Memoir Writing Rubric
Name: ________________________________________________________________
Class:_____
Criteria
4
3
2
1
The memoir focuses on
The memoir focuses on
The memoir focuses
The writer does
Write Trait #1:
a single moment that
on a single moment
not seem to be
Ideas (Memorable a single moment that
seems significant to the
seems somewhat
that does not seem
aware of the
Moment)
writer’s life. It is a
significant to the
significant to the
significance of the
single-day or less in the
writer’s life.
writer’s life.
moment.
writer’s life.
The memoir is very well The memoir is fairly
The memoir is hard
The memoir is
Write Trait #2:
organized. One idea
well organized. One
to follow. A couple of difficult to follow.
Organization
idea may seem out of
ideas are out of
Several ideas are
(AAAWWUBBIS) follows another in a
logical sequence with
place. AAAWWUBBIS sequence. More
out of sequence.
clear transitions
is used occasionally.
transitions are
Few, if any,
(AAAWWUBBIS).
Clear transitions are
needed.
transitions are
Flashbacks may be used
used.
used.
to enhance the story.
The writer consistently
The writer sometimes
The writer “tells” the
No effort is made
Write Trait #3:
“shows” the significance “shows” the
significance of the
to reveal the
Voice
of the events through
significance of the
events through direct
significance of the
(First Person)
engaging details,
events through details,
statements. The
events to the
compelling language,
compelling language,
student writes in the
reader. The student
and a balance of action
and a balance of action
first person.
does not write in
and thoughts. The
and thoughts. The
the first person.
student writes in the first student writes in the
person.
first person.
The writer uses a
The writer uses a
The writer uses
The writer uses
Write Trait #4:
combination of long and combination of long and mostly simple
simple sentences
Sentence Fluency
short sentences
short sentences. Front,
sentences of the same throughout the
effectively. Front,
middle, and end
length. Some
memoir. There are
middle, and end
branches are used. The
sentence fragments
many sentence
branches are used.
occasional sentence
and run-on sentences
fragments and runPowerful simple
fragment and run-on
are used in the
on sentences used
sentences are used for
sentence is used in the
memoir.
in the memoir.
effect in the memoir.
memoir.
The writer makes no
The writer makes a few
The writer makes
The writer makes
Write Trait #5:
errors with
errors with
several errors with
numerous errors in
Conventions
capitalization,
capitalization,
capitalization,
capitalization,
punctuation, spelling, or punctuation, spelling, or punctuation, spelling, punctuation,
homonyms, so the
homonyms; however,
or homonyms which
spelling, or
memoir is very easy to
the memoir is still easy
make it more difficult homonyms which
read. No mistakes with
to read.
to read. There are
make it difficult to
the student’s use of
mistakes with the
read.
their/they’re/there,
student’s use of
too/to, and
their/they’re/there,
your/you’re.
too/to, and
your/you’re.
The writer uses action,
The writer uses action,
The writer attempts
The writer does
Memoir Lead
dialogue, thoughts, or a
dialogue, thoughts, or a
to use action,
not
sound effect in a
sound effect in the lead.
dialogue, thoughts,
use action,
purposeful lead. The
The title is compelling.
or a sound effect in
dialogue, thoughts,
title helps the reader
the lead, but it may
or a sound effect in
understand the
not flow into the next the lead. The title
significance of this
paragraph. The title
informs
memory.
informs the reader of
reader of the topic.
the topic.
The dialogue is wellThe dialogue is properly There is too
There is too
Dialogue
used and advances the
used most of the time. It much/too little
much/too little
memoir. It is always
is always clear who is
dialogue in the
dialogue that
clear who is speaking.
speaking. There are
memoir. It is not
detracts from the
Proper paragraphing
and indentation are
consistently followed.
Conclusion
Write Trait #6:
Presentation
some errors punctuating
dialogue.
The piece contains a
The piece contains a
strong conclusion that
conclusion that
summarizes the memoir
summarizes the
and demonstrates the
memoir.
significance of the
moment.
The memoir is neatly written and/or typed
according to the DMS Literacy Writing Code.
always clear who is
speaking. There are
multiple errors
punctuating dialogue.
memoir. There are
many errors
punctuating
dialogue.
The piece contains a
weak conclusion that
restates the events
from the memoir.
The piece does not
contain a
conclusion.
The format of the memoir is not appropriate
and the piece is not written neatly or typed
according to the DMS Literacy Code.
Total: ________/36
Comments:
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