3rd Grade Writing Rubric

6
Exceeds Stds.

5
Exceeds Stds.

Ideas & Content (Ideas)

Stays on the topic (Does not ramble
or repeat)

Organization
Shows understanding of paragraph form

Style (Voice, Word Choice, Fluency)

Includes dynamic, vivid or challenging words

Language Skills
Few or no errors in capitalization

Includes main idea(s) with 4 or more

well developed supporting details

Has an effective introduction and conclusion or

has a clear sequence with a beginning, middle
and end, as appropriate

Uses original, unique, authoritative and/or

interesting voice

Few or no errors in punctuation

Uses varied transitions in sentences and

paragraphs, as appropriate

Includes complete, complex thoughts

Effectively uses literary devices, when
appropriate
Has exceptionally fluent writing
Includes some dynamic, vivid or challenging
words

Few or no errors in subject and verb

agreement

Few or no run-on sentences or sentence

fragments

4
Meets Standards.

Stays on the topic (Seldom rambles

or repeats)

Shows understanding of paragraph form

Includes main idea(s) with 3 or more

developed supporting details

Has a clear introduction and conclusion

Uses original, unique, authoritative and/or

interesting voice

Has a clear sequence with a beginning,

middle, and end

Attempts to use literary devices appropriately

Uses transitions in sentences and paragraphs,

as appropriate
Begins to show basic understanding of
paragraph form

Has fluent writing

Includes basic vocabulary and varied descriptive
words appropriately

Most capitalization is correct

Has an identifiable introduction and/or

conclusion or has a beginning, middle, and
end as appropriate

Attempts simple effective phrasing

Most sentences contain correct

punctuation
Most sentences use appropriate verb
tense

Has a logical progression of main ideas and

supporting details

Demonstrates an awareness of audience

Most sentences have correct subject and

verb agreement

Stays mostly on the topic (May

include minor tangents and some
rambling and/or repetition)
Includes main idea(s) with relevant
details

Few or no errors in the spelling of gradelevel-appropriate words

Most grade-level words are spelled

correctly
Writing has few or none run-on sentences
or sentence fragments
Some capitalization is correct

Below Stds.

2
Below

Stds.

1
Below

Stds.

Stays minimally focused on the topic

Attempts paragraph form

Uses basic vocabulary appropriately most of the

time

Includes idea(s) with few details

Has a weak introduction and/or conclusion or

has two of the elements of beginning, middle
or end as appropriate
Shows minimal evidence of logical sequence

Attempts to use varied writing techniques

Some sentences have correct

punctuation

Demonstrates little awareness of audience

Contains bits of information, lacks real

focus on topic

Does not show basic understanding of

paragraph form

Uses some words inappropriately (Limited basic

vocabulary)
Exhibits simple phrasing

Has unrelated, fragmented, or

unfinished details

Has no introduction or conclusion present or

has only one of the elements of beginning,
middle or end, as appropriate
Shows minimal evidence of logical sequence
Does not attempt paragraph form

Some sentences have correct subject

and verb agreement
Some grade-level-appropriate words
spelled correctly
Writing may have some run-on sentences
or sentence fragments

Has no clear topic

Lacks details

Has no introduction or conclusion

Has no logical sequence of events

Demonstrates little or no awareness of audience

Uses many words inappropriately (Limited basic
vocabulary)
Exhibits simple sentence patterns but not
understandable
Demonstrates no awareness of audience

Many errors in capitalization

Punctuation is missing or incorrect
Many errors in subject and verb
agreement Many errors in the spelling
Writing has many run-on sentences or
fragments