1. Narrative Scoring Guide Rubric
A Well-Told Story A Vivid Presentation of Places and
People
An Indication of the Event’s
Significance
Language Use Mechanics
5 The story is entertaining and
memorable. The writer uses
specific narrative action with
action verbs and verbal
phrases.
The writer uses temporal
transitions to cue readers and
move the narrative through
time. Finally, the writer uses
dialogue to convey
immediacy and drama.
The writer re-creates the place where the
event occurred and lets readers “hear”
what people said. Vivid language and
specific details make the writing
memorable. The writer names objects to
create clear scenes.
The writer provides details about some
objects. The writer uses similes and
metaphors to draw comparisons and help
readers understand the point.
The writer provides descriptive details to
present people. The writer details
characters’ appearances and behaviors,
and speech.
The writer shows and tells us that
the event was significant. The
event is dramatized for readers to
appreciate its importance.
Readers understand the writer’s
feelings.
The writer also comments on the
event’s meaning and importance.
The significance is not appended
artificially, like a moral tagged
onto a fable.
•
The
writer
conveys
interest,
passion
and
engagement
to
the
reader.
• The
writer
uses
precise,
expressive
language,
which
includes
appropriate
rhetorical
strategies.
• Vivid
vocabulary
and
a
compelling
voice
energize
the
topic.
• The
essay
includes
a
variety
of
sophisticated
sentence
structures.
• Sentences
are
free
from
major
grammatical
errors.
• There
are
no
major
punctuation
problems
and
few
to
no
typographical
errors.
• The
essay
is
formatted
MLA
style
• The
essay
meets
the
assignment
criteria.
• All
references
to
sources
are
accompanied
text
citations.
• Quotations
are
used
integrated
appropriately
There is an accurate cited page.
4 The story is entertaining and
memorable. The writer uses
some narrative action with
action verbs and verbal
phrases.
The writer uses some
temporal transitions to cue
readers and move the
narrative through time.
Finally, the writer uses
dialogue in an attempt to
convey immediacy and
drama.
The writer re-creates the place where the
event occurred. Vivid language and
specific details make the writing
memorable. The writer names some
objects in an effort to create clear
scenes.
The writer provides details about some
objects. The writer uses occasional
similes and metaphors to draw
comparisons and help readers
understand the point.
The writer provides some descriptive
details to present people. The writer
details characters’ appearances and
behaviors, or speech.
The writer shows or tells us that
the event was significant. The
event is dramatized for readers to
appreciate its importance.
Readers generally understand the
writer’s feelings.
The writer also comments on the
event’s meaning and importance,
though the meaning may be a bit
unclear. The significance is not
appended artificially, like a moral
tagged onto a fable.
• Clear
sentences
and
accurate
vocabulary
engage
the
readers
in
the
topic
• The
writer
attempts
to
use
the
appropriate
rhetorical
strategies.
• The
essay
includes
a
variety
of
sentence
structures
• Sentences
have
only
a
couple
of
major
grammatical
errors
and
no
pervasive
pattern
of
error.
• The
essay
may
include
some
punctuation
problems
or
typographical
errors
•
The
essay
is
formatted
MLA
style
• The
essay
meets
the
assignment
criteria.
References
to
sources
in-­‐text
citations.
• Quotations
are
used
integrated
appropriately
The works cited page error or two
3 The story is appropriate. The
writer uses some narrative
action with a few action
verbs and verbal phrases.
The writer occasionally uses
temporal transitions to cue
readers and move the
narrative through time.
Finally, the writer uses little
dialogue.
The writer attempts to re-create the place
where the event occurred. The writer
names a few objects in an effort to create
clear scenes.
The writer provides few details. The
writer uses a simile or metaphor to draw
comparisons and help readers
understand the point.
The writer provides some descriptive
details to present people.
The writer attempts to show or
tell us that the event was
significant. Readers generally
understand the writer’s feelings
but at times feel distant from the
event.
The writer also comments on the
event’s meaning and importance,
though the meaning is unclear.
The significance seems
superficial, like a moral tagged
onto a fable.
• Sentences
show
mostly
accurate
vocabulary.
• This
essay
may
contain
minor
problems
in
grammar,
punctuation,
or
word
choice,
which
distract
the
reader
but
do
not
get
in
the
way
of
ideas.
• Sentences
show
some
variation
of
structure
and
style.
•
Meets
some
MLA
• The
essay
meets
the
essay
criteria.
citations
are
present,
are
insufficient.
• Most
quotations
and
integrated
appropriately
• The
works
cited
errors
or
is
missing
sources

2. 2 The story is appropriate but
the writer uses little narrative
action. The story is told but
not shown.
The writer does not use
temporal transitions to cue
readers and move the
narrative through time.
Finally, the writer uses little
or no dialogue.
Details about the place where the event
occurred are vague or absent. The writer
does not name objects or identify
sensory detail in an effort to create clear
scenes.
The writer provides few details, similes,
or metaphors to draw comparisons and
help readers understand the point.
The writer lacks descriptive details to
present people.
The writer neither shows nor tells
us that the event was significant.
It is difficult to understand the
writer’s feelings about the event.
The significance of the event
seems superficial, like a moral
tagged onto a fable.
• Sentences
are
very
simple,
showing
little
to
no
variation
in
structure.
• The
essay
contains
serious
grammatical
errors,
making
the
essay
difficult
to
understand
at
times
• Word
choices
are
very
repetitious
or
frequently
inaccurate.
• The
essay
meets
the
assignment
criteria.
• No
in-­‐text
citations.
• Some
quotations
and
integrated
appropriately
• The
works
cited
errors
or
is
missing
sources
1 The story is inappropriate or
doesn’t meet the criteria of
the prompt. The story is told
but not shown.
The writer does not use
temporal transitions to cue
readers and move the
narrative through time. The
writer uses no dialogue
The story lacks details about the place
where the event occurred, or there is no
setting.
The writer lacks descriptive details to
present people, or there are no people in
the story.
The writer neither shows nor tells
us that the event was significant.
The writer’s feelings about the
event are not included in the
narrative.
The event is insignificant.
• Errors in grammar, spelling, or
misused vocabulary seriously impede
comprehension.
•
The
essay
does
not
the
assignment
criteria.
• No
in-­‐text
citations.
• Quotations
are
not
or
integrated
appropriately
• There
is
no
works
page