WGSD - Narrative - Based Rubric, Grade 4

Trait/CCSS 4 3 2 1
(Above Grade Level) (At Grade Level) (Approaching Grade Level) (Below Grade Level)

Organization Coherently organizes a Organizes a clear event Organizes some Does not sequence
CCSS - clear event sequence that sequence that unfolds sequencing but might narrative in a logical
W.4.3 a,c,d unfolds naturally confuse the reader order
naturally
W.4.4
Skillfully connects a Uses a variety of Uses some transitional Uses few to no
variety of transitional transitional words and words and phrases to transitional words and
words and phrases to phrases to manage the manage the sequence of phrases to manage the
manage the sequence of sequence of events events sequence of events
events Provides a conclusion that Attempts a conclusion Does not provide a
Provides a conclusion follows from the narrated that may or may not discernible conclusion
that clearly follows from experience or events follow the narrated
the narrated experience experience or events
or events

Ideas Responds skillfully to all
CCSS - parts of the prompt
W.4.3a,b Purposefully orients the
W.4.4 reader by skillfully
establishing a vivid situation
(real or imagined) and
introducing characters
and/or a narrator
Uses creative descriptions
of actions, thoughts, and
feelings to develop
experiences and events
Uses vivid dialogue to show
the response of characters
to situations
Uses concrete words and
sensory details to make
experiences and events
come to life
Responds to all parts of the
prompt
Orients the reader by
establishing a situation (real
or imagined) and introducing
characters and/or a narrator
Uses descriptions of actions,
thoughts, and feelings to
develop experiences and
events
Uses dialogue to show the
response of characters to
situations
Uses concrete words and
sensory details to convey
experiences and events
precisely
Responds to most parts Responds to some or no
of the prompt parts of the prompt
Establishes a situation Fails to establish a
(real or imagined) and situation (real or
attempts to introduce imagined) and does not
characters and/or introduce characters
narrator and/or narrator in a
Uses minimal or relevant way
irrelevant descriptions of Uses little or no
actions, thoughts, or description of actions,
feelings to describe thoughts, or feelings to
experiences/events describe
Uses dialogue to support experiences/events
plot Does not use dialogue
Attempts to use concrete to support plot
words and sensory Fails to use concrete
details to describe words or sensory details
experiences and events
Conventions Effective and consistent Adequate use of grammar Inconsistent use of Errors in grammar are
CCSS - L.4.2 use of grammar conventions grammar conventions frequent and severe and
a,b,c,d conventions Capitalizes correctly and meaning is often
Capitalizes correctly and
Capitalizes correctly and consistently with minor consistently with some obscure
consistently with no errors errors Capitalizes incorrectly
errors Uses commas before a Uses commas before a Uses punctuation
Uses commas before a coordinating conjunction in coordinating conjunction incorrectly
coordinating conjunction compound sentence and in compound sentences Misapplies grade-level
in a compound sentence to mark direct speech and and to mark direct spelling rules; excessive
and to mark direct quotations from a text speech and quotations errors interfere with
speech and quotations correctly most of the time from a text correctly readability
from a text correctly all Applies grade-level some of the time.
the time spelling rules with few to Applies some grade-level
Applies grade-level no errors spelling rules; some
spelling rules with no errors interfere with
errors readability

Sentence Uses purposeful and Uses correct and varied Uses some repetitive yet Does not demonstrate
Fluency varied sentence sentence structures with correct sentence sentence mastery
CCSS - L4.1f structures no fragments or run-ons structures

Word Choice Utilizes precise and Utilizes strong and Utilizes vague or basic Utilizes incorrect and/or
CCSS - L4.6 sophisticated word choice grade-level appropriate word choice simplistic word choice
word choice