Writing Rubric - Paragraphs
Topic
sentence
1 point
Does not meet goal
2 points
Approaching
The reader cannot tell
the main idea from the
topic sentence or there
is none.
The reader can tell the main
idea from the topic sentence
but the word “because’ is used
in the topic sentence.
Support ing None of the sentences
One of the sentences supports
Ideas
support the main idea.
the main idea.
The message is unclear. The message is somewhat
clear
Transition
Words
Closing
Sentence
3 points
Meets goal
There is a topic sentence that
introduces the main idea of the
paragraph.
More than one sentence supports the
main idea.
The message is clear.
No transition words or
phrases used
Uses three or fewer transitional Uses at least three transitional words
words or phrases.
or phrases in within the body of the
paragraph
There is no closing
sentence.
There is a closing sentence,
but it ends with “that’s how,
that’s why, “ etc. to restate the
main idea.
There is a closing sentence that
restates the main idea of the
paragraph.