Explanatory writing rubric
Criteria BE
Ideas Your writing does not
include enough details
about your journey during
the summer vacation.
Organization Your story does not have a
clear beginning, middle and
end.
Word choice You use very simple and
repetitive words. You use
words incorrectly.
Sentence Your sentences are
fluency incomplete.
Conventions Capitalization is random,
punctuation is often missing,
and tenses are not written
correctly.
DE
You tell about your
experience during the
summer vacation (or any
journey of your choice) but
more details are needed.
Your story has a beginning,
middle and end but are all
written in one paragraph.
You use everyday words and
phrases that don’t create
images in the reader’s mind.
Your sentences begin in the
same way.
Capitalization, punctuation,
and tenses are sometimes
written correctly.
ME
You tell about your experience
during the summer vacation (or
any journey of your choice)
using specific details and keep
the reader’s interest most of
the time.
Your story has a clear
beginning, middle and end with
some connecting words.
You generally use specific words
and phrases that often catch
the reader’s interest.
Your sentences are varied with
a few errors.
Capitalization, punctuation, and
tenses are mostly written
correctly.
EE
You tell about your experience
during the summer vacation (or
any journey of your choice) using
specific details and keep the
reader’s interest all the time.
Your story is easy to read. It has a
clear beginning, middle and end;
connecting words are used.
You use specific and accurate
words and phrases that catch the
reader’s interest.
Your sentences are varied with no
errors.
Capitalization, punctuation, and
tenses are written correctly.