Authors Name: _____________________________ Per.

_____ Date: __________ Topic: _______________________

Fictional Narrative: Scoring Rubric

10 20 30 40

Organization

The story is missing either a beginning or an end. The relationship between events is often confusing.

The story does not have a clear beginning, middle, or an end. The sequence of events is sometimes confusing.

The story has a beginning, middle, and end. The events follow in some logical sequence.

The story has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. The beginning engages readers by presenting them with details of characters, setting, or plot. The climax is exciting and the resolution is realistic and believable. The story follows a logical sequence. The writer offers a clear, central theme or a simple story line that is memorable. The topic is narrowed to create a piece that is clear, tight, and manageable. The writer provides enough critical evidence to support the theme and shows insight on the topic. Details are accurate and credible and create pictures in the readers mind, from the beginning through the end.

Ideas

The writer has not settled on a topic, and therefore, may only offer a series of unfocused, repetitious, or random thoughts. The topic has not been narrowed in a meaningful way; its hard to tell what is important because the writer devotes equal importance to each piece of information. The piece is so short that the reader cannot fully understand or appreciate what the author intended to say. After reading the piece, the reader is left with questions.

The writer offers a recognizable but broad theme or storyline. The piece goes off topic in places, or does not focus on a specific aspect of the topic. The writer does not develop the topic deeply enough but instead gives the reader only a glimpse at aspects of the topic. The writer does not create pictures in the readers mind because key questions about the central theme or story line have not been addressed.

The writer offers a recognizable but broad theme or storyline. The piece stays on topic, but in a predictable way. The writer needs to crystallize the topic around a central theme or story line. The writer draws on personal knowledge and experience, but does not offer a unique perspective. The writer offers details but they do not always hit the mark because they are inaccurate or irrelevant.

Elements of Fiction

10 The plot is hard to follow. The conflict is not developed and may not be resolved in a logical way. The characters are described rather than established through dialogue, action, and thoughts. They lack individuality and do not change. Dialogue may be nonexistent, or it may all sound alike. The setting may be vague. The point of view keeps shifting. Numerous errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, and spelling interfere with meaning. Dialogue may be indistinguishable from narrative, or it may lack essential elements, such as quotation marks or end punctuation.

Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, and Spelling

20 The plot may be hard to follow in places. The conflict is established and resolved, but it lacks development. The characters are described rather than established through dialogue, action, and thoughts. They show little growth or change. Dialogue for all characters may sound similar. The setting is identified but not clearly described. The point of view is often inconsistent. There are many errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. These sometimes make the story had to understand. Dialogue is punctuated and formatted inconsistently.

30 The plot makes sense, and the conflict is established, developed, and resolved after a climax. Some characters are well-developed through dialogue, actions, and thoughts. Most dialogue sounds realistic. Main characters grow or change during the story. The setting is clear and some sensory language is used to describe it. The point of view is clear, but may be inconsistent in places. There are some errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. Dialogue may have minor errors in punctuation or format.

40 The plot is interesting and the conflict is established, developed, and resolved after a gripping climax. Most characters are well-developed through dialogue, actions, and thoughts. Dialogue sounds realistic. Main characters change or grow during the story. The setting is described through vivid sensory language. The point of view is consistent.

There are few or no errors in mechanics, usage, grammar, or spelling. Dialogue is punctuated and formatted correctly.

Cover Page: Rough Draft: Working Draft: Self-Assessment:

______ / 10 points ______ /10 points ______ /10 points ______ /10 points Total Points: ________/200