Opinion Text-based Writing Rubric
Grades 4-5
Score Purpose, Focus, and Organization
(4-point Rubric)
4 The response is consistently focused on task,
purpose, and audience.
It is clear, complete, and organized very well.
The response includes most of the following:
o Clear and consistent opinion with little
or no unrelated ideas
o Skillful use of transitions to show
relationships among ideas
o Clear organization of ideas from
beginning to end, including well-
written introduction and conclusion
3 The response is focused on task, purpose, and
audience.
It is complete and organized.
The response includes most of the following:
o Consistent opinion, though may
include some unrelated ideas
o Good use of transitions with some
variety to show relationships among
ideas
o Organization of ideas from beginning
to end, including a sufficient
introduction and conclusion
2 The response is somewhat focused on task,
purpose, and audience, but may include
unrelated material.
It may have inconsistent organization.
The response may include the following:
o Partially focused opinion, but may not
be clear
o Poor use of transitions with little
variety
o Uneven organization of ideas from
beginning to end, and may include an
inadequate introduction or conclusion.
Evidence and Elaboration Conventions of Standard English
(4-point Rubric) (2-point Rubric)
The response provides detailed and convincing
support/evidence for the writers opinion.
It effectively uses sources, facts, and details.
The response includes most of the following:
o Important evidence naturally included
while citing the source.
o Effective use of many elaborative
techniques
(definitions, quotations, examples, etc.)
o Clear expression of ideas, using specific
words
o Academic and domain-specific
vocabulary
o Various sentence structure
The response provides support/evidence for the
writers opinion.
It uses sources, facts, and details.
The response includes most of the following:
o Evidence included, sources may or may
not be cited
o Use of some elaborative techniques
(definitions, quotations, examples, etc.)
o Expression of ideas, using specific and
general words
o domain-specific vocabulary
o some variation in sentence structure
The response provides uneven The response demonstrates an
support/evidence for the writers opinion. understanding of basic conventions.
Partial use of sources, facts, and details. The response may include the
The response includes most of the following: following:
o Poorly included evidence o Some minor errors in usage,
o Repetition or ineffective use of but no pattern of errors
elaborative techniques o Good use of punctuation,
(definitions, quotations, examples, etc.) capitalization, sentence
o Simple expression of ideas formation, and spelling
o Inappropriate domain-specific
vocabulary
o Simple sentences
1 The response is related to the topic, but may
not respond to task, purpose, or audience.
There may be no organizational structure.
The response may include the following:
o No clear opinion
o Unrelated ideas
o Few or no transitions
o Too short to show focus or
organization
0 The response demonstrates a lack of
The response provides little support/evidence The response demonstrates a partial
for the writers opinion. understanding of basic conventions.
Little use of sources, facts, and details. The response may include the
The response includes most of the following: following:
o Incorrect, minimal or unrelated o Various errors in usage
evidence o Inconsistent use of correct
o vague expression of ideas punctuation, capitalization,
o Limited or inappropriate domain- sentence formation, and
specific vocabulary spelling
o Simple sentences
understanding of conventions, with frequent
errors that prevent the reader from
understanding the meaning.