Summer Reading Projects
Wilmington Middle School
Grades 6, 7, & 8
Diary / Blog
4
Complete
5 entries of 100-200
words each.
Content
Each entry tells of an
important event in the
character’s life and how
he/she is feeling. No
information is given
that the character
would not have known.
Sentences and
paragraphs are
complete, wellconstructed, and of
varied structure.
Sentences &
Paragraphs
Voice
Entries sound entirely
like they could have
been written by the
character. Each entry
uses the first person.
Conventions
(Grammar /
Spelling)
Writer makes none or
almost no errors in
grammar, punctuation,
or spelling. Entries
were clearly proofread.
Format
Blog: Entries are
accurately dated and
posted online in an
easy-to-understand
blogging format
Paper: All entries are
typed, accurately dated,
and bound to look like
a diary.
Presentation
Effort was clearly put
into designing blog or
diary that looks like it
was made by the
character. (Blog:
background images,
fonts, etc.; Paper:
bound, looks old, etc.)
Total: _______ / 28 =
3
2
4 entries of 100-200
words each OR 5
entries, but some are
not 100-200 words.
Each entry of an
important event in the
character’s life and how
he/she is feeling. Some
information is given
that the character
should not have known.
All sentences are
complete and wellstructured for the
particular character.
Paragraphing is
generally done well.
Entries typically sound
like they could have
been written by the
character, but there are
occasional lapses. One
entry accidentally uses
the third person.
3 entries of 100-200
words each OR 4-5
entries, but most are not
100-200 words.
1 entry is not about an
important event in the
story, or some entries
do not include the
character’s emotional
reaction to the event.
2 or less entries of 100200 words each OR
none of the entries are
the correct length.
2 or more entries are
not about important
events. No entries say
how the character is
feeling.
Most sentences are
complete and wellconstructed.
Paragraphing needs
some work.
Many sentence
fragments or run-on
sentences OR
paragraphing needs lots
of work.
Entries occasionally
sound like they could
have been written the
character, but often
have the student’s
voice. More than one
entry accidentally uses
the third person.
Writer makes quite a
few errors in grammar,
punctuation, and/or
spelling that make
some sentences
confusing.
Attempts to date entries
accurately have been
made, but some dates
don’t make sense OR all
entries are dated, but
significant time jumps
are made within an
entry that don’t make
sense.
Entries sound like the
student, not the
character, or they are
mostly written in the
third person, not first
person.
More effort could have
been put into making
the blog or diary look
like it was made by a
specific character, but
there are some
customizations.
Blog or diary look
generic. Blog is plain
with no background
images, or diary is
printed on plain white
paper and only bound
with a staple.
Writer makes a couple
errors in grammar,
punctuation, and/or
spelling, but errors do
not take away from the
reader’s understanding.
Blog: Entries are
accurately dated and
posted online, but the
format might be
difficult to understand
(out of order)
Paper: All entries are
typed and accurately
dated, but not bound to
look like a diary.
Some effort was put
into designing blog
(background images,
fonts, etc.) or diary to
look like a character
had really made it.
1
Amount of errors in
spelling, grammar, and
punctuation make most
of the writing difficult
to understand.
Entries are not dated.
Summer Reading Projects
Wilmington Middle School
Grades 6, 7, & 8
Alternate Ending
2
1
There is one clear, wellfocused topic. Main
idea stands out and is
supported by detailed,
descriptive information.
The pacing is wellcontrolled. The writer
knows when to slow
down and elaborate,
and when to pick up
the pace and move on.
4
Main idea is clear, but
the supporting
information is general.
Main idea is somewhat
clear, but there is a need
for more supporting
information.
The pacing is generally
well-controlled, but the
writer occasionally does
not elaborate enough.
Sentence
Fluency
(Flow and
Rhythm)
All sentences sound
natural and are easyon-the-ear when read
aloud. Each sentence is
clear and has an
obvious emphasis.
Word Choice
Writer uses vivid words
and phrases that linger
or draw pictures in the
reader’s mind, and
placement of the words
seems accurate, natural,
and not forced.
Almost all sentences
sound natural and are
easy-on-the-ear when
read aloud, but a couple
are stiff and awkward
or difficult to
understand.
Writer uses vivid words
and phrases that linger
or draw pictures in the
reader’s mind, but
occasionally the words
are used inaccurately or
seem overdone.
The pacing is generally
well-controlled, but the
writer sometimes
repeats the same point
over and over, or
spends too much time
on details that don’t
matter.
Most sentences sound
natural and are easyon-the-ear when read
aloud, but several are
stiff and awkward or
are difficult to
understand.
Writer uses words that
communicate clearly,
but the writing lacks
variety, punch, or flair.
The main idea is not
clear. There is a
seemingly random
collection of
information.
The pacing often feels
awkward to the reader.
The writer elaborates
when there is little
need, and then leaves
out necessary
supporting information.
Voice
(Personality)
The new ending reads
like it was written by
the book’s author. All of
the characters keep
their personalities in
dialogue. The writer’s
own flair for language
is shown.
0-1 errors in spelling,
grammar, or
punctuation. Clearly
proofread for mistakes.
The new ending sounds
like it could have been
written by the book’s
author. Most dialogue
fits with the characters’
personalities.
The new ending sounds
similar to the style of
the book’s author. The
writer may not have
included dialogue to
show characters’
personalities.
A couple errors in
spelling, grammar, or
punctuation.
Multiple errors in
spelling, grammar, or
punctuation. May not
have been proofread.
Paragraph explains
how your ending is
different from the
original, and why you
chose to change it in
this manner. Writing is
detailed and complete.
8-10 dynamic sentences,
typed.
Paragraph explains
how your ending is
different from the
original, and why you
chose to change it. 8-10
sentences, typed.
Paragraph explains
how your ending is
different from the
original. 4-7 sentences
OR not typed.
Focus on
Topic
(Content)
Organization
Conventions
(Grammar /
Spelling)
Explanation
of Writing
(Paragraph)
Total: _______ / 28 =
3
The sentences are
difficult to read aloud
because they sound
awkward, are
distractingly repetitive,
or difficult to
understand.
Writer uses a limited
vocabulary that does
not communicate
strongly or capture the
reader’s interest. Jargon
or clichés may be
present and detract
from the meaning.
The new ending doesn’t
sound authentic to the
way the book was
written. The way the
characters sound
doesn’t fit with how
they were represented
in the original book.
Amount of errors in
spelling, grammar, or
punctuation make the
writing difficult to
understand.
Paragraph does not
explain any changes to
the original ending OR
it is 0-3 sentences OR
not typed.
Summer Reading Projects
Wilmington Middle School
Grades 6, 7, & 8
Diorama
3
2
1
Complete
All characters and
scenery from the scene
in the text are
represented in the
diorama. The diorama
is a specific scene and
not just a setting.
4
All characters and most
scenery from the scene
in the text are
represented in the
diorama. The diorama
is a specific scene and
not just a setting.
Several characters
and/or a lot of scenery
are missing from the
diorama.
Labeled
Labels are used to
distinguish all
characters and
locations.
The diorama faithfully
represents the
descriptions of people
and places in the book.
Labels are used to
distinguish most
characters and
locations.
The diorama attempts
to represent the
descriptions of people
and places, but has a
couple noticeable,
minor differences.
Most characters and
some scenery from the
scene in the text are
represented in the
diorama. The diorama
may only represent a
setting and not a
specific scene.
Labels are used to
distinguish a couple
characters OR locations.
All items in the
diorama are 3D, to
scale, and extremely
detailed in color,
texture, and shape.
Project is neat and tidy
without visible
smudges, tape, or glue
All items in the
diorama are 3D, mostly
to scale, and somewhat
detailed in color,
texture, and shape.
Project is mostly neat
and tidy. Any visible
smudges, tape, or glue
does not get in the way.
Paragraph
Paragraph clearly
explains (1) what is
happening in the scene,
(2) why you chose to
use this particular
scene, and (3) what
creative decisions you
made when designing
it.
Conventions
(Grammar /
Spelling)
Paragraph is typed and
contains none or
extremely minor errors
in spelling, grammar,
and punctuation.
Paragraph is missing
explanations of ONE of
the following: (1) what
is happening in the
scene, (2) why you
chose to use this
particular scene, and (3)
what creative decisions
you made when
designing it.
Paragraph is typed and
contains a couple errors
in spelling, grammar, or
punctuation.
Accurate
Detail
Neatness
Total: _______ / 28 =
The diorama attempts
to represent the
descriptions of people
and places, but has
several noticeable
differences or one major
difference.
Nearly all items in the
diorama are 3D, to
scale, and somewhat
detailed in color,
texture, and shape.
Project is somewhat
neat and tidy. Some
visible smudges, tape,
or glue is quite
noticeable.
Paragraph is missing
explanations of TWO of
the following: (1) what
is happening in the
scene, (2) why you
chose to use this
particular scene, and (3)
what creative decisions
you made when
designing it.
Paragraph is typed but
contains many errors in
spelling or grammar
OR paragraph is not
typed.
No labels are used. It is
unclear which figures
represent which
characters.
While the people and
places are in the
diorama, they do not
match the descriptions
from the text.
Several items in the
diorama are noticeably
NOT 3D, to scale, or
detailed in color,
texture, and shape.
Project is messy, or
looks like it was thrown
together.
Paragraph does NOT
explain the diorama in
any way OR no
paragraph was
submitted with the
diorama.
Amount of errors in
spelling, grammar, or
punctuation make the
writing difficult to
understand.