CATEGORY

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Focus on Assigned Topic

The entire story is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic.

Most of the story is related to the assigned topic. The story wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic.

Some of the story is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic.

No attempt has been made to relate the story to the assigned topic.

Writing Process

Student devotes a lot of time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works hard to make the story wonderful.

Student devotes sufficient time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, reviewing, and editing). Works and gets the job done.

Student devotes some time and effort to the writing process but was not very thorough. Does enough to get by.

Student devotes little time and effort to the writing process. Doesn't seem to care.

Organization

The essay is very well organized using the five-paragraph essay format. One idea or scene follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions.

The essay is pretty well organized. One idea may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used.

The essay is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear.

Ideas seem to be randomly arranged. The five-paragraph essay structure was not followed.

Spelling and Punctuation

There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft. Character and place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout.

There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft.

There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft.

The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors.

Introduction

First paragraph has a "grabber" or catchy beginning.

First paragraph has a weak "grabber".

A catchy beginning was attempted but was confusing rather than catchy.

No attempt was made to catch the reader's attention in the first paragraph.

Uses Quotes from Book

Quotes match theme and are plentiful enough to illustrate the writer's point of view. Quotes were used very effectively.

Quotes match theme, but more are needed to illustrate the writer's point of view.

Most quotes match the theme. More theme matching quotes are needed to illustrate the writer's point of view.

Quotes do not match theme or what the writer is trying to illustrate or no quotes were used.