This rubric provides criteria for evaluating student-written biographies, including thoroughness of research, presentation of important facts and events in the person's life, insights into their character, organization of information, writing conventions, and sentence structure. Key areas of focus are use of multiple sources, inclusion of significant details from all stages of the subject's life, vivid portrayal using anecdotes and quotes, clear chronological organization, and proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Weak areas include little evidence of research, inclusion of insignificant details, lack of understanding of the person's traits, disjointed information, and multiple errors.

1. BIOGRAPHY RUBRIC
Name: ____________________________________ Date: ________________________
Topic: _______________________________________________________________________
Excellent Satisfactory Emerging
Shows evidence of Evidence of using Evidence of using one Little evidence of using
thorough research multiple sources appropriate resource. appropriate resources.
including Internet.
Presents important Includes significant Includes some important Events and facts
facts, events, and facts, events, and facts, events, and included are not
contributions in a contributions from all contributions, but omits significant in the
person’s life in a stages of person’s life in others; Information is person’s life; Does not
a lively manner using explained clearly but feature major
manner that holds
specific vocabulary. may lack energy or rely Contributions;
readers’ attention. on general or overused Information is presented
vocabulary. in mundane manner
with poor word choice.
Offers insights into Paints a vivid portrait Accurately depicts the Does not seem to
the person’s using anecdotes and person by including understand attributes
character traits and quotes to show traits and details, but tells more that contributed to
feelings using feelings. than shows traits and person’s success;
feelings. Information is too
specific details
general with few
specific details.
Organizes There is a good order to Information is generally Information appears
information well the information; organized in a logical disjointed with no
using chronological Evidence of paragraphs manner, though particular order and
sequence and topic sentences; paragraphs could be little evidence of
Attention-getting structured more clearly paragraphs; No real
introduction and a with topic sentences; introduction or
memorable conclusion. Includes introduction conclusion.
and conclusion, though
they may not be
memorable
Demonstrates Few or no errors in Some errors in spelling, Many errors in spelling,
attention to writing spelling, usage, and usage, and punctuation, usage, and punctuation
conventions and punctuation; writing but errors don’t distract from the content
sentence structure flows well with good generally disrupt of the biography; Often
sentence structure and meaning; Sentences are leaves words out of
sentences that begin in mostly well structured, sentences, writes run-
different ways and are but lack variety in style. ons or fragments; no
different lengths. sentence variety.
Greatest strength(s): ___________________________________________________________
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Area(s) for continued growth: ___________________________________________________
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