WRT 100 - Narrative Essay Grading Rubric
A range
Content
B range
C range
D range
Well-told story
Presentation of
significant events
and people
Yes
Yes
Vivid and clear Clear
Somewhat
Adequate
Indication of the
event’s significance
Appeal to the
reader’s experience
Point of view
Clear and
insightful
Clear and
engaging
Clear,
consistent and
supports the
purpose of the
essay well
Clear and
purposeful
Any tense
shifts are
logical and
serve a clear
purpose
Clear and
purposeful use
of suspense,
foreshadowing,
irony, paradox
and/or shock
Grammar,
punctuation,
spelling in
accord with
standard usage
Clear
Adequate
No
Some
significant
events and
people are not
presented
and/or focus
on
insignificant
events and
people
Inadequate
Clear
Adequate
Attempted
Clear,
consistent and
supports the
purpose of the
essay
Clear
Clear and
consistent
Mostly clear
and consistent
Adequate
No problems
with tense
shifts
Some
problems with
tense shifts
Somewhat
confusing
Many
problems with
tense shifts
Clear use of
suspense,
foreshadowing,
irony, paradox
and/or shock
Attempted use No dramatic
of suspense,
tension
foreshadowing,
irony, paradox
and/or shock
Grammar,
punctuation,
spelling
generally in
accord with
standard usage
All format
requirements
fulfilled
All format
requirements
fulfilled
Some errors in
grammar,
punctuation,
spelling but
not enough to
distract the
reader
Most format
requirements
fulfilled
(60%)
Organization
Verb tense
Dramatic tension
Grammar and
mechanics
(25%)
Format (15%)
Distracting
errors in
grammar,
punctuation,
spelling
Many format
requirements
ignored