Malden High School Long Composition Rubric

Topic/Idea Development
Criteria 6 5 4 3 2 1
Topic and Idea Writer presents an Writer presents an Writer presents an Writer presents a Writer does not Writer does not
Development insightful and appropriate thesis appropriate thesis thesis that respond to the respond to the
appropriate thesis that that fully responds that responds to basically responds prompt and/or prompt and
fully responds to the to the prompt the prompt (when to the prompt demonstrates demonstrates little
prompt (when (when applicable) applicable) and (when applicable), limited or no
applicable) and and demonstrates demonstrates fair but demonstrates understanding of understanding of
demonstrates good understanding of limited the topic and/or the topic and/or
sophisticated understanding of the topic and/or understanding of the text. the text.
understanding of the the topic and/or the text. the topic and/or
topic and/ or the text. the text. the text.
Organization Writer uses careful, Writer uses logical Writer uses logical Writer uses basic Writer uses little Writer uses no
subtle organization organization that organization. organization. organization. organization.
that effectively effectively
presents his/her presents his/her
argument. argument.
Writer uses carefully Writer uses strong, Writer uses Writer uses some Writer uses few to Writer uses no
Evidence and chosen, relevant relevant details to relevant details to basic supporting no supporting supporting details.
detail details to insightfully support his/her support his/her details. details.
support his/her argument. argument.
argument.
Language Writer uses rich, Writer uses Writer uses some Writer uses Writer uses basic Writer uses basic
effective vocabulary appropriate variety in simplistic vocabulary and vocabulary and
and a variety of vocabulary and vocabulary and/or vocabulary and/or sentence sentence
sentence structures. some variety in sentence sentence structure. structures. structures.
sentence structure. structures.

Standard English Conventions

Criteria 4 3 2 1
Standard English Writer demonstrates control Writer’s errors do not Writer’s errors interfere Writer’s errors seriously
Conventions of sentence structure, interfere with somewhat with interfere with
grammar and usage and communication. There are communication. There are communication. Writer has
mechanics few errors relative to length too many errors relative to little control of conventions.
length.

Score on Topic/Idea Development:____________ + Score on Standard English Conventions:____________ = __________Total