Short Story Grading Rubric

You will write a short story. Your story must be at least 150 words in length and no more than 1 minute long
when you tell it. Your story can be about anything! Be creative! Make sure to have interesting characters and an
interesting plot! Your points will be assigned based on the criteria below.

Points:

/50 1 or 2

3 or 4

5 or 6

7 or 8

9 or 10

Voice

Can't hear at all.

Can only hear a little
Many pauses and
bit. Some pauses.
ums. Forgot part of Some ums.
story.
Stumbles.

Can hear about half.

2-3 pauses. 1 or 2
ums. 1 or 2
stumbles.

Can hear most. 1-2

pauses. 1 um. 1
stumble.

Can hear everything,

no pauses, stumbles
or ums.

Body Language

Stood still, looked

down, fidgeted or
swayed, didn't make
eye contact, made no
gestures.

Swayed or fidgeted,
only made eye
contact sometimes,
few or no gestures.

Stood still and only

swayed or fidgeted
once, made eye
contact most of the
time, some gestures.

Stood still with

planted feet or
moved around
intentionally, made
eye contact, some
gestures.

Wonderful stage
presence, firm
stance, intentional
moves and gestures
aided the telling of
the story.

Creativity

Boring, simple
sentences, about an
uninteresting
character and plot.

Story has one

interesting element
but it is not used
very well.

Story is fairly
interesting, but the
telling was boring.

Story has interesting

plot and characters
and creative words
and sounds were
used in the telling.

Listeners are
engaged in the story
about an interesting
character and an
interesting plot
through creative
words, sounds,
movements, and
ideas.

Story Structure

Story did not make

any sense. It was
very short.

Story made some

sense but there was
no beginning, middle,
or end. Story was
short.

Story's parts were

out of order, hard to
follow. Story was 30
seconds / 75 words.

Story was well

ordered and had all
of the parts of a
story. Exposition,
rising action, climax,
falling action, and
resolution. Story was
timed well.

Story flowed from

beginning to end and
had a good opening
and a finalized
ending, including all
parts of a story.
Story was exactly 1
minute/150 words.

Spelling/
Grammar

Story did not make

any sense and was
illegible.

Story made some

sense but had 12 or
more errors.

Story made sense,

but there were 8 or
more errors.

Story made sense

but there were 3 or
more errors.

Story made sense, 0

errors.