Name: Date: Class period: 1 2 3 4 5 6 (Circle yours.

Rubric for Assessing a Journal Entry

Grading Criteria Excellent Acceptable Minimal Unacceptable
Content Response to Response Response Response
assigned thoughtful and adequately consists of
topic fairly well addresses unsupported
thorough and written; most some aspects opinions only
well written, opinions of the marginally
with varied supported assigned related to the
sentence with facts topic; opinions topic.
structure and sometimes
vocabulary; based on
opinions incorrect
always information.
supported
with facts.
Idea Excellent Good reliance Incomplete Ideas not
Development use of upon development clearly stated
examples examples and of ideas; or developed.
and details details to details and
to explore illustrate and examples not
and develop develop ideas always
ideas and and opinions. evident.
opinions.
Organization Very logically Contains Topics and Entry is
organized; introduction, ideas unstructured.
contains some discussed
introduction; development somewhat
development of ideas, and randomly;
of main idea conclusion. entry may lack
(or ideas), clearly defined
and introduction or
conclusion. conclusion.
Mechanics Flawless Few or no Several Many
spelling and spelling spelling and instances of
punctuation. errors; some punctuation incorrect
minor errors. spelling and
punctuation punctuation.
mistakes.