Informative Writing Rubric
Common Core Standards G.11&12
INFORMATIVE
Description
5 Exceptional
4 Skilled
3 Proficient
2 Developing
1 Inadequate
Focus:
The text clearly
The text focuses on an
The text has a topic
The text has an
The text has an
The text focuses on a
focuses on a
interesting topic that
that informs the
unclear topic with
unidentifiable topic
topic to inform a reader
compelling topic that
informs the reader with
reader with ideas,
some ideas,
with minimal ideas,
with ideas, concepts,
informs the reader
ideas, concepts, and
concepts, and
concepts, and
concepts, and
and information that
with ideas, concepts,
information that creates a
information that creates
information.
information.
creates a unified whole.
and information that
unified whole.
a unified whole.
The
text
contains limited
facts
creates a unified
whole.
Development:
The text provides
The text provides relevant
The text provides
The text provides facts,
The text presents facts,
significant and relevant
facts, extended definitions,
facts, extended
definitions, details,
extended definitions,
facts, extended
concrete details,
definitions, concrete
quotations, and/or
concrete details,
definitions, concrete
quotations, and/or
details, quotations,
examples that attempt
quotations, and
details, quotations
examples that sufficiently
and/or examples
to develop and explain
examples. The text
and/or examples that
develop and explain the
that develop the
the topic. The text may
provides a conclusion
thoroughly develop and
topic. The text provides a
topic. The text
provide a conclusion
that supports the topic
explain the topic. The
competent conclusion
provides a conclusion
that supports the topic.
and examines its
text
that supports the topic
that supports the
implications and
provides an engaging
conclusion that supports
and examines its
implications and
topic and examines
significance.
the topic and examines its
significance.
significance.
and
examples
related to the topic.
The text may or may
not
provide
a
conclusion.
its implications and
implications and
significance.
Audience:
The text consistently
The text anticipates the
The text considers the
The text illustrates an
The text lacks an
The text anticipates the
addresses the
audience’s knowledge
audience’s knowledge
inconsistent
awareness of the
audience’s background
audience’s knowledge
level and concerns about
level about the topic.
awareness of the
audience’s
knowledge of the topic.
level and concerns
the topic. The text
The text includes
audience’s knowledge
knowledge level
The text includes
about the topic. The text
includes appropriate
formatting, graphics,
level about the topic.
about
formatting, graphics,
includes effective
formatting, graphics,
and/or multimedia
The text may include
the topic. The text
and/or multimedia when
formatting, graphics,
and/or multi- media that
when useful to aiding
some formatting,
includes limited or
useful to aiding
and/or multimedia that
strengthen
comprehension.
graphics, and/or
inaccurate formatting,
comprehension.
enhance
comprehension.
multimedia that may
graphics, and/ or
be distracting or
multimedia that
irrelevant.
impedes
comprehension.
The text uses words,
The text contains
comprehension.
The text contains few,
uses words, phrases,
The text skillfully
uses words,
phrases, and clauses
limited words,
if any, words,
and clauses to link the
phrases, and clauses to
to link the major
phrases, and clauses
phrases, and clauses
ideas and concepts.
major sections of text.
link the major sections of
sections of the text.
to link the major
to link the major
The text includes
The text explains the
the text. The text identifies
The text connects the
sections of the text.
sections of the text.
appropriate and varied
relationships between
the relationship between
topic and the
The text attempts to
The text does not
transitions and syntax.
the topic and the
the
examples and/or
connect the topic and
connect the topic and
examples and/or facts.
examples and/or facts.
facts.
the examples and/or
the examples and/or
facts.
facts.
Cohesion:
The text strategically
The text explains the
relationship between
topic
and
the
Informative Writing Rubric
Common Core Standards G.11&12
Language and Style:
The text presents an
The text presents a
The text presents a
The text illustrates a
The text illustrates a
The text presents a
engaging, formal, and
formal, objective tone.
formal, objective tone.
limited awareness of
limited or inconsistent
formal style and
objective tone. The
The text uses precise
The text uses relevant
formal tone. The text
tone. The text uses
objective tone and uses
text uses
language, vocabulary,
language, vocabulary,
attempts to use
imprecise language,
language, vocabulary,
sophisticated
and techniques such as
and techniques such
language, vocabulary,
vocabulary, and
and techniques such
language, vocabulary,
metaphor, simile, and
as metaphor, simile,
and some techniques
limited techniques.
as metaphor, simile,
and techniques such
analogy to man- age the
and analogy to
such as metaphor,
and analogy to manage
as metaphor, simile, and
complexity of the topic.
manage the
simile, and analogy.
the topic.
analogy to manage the
complexity of the
complexity of the topic.
topic.
Conventions:
The text intentionally
The text demonstrates
The text demonstrates
The text demonstrates
The text contains
The text demonstrates
uses standard English
standard English
standard English
some accuracy in
multiple inaccuracies
standard English
conventions of usage
conventions of usage
conventions of usage
standard English
in Standard English
conventions of usage
and mechanics while
and mechanics while
and mechanics while
conventions of usage
conventions of usage
and mechanics while
specifically attending to
suitably attending to the
attending to the norms
and mechanics.
and mechanics.
attending to the norms
the norms of the
norms of the discipline in
of the discipline in
of the discipline in which
discipline in which they
which they are writing
which they are writing
they are writing (MLA,
are writing (MLA, APA,
(MLA, APA, etc.).
(MLA, APA, etc.).
APA, etc.).
etc.).