Guide for evaluating the composition assignment.

1. Composition Assignments
Fourth Trimester
Trait Writing Rubrics
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

2. Trait #1
Organization
Key Question:
Does the organization structure enhance the
ideas and make the piece easier to read?
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

3. Organization
5 4 3 2 1
Thoughtful Transitions are Transitions Some Weak
transitions logical, though often work transitions are transitions are
clearly show may lack together used, but they present but
how ideas originality repeat or sometimes
connect mislead confuse
throughout
text
Title is original, Title settles for Uninspired title Title unclear Title doesn’t
reflecting minor idea only restates match content
content and topic
capturing
central theme
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

4. What are transitions?
“Transitions are words and phrases that serve as
bridges from one idea to the next, one sentence to
the next, or one paragraph to the next. They keep
the reader from having to find his or her own way
and possibly getting lost in the reading.”
Examples: prepositions, for this reason, also,
however, in other words
Check out more on this website:
http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing/si
xtrait/organization/transitions.html
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

5. Trait #2
Word Choice
Key Question:
Do the words and phrases create vivid pictures
and linger in your mind?
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

6. Word Choice
5 4 3 2 1
Words are In most cases Words work Words are Words are
precise and words are “just and begin to adequate in a vague and
accurate right” shape a general sense make message
unique, unclear
individual piece
Parts of speech Correct and Accurate and Passive verbs, Repetitive
are used varied parts of occasionally overused parts of speech
skillfully; speech clear parts of nouns, and lack and cliché
nouns/ communicate speech are of modifiers distract from
modifiers are message functional create an message
precise unclear
message
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

7. Trait #3
Sentence Fluency
Key Question:
Can you feel the words and phrases flow
together as you read aloud?
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

8. Sentence Fluency
5 4 3 2 1
Varied Most sentence Sentence Some sentence Many
sentence beginnings are beginnings vary beginnings are sentences
beginnings add varied and yet are routine, varied; simple begin the same
interest and unique generic sentences are way;
energy used monotonous
Sentence sense Sentence sense Sentence sense Sentence sense There is little
is strong and is strong; is moderate; is less than evidence of
contributes to correct sentences are moderate; sentence
meaning; construction constructed sentences vary sense; most
sentences are and variety are correctly with little sentences have
nicely balanced used some variety to be
in type reconstructed
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

9. Trait #4
Conventions
Key Question:
How much editing would have to be done to be
ready to share with an outside source?
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

10. Conventions
5 4 3 2 1
Spelling is Spelling on Spelling on Spelling on Spelling errors
usually correct; common grade- common grade- simple words is are frequent,
level words is level words is incorrect, even on
correct but usually correct although reader common words
sometimes but not on more can understand
incorrect on difficult words
more difficult
words
Grammar/ Grammar/ Proper Inappropriate Serious
usage is correct usage is usually grammar/ usage grammar/usage grammar/usage
and contributes correct; there is inconsistent results from problems of
to clarity and are few and inaccurate heavy reliance every kind make
style grammar but not serious on comprehension
mistakes yet enough to conversational difficult
meaning is clear distort meaning oral language
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

11. Trait #5
Presentation
Key Question:
Is the finished piece easy to read, polished in
presentation, and pleasing to the eye?
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

12. Presentation
5 4 3 2 1
Fonts/sizes Fonts/sizes Fonts/sizes are Font/sizes are Font/sizes make
enhance invite reader consistent and inconsistent text almost
readability and into text; appropriate; making piece unreadable
enrich overall understanding is text is easy to hard to read or
appearance; a breeze understand understand
understanding is
crystal clear
White space is White space White space White space Little thought is
used to helps reader frames text by begins to frame given to white
optimally frame focus on text; creating and balance space;
and balance most margins; some text; paragraphs identifying
text; all paragraphs are paragraphs are begin to emerge beginning and
paragraphs are indented or indented some ending of text is
either indented blocked are blocked somewhat
or blocked difficult
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

13. What is white space?
White space is the emptiness between the
characters, lines and paragraphs of your article
or story.
Why do we need it? Check this out:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites
&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxtcnNtb2xpbmF
zZW5nbGlzaGNsYXNzfGd4OjQzOGM1ZDc0MTM
wNTQ0Yjk
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

14. The Five Writing Traits
We have examined 5 writing traits to be used in
evaluating your composition assignments for
this trimester:
1. Organization
2. Word choice
3. Sentence fluency
4. Conventions
5. Presentation
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart

15. Ready, set, write!
How to Create and Use rubrics for
Formative Assessment and Grading by
Susan M. Brookhart