Criteria

Lead
Who? What? Where?
When?

Body
Why? How?
Facts and Quotations

Tone and Point of

View

Language and
Style
Language
Conventions
(spelling, punctuation,
sentence structure)

Criteria
Lead
Who? What? Where?
When?

Body
Why? How?
Facts and Quotations

Tone and Point of

View

Language and
Style
Language
Conventions
(spelling, punctuation,
sentence structure)

Level 4

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Below Level

Lead states basic

facts clearly,
concisely, and
effectively
Clearly explains
how and why

Lead states basic

facts clearly and
concisely

Lead states some

basic facts clearly
and concisely

Lead states few

basic facts clearly
and concisely

Lead states little to

no basic facts not
clearly presented

Explains how and

why

Explains how and

why to some extent

Rarely explains
how and why

Does not explain

how and why

Effectively uses
facts and direct and
indirect quotations
to support key
points
Consistently uses
an objective tone
and point of view
that reinforce main
idea
Effectively uses
language and style
appropriate to
intended audience
Consistently uses
language
conventions
correctly

Uses facts and direct

and indirect
quotations to support
key points

Uses some facts and

direct and indirect
quotations to support
key points

Uses few facts and

direct and indirect
quotations to
support key points

Consistently uses an
objective tone and
point of view

Uses an objective
tone and point of view
somewhat
consistently

Inconsistently uses
an objective tone
and point of view

Does not use facts

and/or direct and/or
indirect quotations
to support key
points
Does not use an
objective tone and
point of view

Uses language and

style appropriate to
intended audience

Uses language and

style somewhat
appropriate to
intended audience
Sometimes uses
language conventions
correctly; some major
and/or minor errors

Uses language and

style inappropriate
to intended
audience
Rarely uses
language
conventions
correctly; several
major and/or minor
errors

Level 4

Usually uses
language conventions
correctly; few minor
errors

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Language and style

is inappropriate to
intended audience
Does not use
language
conventions
correctly; many
major and/or minor
errors

Below Level

Lead states basic

facts clearly,
concisely, and
effectively
Clearly explains
how and why

Lead states basic

facts clearly and
concisely

Lead states some

basic facts clearly
and concisely

Lead states few

basic facts clearly
and concisely

Lead states little to

no basic facts not
clearly presented

Explains how and

why

Explains how and

why to some extent

Rarely explains
how and why

Does not explain

how and why

Effectively uses
facts and direct and
indirect quotations
to support key
points
Consistently uses
an objective tone
and point of view
that reinforce main
idea
Effectively uses
language and style
appropriate to
intended audience
Consistently uses
language
conventions
correctly

Uses facts and direct

and indirect
quotations to support
key points

Uses some facts and

direct and indirect
quotations to support
key points

Uses few facts and

direct and indirect
quotations to
support key points

Consistently uses an
objective tone and
point of view

Uses an objective
tone and point of view
somewhat
consistently

Inconsistently uses
an objective tone
and point of view

Does not use facts

and/or direct and/or
indirect quotations
to support key
points
Does not use an
objective tone and
point of view

Uses language and

style appropriate to
intended audience

Uses language and

style somewhat
appropriate to
intended audience
Sometimes uses
language conventions
correctly; some major
and/or minor errors

Uses language and

style inappropriate
to intended
audience
Rarely uses
language
conventions
correctly; several
major and/or minor
errors

Usually uses
language conventions
correctly; few minor
errors

Language and style

is inappropriate to
intended audience
Does not use
language
conventions
correctly; many
major and/or minor
errors