3rd Grade Writing Scoring Guide

Missouri Assessment Program: Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4 3 2 1
Organization – Organization Organization Organization Organization
Beginning, Has an effective beginning, Has a beginning, middle, Has evidence of a May lack evidence of a
middle, and end and end beginning, middle, and end beginning, middle, and end
Middle, and End
Focus Focus Focus Focus
Focus Contains a clear controlling Contains a controlling Contains a general sense of Is difficult to follow and/or
idea that is fully developed direction, but may lack lacks focus
idea
focus
Development- Development Development Development Development
Topic, Main Idea, Clearly addresses the topic Addresses the topic and Generally addresses the Attempts to address the
Details and provides specific and uses relevant topic and provides specific topic, but lacks
relevant details details/examples and relevant details development
Complete Sentences Complete Sentences Complete Sentences Complete Sentences
Complete Consistently uses complete Generally uses complete Contains some incomplete Includes incomplete
sentences sentences sentences which may be sentences which are
Sentences distracting to the reader distracting to the reader
Vocabulary Vocabulary Vocabulary Vocabulary
Vocabulary Contains words that are Contains some words that Words tend to be repetitive, Words are consistently
specific, accurate, and are specific, accurate, and imprecise, and ordinary repetitive, dull, and
suited to the topic related to the topic colorless
Mechanics and Spelling Mechanics and Spelling Mechanics and Spelling Mechanics and Spelling

Mechanics and Contains few errors in
grammar/usage, punctuation,
Spelling capitalization, and/or spelling
May contain some errors in
grammar/usage, punctuation,
capitalization, and/or spelling
which are not significantly
distracting to the reader
Contains errors in
grammar/usage, punctuation,
capitalization, and/or spelling
which may be distracting to
the reader
Contains repeated errors in
grammar/usage, punctuation,
capitalization, and/or spelling
which may be distracting to
the reader