Grade 5 Informative/Explanatory Writing Rubric

Advanced Meets Approaches Not Yet

4 (Distinguished) 3 (Effective) 2 (Approaching) 1 (Not Meeting)
Focus/Information Responds skillfully to all parts of Responds to all parts of prompt. Responds to most parts of Responds to few or no parts of
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to prompt. Demonstrates understanding of prompt. prompt.
examine topics and convey ideas and information clearly. Demonstrates strong topic or text(s). Demonstrates limited Demonstrates little to no
understanding of topic or text(s). understanding of topic or text(s). understanding of topic or text(s).
Organization Organizes ideas and information Organizes ideas and information Organizes ideas and information Does not organize ideas and
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to into purposeful, coherent into logical introduction, body, in attempted paragraph structure information coherently due to
examine topics and convey ideas and information clearly. paragraphs that include and concluding paragraphs. that includes sense of intro- lack of paragraph structure
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2a: Introduce topics clearly, provide general elaborated introduction with Groups related information into duction, body, and conclusion. and/or missing introduction,
observations and focus, and group related information logically; include clear thesis, structured body, and paragraphs or sections, including Grouping of ideas lacks cohesion body, or conclusion.
formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to insightful conclusion. formatting (e.g., headings). (e.g., list-like, rambling, Does not group related
aid comprehension. Logically groups related Uses linking words and phrases repetitive). information.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2c: Link ideas within and across categories of information into paragraphs or appropriately to connect ideas Attempts to use some simplistic Does not use linking words.
information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, sections, including formatting. within and across categories of linking words to connect ideas.
especially). Uses varied transitions and syntax information.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2e: Provide concluding statements or sections to link major text sections, create
related to information or explanations presented. cohesion, and clarify relationship
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which among complex ideas and
development and organization are appropriate to tasks, purposes, and concepts.
audiences.
Development with Support/Evidence Develops topic with well- Develops topic with facts, Develops topic with limited facts, Does not support opinion with
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to integrated facts, definitions, definitions, concrete details, definitions, concrete details, facts, details, and/or reasons.
examine topics and convey ideas and information clearly. concrete details, quotations, or quotations, or other information quotations, or other information Does not use relevant or
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2b: Develop topics with facts, definitions, concrete other information and examples. and examples. and examples. sufficient text support from
details, quotations, or other information and examples related to topics. Skillfully uses relevant and Uses relevant and sufficient text Uses mostly relevant text support resources with accuracy.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.8: Recall relevant information from experiences substantial text support from support from resources with but may lack sufficient evidence Uses few to no credible sources.
or gather relevant information from print and digital sources, resources with accuracy. accuracy. and/or accurate use.
summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and Uses credible and varied sources. Uses credible sources. Uses mostly credible sources.
provide lists of sources.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational
texts to support analyses, reflection, and research.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.9b: Apply grade 5 reading standards to
informational texts (e.g., Explain how an author uses reasons and
evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons
and evidence support which point[s]).
Language/Conventions Uses purposeful and varied Uses correct and varied sentence Uses some repetitive yet correct Uses few to no correct sentence
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.1: Demonstrate command of conventions of sentence structures. structures. sentence structures. structures.
standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Demonstrates creativity and Demonstrates grade-level Demonstrates some grade-level Demonstrates limited
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.2: Demonstrate command of conventions of flexibility when using conventions appropriate conventions; errors appropriate conventions, but understanding of grade-level
standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing. (i.e., grammar, punctuation, are minor and do not obscure errors obscure meaning and appropriate conventions, and
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2d: Use precise language and domain-specific capitalization, spelling) to enhance meaning and readability. readability. errors interfere with meaning and
vocabulary to inform about or explain topics. meaning and readability. Uses precise language and Uses some precise language readability.
Uses precise and domain-specific domain-specific vocabulary. and/or domain-specific Does not use precise language or
vocabulary accurately throughout vocabulary but minimally and/or domain-specific vocabulary.
student writing. inaccurately.

Denver Public Schools/Adapted from EGUSD CCSSCommon Core State Standards alignment (WWriting strand, RIReading Informational Text strand, LLanguage strand)