Arkansas Text-based Writing Rubrics - Grades 3–5: Narrative

The organization of the narrative, real or imagined, is fully sustained and the focus is clear and well-maintained throughout. The response includes most of the following: an effective plot, effectively established setting, effective introduction of narrator/characters, consistent use of a variety of transitional words or phrases to signal event order or sequence of events, natural logical sequence of events from beginning to end, effective opening and closing for audience and purpose.

The organization of the narrative, real or imagined, is adequately sustained, and the focus is adequate and generally maintained. The response includes most of the following: an evident plot, though there may be minor flaws and some ideas may be loosely connected, adequately established setting, adequate introduction of narrator/characters, adequate use of a variety of transitional words or phrases to signal event order or manage sequence of events, adequate sequence of events from beginning to end, adequate opening and closing for audience and purpose.

The organization of the narrative, real or imagined, is somewhat sustained and may have an uneven focus. The response may include the following: an inconsistent plot and/or flaws that may be evident, unevenly or minimally established setting, uneven or minimal introduction of narrator/characters, uneven use of lack of variety of transitional words or phrases to signal event order or manage sequence of events, weak or uneven sequence of events, opening and closing, if present, are weak.

The organization of the narrative, real or imagined, may be maintained but may provide little or no focus. The response may include the following: little or no discernible plot or just a series of events, writing that may be brief or that exhibits little to no attempt to establish a setting, writing that may be brief or that exhibits little to no attempt to introduce narrator and/or characters, few or no appropriate transitional words or phrases, little or no organization of an event sequence; frequent extraneous ideas and/or a major drift may be evident, no opening and/or closing.

Does not meet criteria for one point

The narrative, real or imagined, provides effective use of a variety of narrative techniques that advance the story or illustrate the experience. The response includes most of the following: clearly developed experiences, characters, setting, and/or events, effective use of dialogue and/or description, effective use of sensory and/or concrete language that generally advances the purpose, appropriate style and voice.

The narrative, real or imagined, provides adequate use of a variety of narrative techniques that may advance the story or illustrate the experience. The response includes most of the following: adequately developed experiences, characters, setting, and/or events, adequate use of dialogue and/or description, adequate use of sensory and/or concrete language that generally advances the purpose, generally appropriate style and voice.

The narrative, real or imagined, provides uneven, cursory, or partial use of a variety of narrative techniques. The response may include the following: unevenly developed experiences, characters, setting, and/or events, inconsistent use of dialogue and/or description, partial or weak use of sensory and/or concrete language that may not advance the purpose, weak attempt to create appropriate style or voice.

The narrative, real or imagined, provides minimal use of a variety of narrative techniques. The response may include the following: experiences, characters, setting, and events that may lack clarity or be vague or confusing, use of dialogue and/or description that may be minimal, absent, incorrect, or irrelevant, little or no use of sensory and/or concrete language; language that does not advance and may interfere with the purpose, little or no evidence of appropriate style or voice.

Does not meet criteria for one point

The response demonstrates an adequate command of basic conventions. The response may include the following: some minor errors in grammar usage but no pattern of errors, adequate use of punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, and spelling.

The response demonstrates a partial command of basic conventions. The response may include the following: various errors in grammar usage, inconsistent use of correct punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, and spelling.

The response demonstrates a lack of command of conventions, with frequent and severe errors often obscuring meaning.