Below you will find the rubrics that are used in our classroom. These are the same rubrics that are used on the WASL. Students are asked to write in the narrative (story) and expository (explain) forms. Papers receive scores for Content, Style, and Organization (0-4 points) and Conventions (0-2 points).
Washington Grade 4
Content, Style, and Organization Scoring Guide
(COS)
Points
Description
4
* maintains consistent focus on topic and has selected and relevant details
* has a logical organizational pattern and conveys a sense of completeness and wholeness
* provides transitions which clearly serve to connect ideas
* uses language effectively by exhibiting word choices that are engaging and appropriate for intended audience and purpose
* includes sentences, or phrases where appropriate, of varied length and structure
* allows the reader to sense the person behind the words
3
* maintains adequate focus on the topic and has adequate supporting details
* has a logical organizational pattern and conveys a sense of wholeness and completeness, although some lapses occur
* provides adequate transitions in an attempt to connect ideas
* uses adequate language and appropriate word choices for intended audience and purpose
* includes sentences, or phrases where appropriate, that are somewhat varied in length and structure
* provides the reader with some sense of the person behind the words
2
* demonstrates an inconsistent focus and includes some supporting details, but may include extraneous or loosely related material
* shows an attempt at an organizational pattern, but exhibits little sense of wholeness and completeness
* provides transitions which are weak or inconsistent
* has a limited and predictable vocabulary which may not be appropriate for the intended audience and purpose
* shows limited variety in sentence length and structure
* attempts somewhat to give the reader a sense of the person behind the words
1
* demonstrates little or no focus and few supporting details which may be inconsistent or interfere with the meaning of the text
* has little evidence of an organizational pattern or any sense of wholeness and completeness
* provides transitions which are poorly utilized, or fails to provide transitions
* has a limited or inappropriate vocabulary for the intended audience and purpose
* has little or no variety in sentence length and structure
* provides the reader with little sense of the person behind the words
0
* response is “I don’t know”; response is a question mark (?); response is one word; response is only the title of the prompt; or the prompt is simply recopied
Washington Grade 4
Conventions Scoring Guide
(CON)
Points
Description
2
* Consistently follows the rules of Standard English for usage
* Consistently follows the rules of Standard English for spelling of commonly used words
* Consistently follows the rules of Standard English for capitalization
* Consistently follows the rules of Standard English for punctuation
* Exhibits the use of complete sentences except where purposeful phrases or clauses are used for effect
1
* Generally follows the rules of Standard English for usage
* Generally follows the rules of Standard English for spelling of commonly used words
* Generally follows the rules of Standard English for capitalization
* Generally follows the rules of Standard English for punctuation
* Generally exhibits the use of complete sentences except where purposeful phrases are used for effect
0
* Mostly does not follow the rules of Standard English for usage
* Mostly does not follow the rules of Standard English for spelling of commonly used words
* Mostly does not follow the rules of Standard English for capitalization
* Mostly does not follow the rules of Standard English for punctuation
* Exhibits errors in sentence structure that impede communication