Journal Rubric
Six Traits
Ideas & Content
4
Entry is written in
first person
narrative
following the
format outlined in
the assignment
handout.
Organization
-Organizing
structure is very
clear with main
ideas and
supporting details.
Voice/
Characterization
Entry reflects on
events of “The
River.” The
character's back
story is welldeveloped.
Entry reflects on
some events that
happened in “The
River.” The
character's back
story is welldeveloped.
Sentence Fluency
-Sentences have
natural flow and
rhythm
-Sentence length,
structure, and
complexity is
varied.
Uses word choice
that is fitting for
the journal writer.
-Sentences flow.
-Sentence
structures are
correct and varied.
-Contains few if
any errors in
conventions that
make the writing
easy to read and
understand.
Cover was
creatively
completed.
Contains some
convention errors
that do not
interfere with the
meaning.
Word Choice
Conventions
Cover
Score: ______ /28 = _______%
3
-Entry is written in
first person
narrative
following almost
the entire format
outlined in the
assignment
handout.
-Organizing
structure is mostly
clear with main
ideas and
supporting details
Somewhat uses
word choice that is
fitting to the
journal writer.
Cover was
minimally
completed
2
Entry is written in
first person
narrative
following parts of
the format
outlined in the
assignment
handout.
-Organizing structure is weak
with an
inconsistent focus
and too few
paragraphs.
- Entry does not
reflect on events
that happened in
“The River.” The
character's back
story is minimally
developed.
-Has fragmented,
run-on or
confusing
sentences.
-Sentence
structures are
limited in variety.
Word choice does
very little to
reflect the
character of the
journal writer.
Contains frequent
convention errors
that are noticeable
and slow or
confuse the
reader.
Cover was not
completed.
1
Entry is not
written in first
person narrative
following the
format outlined in
the assignment
handout.
Organization has
no clear structure,
focus, or
paragraphs.
- The subjects
often does not deal
directly with the
diary entry, or is
hard to
understand. The
character's back
story is not
evident.
Sentences are
incomplete,
unclear, and/or
lacking in variety.
Word choice does
not reflect the
character of the
journal writer.
Contains so many
convention errors
that the writing is
difficult to follow.
Does not have a
cover.