Six Traits Writing Rubric

6 5 4 3 2 1
Developin Beginnin
Exemplary Strong Proficient g Emerging g

Clear, Evident Main idea Lacks

Ideas & Exceptionally focused, main may Purpose and central
idea with main idea
Content clear, focused, interesting some be cloudy may idea;
support be unclear development
main theme engaging with ideas with which because and is
supporting relevant, may be
details strong appropriate general supporting cluttered by minimal or
supporting irrelevant
detail detail or limited detail is too detail non-existent
general or
even
off-topic
Organizati Organization
on Effectively Strong order is Attempts at Lack of Lack of
and

structure organized in structure appropriate, organization; structure; coherence;

may be a

introduction logical and Inviting intro but list disorganized confusing

creative and No

conclusion manner satisfying conventional of events and hard to identifiable

Beginning introduction
Creative and closure Attempt at and follow or
engaging intro introduction ending not Missing or conclusion
and weak intro
and conclusion conclusion developed and
conclusion
Appropriate Writing
Voice Expressive, to Evident Voice may be tends Writing is
engaging, commitment inappropriat

personality sincere audience and to e to be flat or lifeless

sense of Strong sense or non- No hint of

audience of purpose topic existent stiff the
Writer Inconsistent Little or no
audience behind or Writing may hint writer
Shows dull
emotion: the words personality seem of writer
humour, comes behind
honesty, through mechanical words
suspense or
life
Word Precise, Words may Limited
Choice carefully Descriptive, Language is be Monotonous, range
broad range functional

precision chosen of and correct but often of words

effectiveness Strong, fresh, words appropriate mundane repetitious, Some

imagery vivid images Word choice Descriptions No attempt sometimes vocabulary

 at
inappropriat
energizes may be deliberate e misused
writing overdone at choice
times
High degree Easy flow Some Often
Sentence of and Generally in awkward choppy Difficult to
construction follow or
Fluency craftsmanship rhythm control s Monotonous read
Good variety Lack variety

rhythm, flow Effective in in Many similar sentence aloud

variety variation in length and length and patterns and patterns Disjointed,
sentence Frequent
patterns structure structure beginnings run- confusing,
on sentences rambling

Convention Strong
s Exceptionally control Control of Limited Frequent Numerous
strong control of errors

age appropriate, of conventions; most writing control of significant distract

spelling, errors are the reader
caps, standard few conventions; conventions; errors may and
frequent make the
punctuation, conventions of and minor occasional errors impede text
do not difficult to
grammar writing errors with interfere readability read
high risks with
understandin
g