Fourth Summative Assessment Scoring Guide for Writing Prompt

Criteria

4

3

2

1

Thesis

statement

Contains an effective thesis statement

Contains a thesis statement

Has evidence of a thesis statement that may or may not be effective

Does not contain a thesis statement

Organization

Has an effective beginning, middle, and end; uses paragraphing effectively; presents complex ideas in a sustained and compelling manner; and progresses in logical order

Has a beginning, middle, and end; uses paragraphing; presents ideas in a sustained manner; and generally progresses in logical order

Has evidence of a beginning, middle, and end; shows evidence of paragraphing, and presents ideas that may lack focus and be difficult to follow; and may not progress in logical order

May lack evidence of a beginning, middle, and end; may lack evidence of paragraphing; is difficult to follow and lacks focus; does not progress in logical order; and may digress to unrelated topics

Cohesion

Uses effective cohesive devices (i.e., transitions, repetition, pronouns, parallel structure) between and within paragraphs

May use cohesive devices devices (i.e., transitions, repetition, pronouns, parallel structure)

At times seems awkward and lacks cohesion

Is awkward and lacks cohesion

Language

Uses precise and vivid language; clearly addresses the topic and provides specific and relevant details/convincing elaboration as support; and contains sentences that are clear and varied in structure

Uses precise language; addresses the topic and uses relevant details/examples as support; and contains sentences that are clear with some variety in structure

May use imprecise language; addresses the topic, but may contain some details that are not relevant; and contains sentences that are generally clear, but lack variety in structure

Uses imprecise language; may address the topic but lacks details; and contains sentences that are unclear and lack variety in structure

Audience

and purpose

Clearly shows an awareness of audience and purpose

Shows an awareness of audience and purpose

Shows some awareness of audience and purpose

Shows little or no awareness of audience and purpose.

Writing mechanics

Contains few errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling

Contains some errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling that are not distracting to the reader

Contains several errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling that may be distracting to the reader

Contains several errors in grammar/usage, punctuation, capitalization, and/or spelling that make reading incomprehensible

Writing techniques 

Uses writing techniques (i.e., imagery, humor, perspective/point of view,

rhetoric)

Contains some writing techniques (i.e., imagery, humor, point of view, rhetoric)

Uses few writing techniques (i.e., imagery, humor, point of view, rhetoric)

Uses no writing techniques (i.e., imagery, humor, point of view, rhetoric)

Comparison

(Analysis)

Is based on an accurate comparison of two selections

Is based on a comparison of two selections, which is for the most part accurate

Is based on a partially accurate comparison of two selections

Is based on a comparison of two selections that shows little to no understanding or is not based on a comparison

Evaluation

Presents an accurate evaluation of two selections related to imagery, language, stylistic devices, tone, development of theme and media elements.

Presents an evaluation of two selections which is for the most part accurate

Presents an evaluation of two selections which contains critical errors

Presents an evaluation of two selections that shows little or no understanding