CATEGORY

4

3

2

1

NS/0

Content: FOCUS 1

Topic/subject is clear, though it may/may not be explicitly stated.

Topic/subject is generally clear though it may not be explicitly stated.

Topic/subject may be vague.

Topic/subject is unclear or confusing.

This code may be used for compositions that are entirely illegible or otherwise unscorable: blank responses, responses written in a foreign language, restatements of the prompt, responses that are off-topic or incoherent.

Content: ORGANIZATION 1

Organizational structure establishes relationship between/among ideas/events.

Organizational structure establishes relationships between ideas/events, although minor lapses may be present.

Organizational structure establish some relationship between/among some of the ideas/events. The structure is minimally complete.

Organizational structure does not establish connection between/among ideas/events. The overall stucture is incomplete or confusing.

This code may be used for compositions that are entirely illegible or otherwise unscorable: blank responses, responses written in a foreign language, restatements of the prompt, responses that are off-topic or incoherent.

Content: SUPPORT

Support information is related to and supportive of the topic/subject.

Support information has minor weaknesses in relatedness to and/or support of the topic/subject.

Support information has major weaknesses in relatedness to and/or support of the topic/subject.

An attempt has been made to add support information, but it was unrelated or confusing.

This code may be used for compositions that are entirely illegible or otherwise unscorable: blank responses, responses written in a foreign language, restatements of the prompt, responses that are off-topic or incoherent.

Content: FOCUS 2

Maintains focus on topic/subject throughout response.

May exhibit minor lapses in focus on topic/subject.

May lose or may exhibit major lapses in focus on topic/subject.

May fail to establish focus on topic/subject.

This code may be used for compositions that are entirely illegible or otherwise unscorable: blank responses, responses written in a foreign language, restatements of the prompt, responses that are off-topic or incoherent.

Content: ELABORATION

Elaboration consists of specific, developed details.

Elaboration consists of some specific details.

Elaboration consists of general and/or undeveloped details, which may be presented in a list-like fashion.

Elaboration is sparse; almost no details.

This code may be used for compositions that are entirely illegible or otherwise unscorable: blank responses, responses written in a foreign language, restatements of the prompt, responses that are off-topic or incoherent.