Journal Rubric

Part I: Quick check

Error

Part II: Dig deeper. Yes or No?

Check that

Which ones were the most

troublesome?

Each paragraph begins with

appropriate topic sentence
Minimum of three sentences per
paragraph
Correct use of capital letters and
punctuation
Proper spelling and grammar

Error #1: Count or Noncount

Noun Error
Error #2: Incorrect or
Missing Article
Error #3: Preposition Error
Error #4:

Repeated Subject

Error #5:

Wrong Verb Tense

Yes or No

Clear sentences
All requirements of the question are
met
Essay ends with satisfactory
conclusion
Essay demonstrates thought and
good understanding

Error #6: Irregular Verb

Errors
Error #7: Wrong Form After
a Verb
Error #8:
Adjectives order
and agreement

Part III: Marking: Highlight the phrases that best describe this piece and then tally up the score.
CRITERIA

LEVEL 1
Still needs work- not
there yet

LEVEL 2
Fair

LEVEL 3
Good

LEVEL 4
Excellent!

TASK
COMPLETION

Information was either

missing, not needed or
off task. Question was no
well-answered

Task was completed, but

could be better. Question
sort-of answered. Some
information is needed
and some was on-task.

Task was completed well.

Question was repeated
and thoughts clear.

Task was completed very

well. Question was
repeated in the answer
and answered
exceptionally. All of the
information was needed
and thorough.

Most of the information

was needed and on-task.

ORGANIZATION

Poor organization of
ideas. No paragraphs and
sentence marker errors.

Little organization of
ideas. Paragraphs and
sentence markers were
used, but with some
errors.

Good organization of
ideas. The topic flows
from one idea to the
next.

Excellent organization of
ideas. Clear topic
sentences and flow
through the piece. Not
too wordy.

CREATIVITY AND VOICE

Robotic and repetitive.

No direction. Lacking
creativity.

Mostly basic writing

lacking the

Some strong creative

moments tied together
with more basic writing.

A strong piece with

exceptional
description/imagery/emot
ion to make a captivating
piece.

VOCABULARY & SPELLING

Poor use or range of

vocabulary. Many spelling
errors.

Adequate (fair) use of

vocabulary. Some
spelling errors persist.

Good use of vocabulary.

A few spelling errors.

Excellent use of spelling.

Very few spelling errors.

GRAMMAR & PUNCTUATION

Poor use of grammar and

punctuation. Many errors.

Adequate (fair) use of

grammar and
punctuation. Some errors
still present.

Good use of grammar

and punctuation. A few
errors still present.

Excellent use of grammar

and punctuation. Very
few errors.

SCORE

TOTAL SCORE