NJASK Rubric 1-6 for Essays and Stories
| | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Content and Organization · Hook · Effective conclusion · Content is focused · Details are provided for persuasive, textual, or narrative evidence · paragraphing | o missing hook o missing conclusion o off-topic, too much unnecessary information o paragraphs are disorganized or mushed together o missing topic sentences for paragraphs o lacks transitions o details lack specificity and clarity o not backed up o you are left wondering “What? Who? How? How do you know?” | o has hook o opening and closing present o single focus o transitions evident o paragraphs are easy to follow o paragraphs may lack an intro or concluding sentence o uneven development of background info and specific details—you are left wondering “What? Who? How? How do you know?” | o strong opening and closing o interesting hook o unified paragraphs o topic and concluding sentences for each paragraph o logical progression o transitions evident o compositional risks (figurative language, high level punctuation) o answers all the questions a reader may have | o high-level hook o distinct focus o well-developed paragraphs with topic and concluding sentences o compositional risks effective o details effective, vivid, important to topic o goes above and beyond what the reader may question by providing deep insight |
| Usage · Tense · Pronouns · Word choice | o Patterns of errors evident o Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are simple and repeated | o Errors that do not interfere o Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are varied and interesting | o Few errors o Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are specific, high-level, and vivid | o Very few, if any errors o Adjectives, verbs, and nouns are specific, high-level, and vivid |
| Sentence Construction · Variety of sentence types · Correct usage of subject and predicate · Sentences start with variety | o Sentences start off the same way many times o Repetitiveness o Numerous errors o Sentence fragments/incomplete sentences | o Some repeated sentence types o A few incomplete sentences | o Variety of sentence types o Few errors in sentence structure o Easy to read | o Very few, if any errors, o Complex o Compound-complex o Compound o Simple sentences used o Exciting to read o Easy to read |
| Mechanics · Spelling · Capitalization · Punctuating dialogue · Punctuation | o Patterns of errors o Same words used incorrectly repeatedly | o No pattern evident o Errors do not interfere | o Few errors | o Few, if any, errors |