Grade 8

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

Stru&ture r Narrative cohesion: Main character's I Main characteros motivation and response t Main character's motivation I Main character's motivation
l

motivation and response to the event to the event connected and response to the event not and response to the event not
i
\ connected I Story begins in the midst of action clearly connected clearly connected
'i

t Story begins in the midst of action Writer begins to use problem/solution t Story is somewhat a summary I Story is a summary
r
,,

Writer uses problem/solution structure stnrcture . Unclear path to the resolution of . Problem and resolution are
r Plot contains/mentions an historic event I Plot contains/mentions an historic event the problem unrelated
Elaboration Story retold step by step, not a summary Story retold step by step, not a $ummary Story is somewhat a summary Story is a summary
/ Show Plot and personal struggle of character is Plot and personal struggle of character is Plot and personal struggle of Each action/step told in several
Don't Tell relevant to the time period relevant to the time period character is not clearly relevant sentences
Writer has made a movie in his/her mind Writer has made a movie in his/her mind to the time period Character has no personal
so reader can envision the time period so reader can envision the time period Time period not clearly evident struggle
Heart of the story is slowed down and told An attempt is made to slow down time in Heart of the story undeveloped Time period not evident
bit-by-bit action the heart of the story Little or not evidence of the Heart of the story undeveloped
Develops setting that is reflective of time Develops setting that is reflective of time time period in setting No evidence of the time period
period period Tells characters feel ings in setting
Uses greater variety of details to show Uses a variety of details to show feelings Braid of dialogu€, setting, Tells characters feelings
feelings Braid of authentic dialogue, setting, action, internal thoughts No use of dialogue, setting,
Braid of authentic dialogue, setting, action, action, internal thoughts Makes no attempt to include action, or internal thoughts
internal thoughts Makes an attempt to include what what character sees, hears, Does not include what character
lncludes what character sees, hears, smells, character sees, hears, smells, & feels in smells, & feels in environment sees, hears, smells, & feels in
& feels in environment in relation to the environment in relation to the time period in relation to the time period environment in relation to the
time period tirne period
Craft r Develops story tension, building up rising Starts right in the story with character . Story is mostly retelling I Story is all retelling
action saying something or engaged in action r Uses a few descriptive words r Uses no descriptive words
r Sensory detail or figurative language to Sensory detail or figurative language to I Language is simplistic and t Language is simplistic
create place and/or mood create setting reflective of the time period shows little or no relation to the I Dialogue is simplistic and does
t Language used is authentic to the time Writer attempts to write a good story time period or genre not reveal personality and does
period using literary words, descriptive clauses I Dialogue is simplistic and does not move the story
r Dialogue reveals personality and rnoves Dialogue reveals personality not reveal personality
the story along_
Meaning/ t Personal struggle is reflective to the I Personal struggle is reflective to the t Personal struggle is not clearly r No personal struggle or is not
Significance historical event historical event reflective to the historical event reflective of the time period
r Character changed or learned something in r Character changed or learned something I Made an attempt to show the . No attempt to show the
the story in the story charactbr learned a lesson character learned something
. Character remains flat
Writing r Uses correct punctuation throughout the I Minor enors in punctuation that do not t Errors in punctuation I Many errors in punctuation &
Mechanics & story interfere with fluency somewhat interfere with capitalization that greatly
Conventions r Uses correct capitalization throughout the I Uses correct capitalization most of the fluency interfere with fluency
story time I Minor errors in capitalization r Many effors with homophones
I Uses correct homophones I Uses correct homophones
.'
Some errors using homophones & verb tense
I Uses correct verb tense I Minor erors in verb tense Some effors in verb tense

Adapted from TC Narrative Continuum In A Glance for I.s. 230

-
(by 8u'gradeteam: B. Newkirk; K. Semenick; O. Stevkovski; M. Tergerides)