Winter 2015
Paragraph Rubric
Items
Ideas and Content
Organization and
Coherence
Clarity
Sentence Structures
Very Good
a) Ideas are interesting,
fresh, and original
b) Content shows careful
thought and planning
c) Clearly an Opinion
d) Followed directions
and topic given
Satisfactory
a) Ideas are ordinary
20
19
18
17
a) Main idea and all
sentences are related
b) Clear major and minor
supporting sentences
c) Topic sentence shows
clear topic and
controlling idea and is
very effective
d) Shows clear logical
Order of Importance
order
16 15 14 13 12 11
a) Main idea and most
sentences are related
20
19
18
17
a) All sentences can be
understood
b) Ideas are expressed
very well
10
9
8
a) Many correct complex,
compound and simple
sentences
16 15 14 13 12 11
a) Most sentences can be
understood
b) Ideas are expressed
mostly clearly
7
6
5
4
a) Some correct complex
sentences , mostly correct
simple and compound
sentences
10
Verb Tenses: 1 point
deduction for each verb
tense (VT), verb form
(VF), or subject-verb
agreement (S-V)
Word Choice:
Singular/plural
Vocabulary choices
Word forms
Signal words/
transitions
8
b) Adequate topic
sentence
Some supporting
sentences are off - topic
c) Shows some elements
of logical order – Order
of Importance
7
6
5
b) Content shows little
thought or planning
c) Not an Opinion
paragraph
d) Did not follow
directions regarding the
assignment – off topic
10 ----------------------- 1
a) Main idea not clear or
many sentences not
related to the main idea
b) Topic sentence is not
effective or not present
Organization of
supporting sentences is
unclear
c) Doesn’t really show
elements of Order of
Importance
10 --------------------------1
a) Many sentences can
not be understood
b) Ideas are not expressed
clearly
3
2
1
a) Very few or no
complex sentences
b) problems creating
correct simple and/or
compound sentences
4 3
2
1
20 19 18 17 16 15
14 13 12 11 10 9
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Level 3 Vocabulary
Mostly correct word
forms/ choices. Correct
forms of signal words
Satisfactory vocabulary,
Word forms/ choices
Mostly correct forms of
signal words
Below level 3
Major problems with
singular and plural nouns
Incorrect or no signal
words used
10
Spelling
Punctuation
Capitals
9
b) Content shows some
thought and planning
c) Mostly an Opinion
paragraph
d) Somewhat followed
assignment’s perimeters –
some off topic
Below Standard
a) Ideas are dull or not
developed
9
8
Correct spelling,
punctuation and
capitalization
10
9
7
6
5
Mostly correct
8
7
6
4
3
2
1
Below level
5
4
3
2
1
Winter 2015
Paragraph Rubric