Creative Nonfiction Output Rubric

  Beginning Developing Accomplished Distinguished

4 below 5-6 7-8 9-10

Content Thoughts are Thoughts about an Thoughts about an Thoughts are clearly
unclear or loosely experience are still being important experience expressed and create a vivid
How did you focused. developed. Further are clearly expressed. impression of an important
express the Information is attention to details, Detail and narration experience. Significant detail,
meaning of your limited, unclear or a narration or description are used to convey the including relevant narration,
experience? random collection of would breathe life into meaning of the enhances the meaning of the
details that don’t the writing. General experience. The experience. The writer’s
add up to a coherent observations outweigh writer’s reflection reflection reveals a new
whole. It is hard to specifics. reveals a new understanding of him or
identify the meaning understanding. herself or world.
of the experience.
Reflection is limited
or missing.
Creativity Writing contains Writing contains a few Writing is somewhat Writing is extremely creative.
many cliché ideas creative ideas but is mostly creative. Some new and Ideas are refreshing and
and an uninspired uninspired. imaginative ideas. imaginative. Talented writing.
style. Good writing.
Organization The writer strings The organization guides The organization The organization of the essay
ideas, details or the reader through the guides reader through guides reader purposefully.
events together with essay without too much the essay. A clear Details seem to fit right where
no identifiable confusion. The introduction they are placed. An inviting
structure. No real introduction and establishes time and introduction establishes the
lead sets up what conclusion are place. A clear importance of time and place.
follows. No real recognizable and conclusion satisfies the A satisfying conclusion ties up
conclusion wraps up functional. Placement of reader. Overall, details loose ends. The entire piece
narrative. Missing or details seems workable fit and the piece is held has a strong sense of direction
unclear transitions though not always deft. together with workable and balance.
force the reader to transitions.
make inferences.
Style and The writer struggles The writer occasionally The writer uses precise The message is clear and easy
Fluency with a limited uses precise language, but language that conveys to interpret. Colorful and/or
vocabulary. Vague often relies on “ordinary” the message clearly. figurative language breathes
words and phrases words rather than Use of colorful and/or life into the writing. The
distract the reader figurative or colorful figurative language writer’s connection to the
and prevent a language. Language is adds flavor to the piece is evident. The paper is
connection with the adequate but not striking. piece. Moments here open, honest, and thought
writer. Though it The writer seems and there amuse, provoking.
may communicate distanced from the topic. surprise or move the
on a functional reader. The writer
level, the writing cares about the piece.
does not involve or
move the reader.
Conventions Frequent and/or Errors (in spelling, Errors (in spelling, Errors (in spelling,
Have you edited serious errors (in punctuation, quotation punctuation, quotation punctuation, quotation marks,
and polished spelling, grammar, marks, capitalization, marks, capitalization, capitalization, sentence
your piece? etc.) distract the sentence structure, etc.) sentence structure, structure, etc.) are few and
reader’s focus from occasionally distract from etc.) are few enough minor, and don’t interfere with
the message. The the meaning of the paper. not to interfere with the meaning of the paper. The
reader may need to The writing reads more the overall meaning of paper is clean, edited and
read once to decode, like a rough draft than a the paper. The paper is polished. The narrative is of
then again to final copy. Some revision of sufficient length to sufficient length and
interpret the text. is needed. demonstrate complexity to demonstrate
Extensive editing proficiency. appropriate control of
would be required to conventions.
prepare the text for
publication.