Six Traits Writing Rubric

6 5 4 3 2 1
Exemplary Strong Proficient Developing Emerging Beginning

Ideas & Exceptionally Clear, Evident main Main idea may Purpose and Lacks central
clear, focused, focused, idea with some be cloudy main idea idea;
Content engaging with interesting support which because may be development
main theme relevant, strong ideas with may be general supporting unclear and is minimal or
supporting supporting appropriate or limited detail is too cluttered by non-existent
details detail detail general or even irrelevant
off-topic detail

Organizatio Effectively Strong order Organization is Attempts at Lack of Lack of

organized in and appropriate, but organization; structure; coherence;
n logical and structure conventional may be a list disorganized confusing
structure creative Inviting Attempt at of events and hard to No
introduction manner intro and introduction Beginning and follow identifiable
conclusion Creative and satisfying and conclusion ending not Missing introduction
engaging intro closure developed or weak intro or conclusion
and conclusion and
conclusion

Voice Expressive, Appropriate Evident Voice may be Writing tends Writing is

personality engaging, to audience commitment to inappropriate to be flat or lifeless
sincere and purpose topic or non-existent stiff No hint of the
sense of Strong sense of Writer Inconsistent or Writing may Little or no writer
audience audience behind the dull personality seem hint of writer
Shows words mechanical behind words
emotion: comes
humour, through
honesty,
suspense or life
Word Choice Precise, Descriptive, Language is Words may be Monotonous, Limited range
precision carefully broad range functional and correct but often of words
chosen of words appropriate mundane repetitious, Some
effectiveness Strong, fresh, Word choice Description No attempt at sometimes vocabulary
imagery vivid images energizes s may be deliberate inappropriate misused
writing overdone at choice
times
Sentence High degree of Easy flow Generally in Some awkward Often choppy Difficult to
craftsmanship and rhythm control constructions Monotonous follow or read
Fluency Effective Good Lack variety in Many similar sentence aloud
rhythm, flow variation in variety in length and patterns and patterns Disjointed,
variety sentence length and structure beginnings Frequent confusing,
patterns structure run-on rambling
sentences
Conventions Exceptionally Strong Control of Limited Frequent Numerous
age strong control control of most writing control of significant errors distract
of standard conventions; conventions; conventions; errors may the reader and
appropriate, conventions of errors are occasional frequent errors impede make the text
spelling, caps, writing few and errors with do not interfere readability difficult to
punctuation, minor high risks with read
grammar understanding