Name: NARRATIVE CRITERIA SHEET

Descriptors
A B C D E
Knowledge and Understanding of Language Elements
Sequencing Clear and effective sequence of
events in the narrative.
Clear sequence of events. Most events are in an
acceptable sequence.
No effective sequence
demonstrated.
No sequence evident.
Sentence
structure



Writes sentences structured with
a large and varying range of
starters (themes) and uses a wide
variety of connectors
(conjunctions) to join thoughts.
Demonstrates the use of differing
sentence lengths.
Demonstrates the use of a
range of sentence starters
(themes) and joins
sentences appropriately.
Attempts to use a variety
of sentence lengths.
Some variety of sentence
starters evident.
Attempts to joins
sentences appropriately.
Repeatedly uses same
sentence beginnings.
Attempts to join sentences
with the overuse of and as
the connector.
Inappropriate sentence
structure evident. Story
does not make sense.
Grammar Demonstrates consistent and
correct use of a verb in each
sentence. Tense consistent
throughout.
Demonstrates the correct
use of a verb in most
sentences. Tense generally
correct.
Demonstrates the use of
a verb in most sentences.
Tense sometimes needs
editing.
Sentences often constructed
without correct use of the
tense of the verb. No
understanding evident.
No understanding of the
need for a verb is
evident.
Vocabulary Independent and consistent use
of ambitious words and proficient
grasp of vocabulary at a Year
Three level. Effective use of
adjectives and adverbs to make
writing descriptive.
Good use of ambitious
words. Effective use of
vocabulary, including
adjectives to make writing
interesting.
Demonstrates the use of
a satisfactory vocabulary
in the writing of events.
Moderate use of
adjectives and descriptive
words.
Limited demonstration of
vocabulary evident in the
recount of events.
Recount of events
difficult to understand.
Little/no knowledge of
vocabulary
demonstrated.
Punctuation Consistent use of correct capital
letters for beginning sentences
and proper nouns. Consistent and
accurate use of full stops,
question marks and exclamation
marks. Good attempts at using
speech marks for direct speech,
General correct use of
capitals letters for
beginning sentences and
most proper nouns.
Demonstrates an
understanding of the
correct use of end of
Some attempt evident in
the correct use of capital
letters, full stops.
Attempts to use commas
and speech marks, not
always correctly.
Attempts to use
Demonstrates an incorrect
/limited use of capital letters
and full stops . No use of
paragraphs.
No demonstration
evident in the use of
capital letters and full
stops. No use of
paragraphs.
whenever necessary. Uses
paragraphs correctly.
sentence punctuation,
commas. Attempts the use
of quotation marks for
direct speech with few
errors. Generally uses
paragraphs correctly.
paragraphs correctly.
Detail Comprehensive and effective
detail demonstrated.
Reasonable detail
enhancing story line.
Reasonable expansion of
ideas in the story line.
Very simple outline of the
story.
No story line evident.


Spelling
Consistently and independently
utilises common usage words
correctly. Uses phonics to assist
in the spelling of ambitious
words.
Uses common usage words
correctly on most
occasions and attempts to
use phonics in the spelling
of ambitious words.
Spelling errors do not
interfere with the sense.

Generally uses common
usage words correctly
and demonstrates some
skills in the use of phonics
to assist spelling. Spelling
errors do not interfere
with the sense. .
Limited, correct use of
common usage words and
little phonetic skills evident
in spelling. Frequency of
spelling errors interferes
with the sense of the writing.

Most words spelt
incorrectly, affecting
the understanding of
the reader. Spaces
between words often
missed.
Knowledge and Understanding of Text
A B C D E
Editing Consistently and independently
demonstrates the skills of editing:
deletes unnecessary words, adds
missing words, corrects
punctuation, circles unknown
spelling and seeks advice on
corrections.
Demonstrates most of the
skills of editing: deletes
unnecessary words, adds
missing words, circles
unknown spelling and
attempts corrections.
Circles unknown spelling and
attempts corrections
Little attempt at
editing full stops and
capital letters.
No attempt at editing
Narrative
structure
Demonstration of clear
introduction, comprehensive
body/complication and effective
Reasonable attempt
evident to introduce the
narrative, followed by
Demonstrates an
understanding of narrative
structure. Attempts to
Little understanding
evident of narrative
structure. Limited
No structure evident
conclusion in the storyline. detailed body with
complications and suitable
conclusion.
develop the story and
conclude.
evidence of
storyline.
Character
and Setting:
Effective description and
development of characters and
setting throughout the narrative,
creating place and mood.
Description and
development of characters
and setting is attempted,
creating place and mood
throughout the text.
Characters and setting
introduced in orientation
phase.
Characters and
settings are poorly
introduced by
names. Character
roles can be
included.
Insufficient inclusion of
characters and setting.
Understandi
ng of
Purpose/Au
dience
Appeal and
moral
Demonstrates an understanding
and ability to make the writing
appeal to the reader by making
the story comprehensive,
interesting/exciting and
entertaining.
Attempts to make the
writing detailed enough to
be interesting, exciting and
entertaining.
Some understanding of
purpose evident, but writing
lacks full detail and reader
appeal.
Limited evidence of
purpose, detail or
interest level.
No evidence of purpose
exhibited.