentences and are minimally related

Communication

The purpose of the letter is clear; -the writer's voice is clear, providing a sense of who the writer is and making the letter seem genuine; -extensive vocabulary is effective and engaging

The purpose of the letter is clear; -the writer's voice is evident, providing some sense of who the writer is and making the letter seem genuine; -variety in the vocabulary

The purpose of the letter is somewhat clear; -some evidence of the writer's voice; -some variety in the vocabulary

The purpose of the letter is unclear; -little or no evidence of the writer's voice; -limited variety in the vocabulary

Salutation and Closing

Inside Address, Date, Salutation and closing have no errors in capitalization and punctuation. Placement of items is correct.

Inside Address, Date, Salutation and closing have 1-2 errors in capitalization and punctuation. Placement of items is correct.

Inside Address, Date, Salutation and closing have 3 or more errors in capitalization and punctuation. Placement of items is somewhat correct.

Inside Address, Date, Salutation and/or closing are missing. Placement of items is mostly incorrect.

Grammar & spelling (conventions)

Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling.

Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar and/or spelling.

Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar and/or spelling

Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar and/or spelling.