Focus on a strong central idea, a clear purpose, and an understanding of audience

A unified structure, effective organization, and strong transitions

A unique perspective with ideas and details to appeal to the audience , and precise, rich language that expresses ideas and engages the reader

Rhythmic and flowing language, and varied sentences

Mechanical and grammatical accuracy

Capable

Adequately developed ideas with

sufficient use of relevant supporting 4 evidence and details that are

somewhat appropriate to the prompt, task, purpose, and audience

Capable

A generally cohesive structure with a clear introduction and conclusion and some use of transitions

Capable

Writing that shows limited personality, a style that is appropriate to the topic, interesting language with some variation of words, and adequate use of specific words and academic vocabulary

Capable

Easy-to-follow sentences with some variation in length and structure

Capable

Some errors in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and spelling that do not significantly affect the writing

Emerging

Suggestion of a controlling idea;

demonstration of minimal
2 understanding of the prompt,

purpose, and audience; and completion of few parts of the task

Emerging

Little paragraph structure and cohesiveness, a poor introduction, a poor conclusion, and few transitions

Emerging

Writing that shows unclear and inconsistent personality, an inappropriate style, uninteresting language, no variation in word choice, and infrequent use of specific words and academic vocabulary

Emerging

Sentences that are too simple or incomplete, and choppy writing

Emerging

Consistent errors in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and spelling that significantly interfere with the writing