SCORE	CONTENT/DEVELOPMENT	ORGANIZATION	VOICE	CONVENTIONS
4	· Presents a clear central idea about the topic · Fully develops the central idea with specific, relevant details · Sustains focus on central idea throughout the writing	· Has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. · Provides a smooth progression of ideas throughout the writing.		· Minor errors in standard written English may be present.
3	· Presents a central idea about the topic · Develops the central idea but details are general, or the elaboration may be uneven · Focus may shift slightly, but is generally sustained	· Has an introduction, body, and conclusion. · Provides a logical progression of ideas throughout the writing.	· Uses precise and/or vivid vocabulary appropriate for the topic · Phrasing is effective, not predictable or obvious · Varies sentence structure to promote rhythmic reading · Strongly aware of audience and task; tone is consistent and appropriate	· Errors in standard written English may be present; however, these errors do not interfere with the writer’s meaning.
2	· Central idea may be unclear · Details may be sparse; more information is needed to clarify the central idea · Focus may shift or be lost causing confusion for the reader	· Attempts an introduction, body, and conclusion; however, one or more of these components could be weak or ineffective. · Provides a simplistic, repetitious, or somewhat random progression of ideas throughout the writing.	· Uses both general and precise vocabulary · Phrasing may not be effective, and may be predictable or obvious · Some sentence variety results in reading that is somewhat rhythmic; may be mechanical · Aware of audience and task; tone is appropriate	· A pattern of errors in more than one category (e.g., capitalization, spelling, punctuation, sentence formation) of standard written English is present; these errors interfere somewhat with the writer’s meaning.
1	· There is no clear central idea · Details are absent or confusing · There is no sense of focus	· Attempts an introduction, body, and conclusion; however, one or more of these components could be absent or confusing. · Presents information in a random or illogical order throughout the writing.	· Uses simple vocabulary · Phrasing repetitive or confusing · There is little sentence variety; reading is monotonous · There is little awareness of audience and task; tone may be inappropriate	· Frequent and serious errors in more than one category (e.g., capitalization, spelling, punctuation, sentence formation) of standard written English are present; these errors severely interfere with the writer’s meaning.
B	Blank Off Topic Insufficient amount of original writing to evaluate Unreadable or illegible
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For the purposes of scoring Conventions, “interference” is defined as that which would impede meaning for a reader other than an educator or professional reader.