English
Narrative Writing Rubric
The Assignment:
Write an imaginative story to enlighten and entertain through
characterization and theme! The story should be fiction (made up).
Your setting and characters can be completely imaginary or modeled after places and people you
know. The final draft of the story will be typed and illustrated.
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The story must be at least five paragraphs (introduction, body, and conclusion).
Your story must fit on a plot diagram with all plot elements included.
You must include dialogue.
You must write at least one type of conflict into your story.
You must create a creative and appropriate title for your story.
The story must be typed.
The story should include characters and a clearly described setting.
Graded Elements of the Assignment:
 Rough Draft
 Plot Diagram
 The title page should include the following: (1) Title (2) Your Name (3) Class (4) Date
Due and (5) Picture
 Final Draft with illustrations (in writing folder) – test/major project grade
Project Timeline (due dates):
 Preliminary work – week one of project, brainstorming: October 6-10
 Introductory Paragraph: Tuesday, October 7
 Final Draft with illustrations: Monday, October 20, 2014
Formatting:
 Title font style and size: Font style of your choice, no larger than 18
point size
 Body text font style and size: Times New Roman, no larger than 12 point size
Imaginative Story Rubric
Categories
Title
Characterization
Setting
Problem/
Conflict
Organization
Techniques
Illustrations
Conventions
(Grammar and
Spelling)
4= Exceeds
Expectations
3=Meets
Expectations
Title is creative,
sparks interest, and
is related to the story
or topic.
Main characters are
named and clearly
described using a
variety of direct and
indirect techniques.
Readers could
describe the
characters
accurately.
Many vivid,
descriptive words
(sensory) are used to
tell when and where
the story took place.
Readers very easily
understand the
problem the main
characters face and
why.
The story is well
organized, using a
logical sequence of
events, elements of
plot (exposition,
rising, action, climax,
falling action,
resolution), and clear
transitions.
The writer used at
least three literary
devices to enhance
the story.
Illustrations are
detailed, attractive,
creative, and relate
to the text on the
story.
The writer makes no
errors in grammar or
spelling that distract
the reader from the
story.
2=Below
Expectations
Title is related to
the story and topic.
1=Minimal
Effort
Main characters are
named and
described using
some direct and
indirect techniques.
Readers have some
idea of what the
readers are like.
Title is present, but
does not appear to
be related to the
story and topic.
Main characters are
named using few
direct and indirect
characterization
techniques.
Readers know very
little about the
characters.
Some vivid,
descriptive words
(sensory) are used
to tell the audience
when and where the
story took place.
Readers understand
the problem the
main characters face
and why.
Readers can figure
out when and where
the story took place,
but the writer did
not supply much
detail.
Readers understand
the problem, but it
is not clear why it is
a problem.
The story is well
organized. One idea
or scene may seem
out of place. Clear
transitions are used.
The story is a little
hard to follow. The
transitions are
sometimes not
clear.
The story seems
to be randomly
arranged.
The writer used at
least two literary
devices to enhance
the story.
Illustrations are
somewhat detailed,
attractive, and
relate to the story.
The writer used at
least one literary
device to enhance
the story.
Illustrations relate
to the story.
The story lacks
literary devices.
The writer makes
one to two errors in
grammar or spelling
that distract the
reader.
The writer makes
three to four errors
in grammar or
spelling that distract
the reader.
The writer
makes more
than four errors
in grammar to
spelling.
Score
No title.
It is hard to tell
who the main
characters are
and there is
little or no use
of direct or
indirect
characterization
techniques.
Readers have
trouble figuring
out when and
where the story
took place.
It is not clear
what problem
the main
characters face.
Illustrations are
not present or
do not relate to
the story.
Points
32
31-29
28-26
25-23
22-21
20-19
18-17
16-14
13-11
10-8
Score
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
Total