Name:___________________________________________________________ Hour:_______

MULTI-GENRE PROJECT: EXPOSITORY RUBRIC

How to Succeed in Middle School
1 2 3 4
Below Standards Approaching Meets Standards Exceeds
Standards Standards
Examples Lacks examples Uses fewer than 3 Uses 3 examples or Uses at least 3
and Details or details OR examples or details details that descriptive
examples do not that may or may not somewhat clarify examples or details
clarify clarify understanding for that clarify
understanding for understanding for the reader understanding for
the reader the reader the reader
Word Uses no examples Uses few examples Uses strong word Uses strong word
Choice of strong word of strong word choice at times to choice throughout
choice choice that do not enhance the the piece to
enhance the readers readers enhance the
understanding understanding readers
understanding
Sentence No variation in Most sentences are Most sentences are Use of short and
Variation sentence structure the same with little the same with some long sentences and
variation in sentence variation in various sentence
structure sentence structure structures
throughout
Transitions No evidence of Used repetitive or Moves the piece Clearly moves the
transitions few transitions along with 1 or 2 piece along with
transition words or several effective
phrases transition words or
phrases
Conventions Contains repeated Contains errors in May contain errors Contains few errors
errors in grammar, in grammar, in grammar,
grammar, punctuation, punctuation, punctuation,
punctuation, capitalization and capitalization and capitalization and
capitalization and spelling spelling, and does spelling
spelling - distracting to the not distract the
distracting to reader reader
reader

TOTAL:___________/20
 Name:___________________________________________________________ Hour:_______

MULTI-GENRE PROJECT: EXPOSITORY PIECE

How to Succeed in Middle School
The purpose of expository writing is to explain, describe, or inform the reader. In this case, we will be
explaining and describing ways that incoming sixth graders can succeed in their first year in middle school.

STEP 1: Use the space below to brainstorm your ideas.

Ways that you prepared for Things you wish you would have Knowledge about sixth
middle school known coming into middle school grade/middle school that is
valuable enough to pass down

STEP 2: Now that you have brainstormed some ideas, circle the three that you think are the best pieces of
information for your reader to know. These are the three ideas that you will use in your paragraph.

STEP 3: It is important for you to use an example or detail to support your information. This will clarify
understanding for your reader, as well as help them understand why this piece of information is relevant or
important.

EXAMPLE 1: _______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 2: _______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLE 3: _______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
Name:___________________________________________________________ Hour:_______

Outline: How To Paragraph

1. Topic sentence (1 sentence):
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
a. Transition and Way to Succeed #1 (1 sentence):
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
i. Example/detail to support this idea (1-2 sentences):
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
b. Transition and Way to Succeed #2 (1 sentence):
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
i. Example/detail to support this idea (1-2 sentences):
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
c. Transition and Way to Succeed #3 (1 sentence):
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
i. Example/detail to support this idea (1-2 sentences):
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

2. Concluding sentence (1 sentence):

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Name:___________________________________________________________ Hour:_______

EXAMPLE HOW TO PARAGRAPH

How to Succeed in College

There are countless things that a person will learn in college, and over my four years, I

learned plenty. I would like to share that knowledge with the incoming freshman class in hopes

of making their adjustment to college life a little easier. First and foremost, it is essential to

complete assignments ahead of time because procrastination will cause excessive stress. I know

this from a firsthand experience my sophomore year of college. I took a self-paced online class

and put off completing my work until a month before the deadline. I had to spend many late

nights rushing through my assignments and stressing out over the possibility of receiving a bad

grade in the class. Furthermore, incoming freshmen should join some sort of activity to meet

new people on campus. I did this by joining a sorority as a freshman where I met some of my

best friends. Finally, freshmen will enjoy college more if they use the resources that their

university provides for them. For instance, I often sought advice from my advisor about what

major I might be interested in and which classes I might like. I loved school because I figured

out that majoring in education would allow me to pursue two of my passions: language arts and

working with children. Overall, if freshmen follow this advice, they should find joy and success

in their first year of college.

TO DO:

1. Underline the topic sentence. (HINT: it is actually two sentences in this case)

2. Circle each transition.

3. Box each way to succeed.

4. Star each example.

5. Put a squiggly underline under the concluding sentence.