4

3

2

1

Character’s physical description

CCSS W7.3

Student consistently & effectively includes descriptive details to describe the character’s physical appearance.

Student includes sufficient descriptive details to describe the character’s physical appearance.

Student rarely includes descriptive details to describe the character’s physical appearance.

Student doesn’t include descriptive details to describe the character’s physical appearance.

Character’s speech, thoughts, & actions

CCSS W7.3

Student consistently & effectively includes descriptive details to develop the character’s personality.

Student includes sufficient descriptive details to develop the character’s personality.

Student rarely includes descriptive details to develop the character’s personality.

Student doesn’t include descriptive details to develop the character’s personality.

Purpose/Mood/

Meaning/Genre

CCSS W7.3

Author’s purpose/central idea is clear & strongly reflects the genre.

Mood is effectively developed through use of multiple engaging details.

Author’s purpose/central idea is evident & reflects the genre.

Mood is sufficiently developed.

Author’s purpose/central idea is evident but doesn’t reflect the genre.

Mood is evident but lacks details.

Author’s purpose/central idea isn’t evident and doesn’t reflect the genre.

Mood isn’t evident.

Structure/

Organization

CCSS W7.3

Clear introduction of character & POV.

Natural & logical sequencing.

Consistent & effective use of a variety of transitions.

Strong & effective conclusion.

Clear introduction of character & POV.

Sequence is mostly natural & logical.

Sufficient use of transitions.

Sufficient conclusion.

Clear introduction of character & POV.

Sequence is rarely natural & logical.

Student rarely uses transitions.

Undeveloped conclusion.

No introduction, POV.

Sequence is illogical.

Transitions aren’t used.

Conclusion not included.

Craft/style/

Word choice

CCSS L7.3

Student consistently & effectively uses precise words, phrases & details.

Student consistently & effectively uses a variety of sentence beginnings, lengths, & styles.

Student sufficiently uses precise words, phrases & details.

Student sufficiently  uses a variety of sentence beginnings, lengths, & styles.

Student rarely uses precise words, phrases & details.

Student rarely uses a variety of sentence beginnings, lengths, & styles.

Student doesn’t use precise words, phrases & details.

Student doesn’t use a variety of sentence beginnings, lengths, & styles.

Conventions

CCSS L7.1/7.2

Capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar are generally correct (few, minor errors).

Capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar are mostly correct.

Capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar are rarely correct.

Capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar are not correct & interfere with meaning.