CATEGORY

4

3

2

1

Title

Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the story and topic.

Title is related to the story and topic.

Title is present, but does not appear to be related to the story and topic.

No title is added.

Exposition

It has an interesting, vivid exposition that grabs the reader's attention and arouses the interest in the story.

It has a well-organized exposition that does not grab the reader's attention to the story.

It has a clear exposition that may not relate to the whole story.

It lacks an exposition or an interesting beginning.

Conflict

It is very easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.

It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.

It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face but it is not clear why it is a problem.

It is not clear what problem the main characters face.

Plot and Situation

It skillfully develops a plot with complex major and minor characters, rising actions, a climax and falling actions.

It develops a standard plot with complex major and minor characters, rising actions, a climax and falling actions.

It provides a simply developed plot that misses some of its major parts.

It lacks a developed plot line that leads to the readers’ lack of interest.

Narrative Devices/Story Details

Anecdotes and sensory details create a clear sense of the main characters’ thoughts, actions and appearances. It includes a rich range of devices such as suspense, dialogue and action. It skillfully advances the plot and keeps the reader continually informed and entertained.

Anecdotes and sensory details create a sense of the characters’ thoughts, actions and appearances. It includes a considerable range of devices such as suspense, dialogue and action. It advances the plot and keeps the reader informed and entertained.

The writer attempts to use details and/or anecdotes, suspense, dialogue, and action to develop the plot, but with minimal effectiveness.

It lacks details, anecdotes, dialogue, suspense, and/or action

Organization

The story is quite well- organized having effective and skillful sequencing of ideas based on the purpose and the theme. Ideas follow one another in a logical and coherent sequence with clear, interesting transitions.

The story is well-organized with logical sequencing of ideas based on the purpose and linked to the theme. However, a few ideas may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used.

This story is a little hard to follow since many ideas lack unity and coherence. Sequencing is weak, and the transitions are sometimes not clear.

Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged.

Closure/Resolution

The story comes to an intriguing or satisfying ending that enables the reader to predict what could happen next.

The story comes to a clear resolution or deliberately leaves the reader wondering.

The story has a common or forced ending which the reader accepts.

The story trails off with no clear resolution or sense of what will happen.

Word and Language Choice

Words or phrases powerfully convey the intended message and skillfully reveal characters’ looks, actions, feelings, reactions, and conversation. Academic language is imbedded throughout the story.

Precise words or phrases get the message across and reveal characters’ looks, actions, feelings, reactions, and conversation. The student uses academic language to enhance story.

More precise and accurate words are needed to convey a clear message. Some words are inappropriately used or unnecessarily repeated.

The story includes limited vocabulary; many words are inappropriately used or unnecessarily repeated.

Conventions

There are few spelling, usage or punctuation errors in the final draft. Character and place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout.

There are a few spelling, usage or punctuation errors in the final draft, in more complex aspects. However, the errors do not obscure the meaning.

The final draft has some spelling, usage and/or punctuation errors, even in common aspects.

There are many spelling, usage and punctuation errors in the final draft, which obscure the meaning.

Neatness

The final draft of the story is readable, clean, neat and attractive. It is free of erasures and crossed-out words. It looks like the author took great pride in it.

The final draft of the story is readable, neat and attractive. It may have one or two erasures, but they are not distracting. It looks like the author took some pride in it.

The final draft of the story is readable and some of the pages are attractive. It looks like parts of it might have been done in a hurry.

The final draft is not neat or attractive. It looks like the student just wanted to get it done and did not care what it looked like.