Expository Rubric

Organization and Content

3 2 1
My topic paragraph is missing a grabber, some supporting or background ideas or its thesis statement.

Opening Paragraph

My topic paragraph grabs a readers attention contains several supporting/background ideas and a theses statement which contains a topic and makes an assertion.

Body Paragraphs

Closing Paragraph

Transitions

My topic paragraph contains an OK grabber, several supporting or background ideas and a thesis statement, but it is a little unclear where the paragraph is going. My three body My three body paragraphs each contain paragraphs are each a 5W topic sentence, 2 missing one of the details which support the following: a 5W topic topic, 2 elaborations to sentence, 2 details support each detail, and a which support the transition sentence. topic, 2 elaborations to support each detail, and a transition sentence. My closing paragraph My closing paragraph grabs my readers does a weak job of attention and refers back regaining my readers to the opening attention, just paragraph, briefly restates the thesis mentions thesis and and details, and does details and points out a weak job of the importance of my addressing the topic with new ways to importance of my think about it. topic or new ways to think about it. I have provided a I have provided a transition sentence, transition sentence, which contains the main which contains the idea of the previous main idea of the paragraph and links it to previous paragraph the main idea of the and links it to the following paragraph, at main idea of the the end of each body following paragraph, paragraph. at the end of two of my body paragraphs.

My three body paragraphs are each missing more than one of the following: a 5W topic sentence, 2 details which support the topic, 2 elaborations to support each detail, and a transition sentence.

My closing paragraph does not contain an attempt to regain my readers attention, it does not mention the thesis or details, or it does not address the importance of my topic or new ways to think about it.

I have not provided a transition sentence at the end of my body paragraphs.

Voice Voice
My writing sounds like me. It is not stiff, formal or boring and it is fun to read. My writing sounds a little bit like me. In some places my writing sounds a bit stiff, formal or boring. At least half of my writing and it is fun to read. I chose the right words to get my message across but some of my word choices are very common and overused. I used a few different sentence starters or a few stylistic elements, and some of my sentences flow together easily. I have provided a transition sentence, which contains the main idea of the previous paragraph and links it to the main idea of the following paragraph, at the end of two of my body paragraphs. My spelling,, capitalization and punctuation are mostly correct and my mistakes do not get in the way of my reader understanding my writing. My writing sounds a bit stiff, formal or boring. It doesnt sound like me and it is not really fun to read.

Word Choice Words

I used specific nouns and vivid verbs instead of lots of overused words. I used very simple words, and I used words like is/are/was/were/have/has/or had a lot.

Sentence Fluency Sentence transitions

I used a variety of sentence starters and stylistic elements, and my sentences flow together easily. I have provided a transition sentence, which contains the main idea of the previous paragraph and links it to the main idea of the following paragraph, at the end of each body paragraph. Most of my sentences start the same way OR I did not include any stylistic elements OR my sentences do not fit together very well. I have not provided a transition sentence at the end of my body paragraphs.

Paragraph transitions

Conventions Mechanics
My spelling,, capitalization and punctuation are varied and correct. My spelling,, capitalization and punctuation contain many errors which get in the way of my reader understanding my writing.

Grammar

I have used commonly misused words and my verbs are written in the right tense. My paper contains a heading, an underlined title, and is doublespaced.

Formatting

I have mostly used commonly misused words and most of my verbs are written in the right tense. My paper is missing a heading, OR an underlined title OR it is not double-spaced.

I have many mistakes in using commonly misused words and many of my verbs are written in the wrong tense. My paper is missing two of the following: a heading, OR an underlined title OR it is not double-spaced.

Add the total, and multiply by 3 for your score.