Fourth Grade
Reading Literature and Reading Informational
Rubrics
Revised December 2013
1
Standard: RL 1. Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly
and when drawing inferences from the text.
RL1.
Assessment
Prompt:
Make an
inference
and be able
to support it
with
evidence
from the text.


1
I state exactly
what the author
states.
I don’t infer.




2
I go beyond the
words in the text.
I start to infer.
My inferences could
be more meaningful.
I do cite some
evidence from the
text to support my
inference.



3
I go beyond the
words in the text.
I make a logical
inference.
I cite meaningful
evidence from the
text to support my
inference.


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
2
Standard: RL 2. Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the
text.
1
RL2.
Assessment
Prompt:
Summarize
the text.
Identify the
theme.
Support how
you know
this was the
theme with
evidence
from the text.



My summary
lacks the
important
details.
I did not state
the theme, or my
theme is not
accurate.
I did not provide
textual evidence
to support my
summary.



2
3
I summarized the

main ideas in the text.
I identified the theme.
I provided some

details and textual
evidence to support
the summary and

theme.
4
I provided a
detailed summary
of the main ideas
in the text.
I described the
theme in depth.
I provided
meaningful details
and logical textual
evidence to
support the
summary and
theme.


I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
3
Standard: RL 4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including
those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean).
RL 4.
Assessment
Prompt:
Identify
words and
explain how
their
meanings
help you
describe a
character.

1
I am unable to
identify words
and phrases that
describe a
character.

2
I identify words and
phrases that
describe a character.



3
4
I identify words and

phrases that
describe a
character.

I am able to provide
textual evidence of
the words and
phrases that
describe a
character
I explain how those
words contribute to
my understanding
of the character.
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
4
Standard: RL 3. Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on
specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions).
RL 3
Assessment
Prompt:
Describe the
character,
setting or a
key event
and provide
details from
the text that
support your
description.

1
I provide a
limited
description of the
character, setting
and/or key
events.


2
I provide a
description of the
character, setting
and/or key events.
I provide details from
the text to support
my description.


3
I provide a
detailed
description of the
character, setting
and/or key events.
I provide
significant details
from the text to
support my
description.


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
5
Standard: RL 6. Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated,
including the difference between first and third person narration.
1
RL 6
Assessment
Prompt:
Identify the
point of view
in two texts.
Tell if these
are first or
third person
narration.
Show
evidence
from the text
that helps
you know it
is a first or
third person
narration.
2



I attempt to
identify the point
of view
I have difficulty
determining first
and third person
narration
I provide minimal
textual evidence
3



I am able to identify
point of view
I determine first and
third person
narration
I provide some
textual evidence to
explain how I
identified first and
third person
narration
4




I am able to
identify point of
view
I determine first
and third person
narration
I compare and
contrast the point
of view from
different texts.
I provide textual
evidence to
support my
comparison


I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
6
Standard: RL 7. Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or oral
presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions and
directions in the text.
RL 7
Assessment
Prompt:
Tell how
reading the
text is similar
and/or
different to an
oral or visual
representation
.

1
I have difficulty
making a
connection
between the text
and the
oral/visual
representation.


2
I make connections
between the text and
the oral/visual
representation.
I explain differences
between the
oral/visual
representations.



3
I make
connections
between the text
and the oral/visual
representations.
I explain detailed
differences in the
oral/visual
representations.
I can support my
explanation with
evidence from
both the text and
oral/visual
representations.


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
7
Standard: RL 5. Explain major differences between poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the
structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters,
settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text.
1
RL 5
Assessment
Prompt:
Compare and
contrast
structural
elements in
poems and
prose and
explain how
those elements
impact your
understanding.



I have difficulty
telling the
difference
between poetry,
prose and drama
I only identify the
most obvious
structural
elements
I cannot explain
how the
elements impact
my
understanding



2
I tell the difference
between poetry,
prose and drama
I identify some
structural elements
I explain how the
elements impact
my understanding



3
I tell the
difference
between poetry,
prose and drama
I identify
structural
elements
I provide a
detailed
explanation of
how the elements
impact my
understanding


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
8
Standard: RL 9. Compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and topics (e.g.,
opposition of good and evil) and patterns of events (e.g., the quest) in stories, myths, and
traditional literature from different cultures.
RL 9
Assessment
Prompt:
Identify the
theme.
Compare
and contrast
how the
different
stories show
the theme.


1
I attempt to
compare the
theme or topic of
two texts.
I provide
minimal textual
evidence


2
I compare and
contrast the theme or
topic of two texts.
I provide textual
evidence to support
my comparison


3
I compare and
contrast the
similarities and
differences in
depth
I provide detailed
textual evidence to
support my
comparison


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
Standard: RI 1. Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and
9
when drawing inferences from the text.
1
RI 1
Assessment
Prompt:
Make an
inference
about the
text. Support
your
inference
with
evidence
from the text.
.


I state exactly
what the text
states
I don’t infer.




2
I go beyond the
words in the text.
I start to infer.
My inferences about
the text could be
more meaningful.
I do cite some
evidence from the
text to support my
inference.



3
I go beyond the
words in the text.
I make a logical
inference
I cite meaningful
evidence from the
text to support my
inference.


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
RI 5. Describe the overall structure (e.g., chronology, comparison, cause/effect, problem/solution) of
10
events, ideas, concepts, or information in a text or part of a text.
RI 5
Assessment
Prompt:
Explain how you
determined the
structure of the
text using key
words from the
text.

1
I recognize the
structure of the
text.


2
I identify the
structure of the
text
I identify obvious
key words and
phrases that
helped me identify
the structure of
the text


3
I identify the
structure of the
text
I identify key
words and
phrases and can
explain how they
helped me
identify the
structure of the
text


4
I meet all
expectations set
forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
Standard: RI 8. Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.
11
1
RI 8
Assessment
Prompt:
Explain the
key points in
the text. Tell
the evidence
the author
gives to
support the
points

I am unable to
identify the key
points in the
text.


2
I identify some key
points in the text.
I provide some
textual evidence that
may support the key
points.


3
I provide a clear
understanding of
the key points in
the text.
I provide textual
evidence that
consistently
supports the key
points.


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
Standard: RI 2. Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key
12
details; summarize the text.
RI 2
Assessment
Prompt:
Summarize
the text by
determining
the main
idea and the
key details
that support
it.



1
I attempt to
summarize the
text
I attempt to
identify the main
idea
My textual
evidence to
support the main
ideas is missing
or flawed



2
I summarize the text
I identify the main
idea
My textual evidence
supports the main
ideas



3
I summarize the
text in detail
I identify the main
ideas
I provide insightful
textual evidence to
support the main
idea


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
13
Standard: RI 4. Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and
phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
RI 4
Assessment
Prompt:
Identify
words and
explain their
meanings.

1
I am unable to
determine the
meaning of
words in the text.



2
I determine the
meaning of unknown
words in the text.
I use context clues to
figure out the words
I can explain the
basic meaning of
words in the text.



3
I determine the
meaning of
unknown words in
the text.
I use context clues
to figure out the
words.
I can provide a
detailed
explanation of the
word and
understand its
relevance.


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
Standard: RI 6. Compare and contrast a firsthand and secondhand account of the same event or
topic; describe the differences in focus and the information provided.
1
2
3
4
14

RI 6
Assessment
Prompt:
Compare
and contrast
two accounts
of the same
event.


My comparison is
limited or
missing.
I do not
recognize the
differences in the
two texts.

I compare and
contrast two
accounts of the same
event.
I explain the
differences in the two
texts.


I compare and
contrast two
accounts of the
same event.
I explain the
differences and
cite evidence.


I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
Standard: RI 3. Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or
technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
1
2
3
4
15
RI 3
Assessment
Prompt:
Tell what
happened in
the text.
Explain why
it happened
using
information
from the text.


I have difficulty
telling what
happened in the
text
I do not supply
information from
the text


I tell what happened
in the text.
I supply information
from the text to
support my
explanation.


I provided a
detailed
explanation of
what happened in
the text.
I provided
important
information from
the text to support
my explanation.


I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
16
Standard: RI 7. Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts,
graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain
how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
RI 7
Assessment
Prompt:
Interpret the
information
presented
visually.
Explain how
it helped you
understand
the text.


1
I have difficulty
interpreting the
information
presented
visually.
I am not certain
how it
contributes to the
meaning of the
text.
2


I can interpret the
information
presented visually.
I can explain how it
helps me understand
the text.


3
I can provide a
detailed
interpretation of the
information
presented visually
in the text.
I can give a
detailed
explanation of how
it helps me
understand the
text.
4


I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
17
Standard: RI 9. Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak
about the subject knowledgeably.
RI 9
Assessment
Prompt:
Summarize
the
information
from two or
sources on
the same
topic.


1
I have difficulty
summarizing the
information in two
texts.
I have difficulty
communicating a
summary.


2
I can summarize two
texts.
I communicate my
summary.


3
I can summarize
two texts in detail.
I can communicate
my detailed
summary.


4
I meet all
expectations
set forth in 3.
I added
additional,
unexpected,
and/or
outstanding
features.
18