6 TRAITS Descriptive Essay Scoring Guide
WRITER/TITLE:
TRAIT
IDEAS
SUPPORTING DETAILS
ORGANIZATION
SENTENCE FLUENCY
TOTAL SCORE:
WORD CHOICE/VOICE
CONVENTIONS
SCORE
10/9.5/9
[6]
8.5/8
[5]
7.5/7
[4]
6.5/6
[3]
5.5/5
[2]
0-4.5
[1]
 Main message (thesis) is very
clear, focused
 A variety of relevant details
expand on main ideas
 Details are specific, appealing
 Details are thoroughly
explained/described
 Main message (thesis) is clear
 Satisfying amount of relevant
details expand on main ideas
 Details are specific, interesting
 Details are satisfyingly
explained/described
 Order makes sense and is
always easy to follow
 Smooth overall flow
 Opening is strong and
introduces the topic well
 Main message is identifiable
 Adequate amount of relevant
details expand on main ideas
 Most details are specific
 Details are adequately
explained/described
 Order usually makes sense
and is mostly easy to follow
 Some parts are smooth, some
parts are choppy
 Opening introduces the topic
 Main message is unclear
 Insufficient amount of relevant
details expand on main ideas
 Details are mostly general
 Details are briefly
explained/described
 Difficult to identify a main
message
 Very limited amount of
relevant details
 Details are general throughout
 Details are listed
 Ideas seem like undeveloped,
random thoughts
 Totally off-topic
 OR ideas are plagiarized
 Almost no relevant details, OR
 Details are taken from another
source (almost) word-for word
without quotes
American School Foundation of Guadalajara I 2010-2011
 Order goes from point to point
with real sense of purpose
 Very smooth overall flow
 Opening is very inviting and
introduces the topic effectively
 Sentences are correct;
virtually no errors
 Sentences are always
phrased very clearly
 Ideas are smoothly connected
from sentence to sentence
 Sentences are correct; few
errors
 Sentences are phrased clearly
 Ideas are connected from
sentence to sentence
 Sentences have different
lengths and patterns
 Mostly correct sentences; a
few run-ons and/or fragments
 Usually clear; a few awkward,
never-ending or tangly
sentences
 Ideas are mostly connected
 Sentences have some
different lengths and patterns
 A rich variety of strong words
convey the message precisely
and powerfully
 Words paint pictures and
engage the senses
 Writing has strong personality
and vibrant emotional tone
[spelling, spacing, capitalization,
punctuation and grammar]
 A variety of specific words
convey the message concisely
 Words often paint pictures and
appeal to the senses
 Writing has personality and a
strong emotional tone
[spelling, spacing, capitalization,
punctuation and grammar]
 Word choice is usually correct,
clear, varied; some words are
vague; some wordiness
 Images sometimes created
 Writing has strong personality
and emotional tone at times
[spelling, spacing, capitalization,
punctuation and/or grammar]
 Word choice is mostly correct
but limited; some repetition
 Vague words, and/or
wordiness is common
 Images are rarely created
 Some personality, emotion
[spelling, spacing, capitalization,
punctuation, and/or grammar]
[spelling, spacing, capitalization,
punctuation, and/or grammar]
 Order often doesn’t make
sense and is hard to follow
 Writer often jumps suddenly
from idea to idea
 Opening is weak or confusing
 Many run-ons and/or
fragments
 Awkward, never-ending and/or
tangly sentences common
 Many ideas are not connected
from sentence to sentence
 Sentences mostly have the
same lengths and patterns
 Order is hard to follow, even
with effort; it is confusing
 Random shifts in topic/ideas
are common throughout
 No opening; writer just jumps
in OR opening turns reader off
 Run-ons and/or fragments are
common throughout
 Awkward, never-ending and/or
tangly sentences interfere with
meaning
 Ideas are not connected
 Almost all sentences have the
same length and style
 Word choice is often incorrect
or inappropriate and limited
 Vague words, wordiness
make writing unclear
 Words to not create images
 Very weak signs of personality
or emotion
 Hard to tell where sentences
begin and end
 Doesn’t make much sense
 OR writing is plagiarized
 Very limited number of words
that are often repeated
 Incorrect, vague, and/or
unnatural words bury meaning
 No sense of person or
emotion behind the words
 Voice totally wrong for topic,
purpose and audience
 OR writing is plagiarized
 An unconnected collection of
details/thoughts that seems
like free-writing
 Very muddled
 OR writing is plagiarized
 No errors on basics
 Very few or no errors on more
complex conventions
 Sophisticated conventions are
used effectively throughout
 Virtually no errors on basics
 A few minor errors on more
complex conventions
 Sophisticated conventions are
often used
 A few errors on basics
 Some errors on more complex
conventions
 Few sophisticated conventions
are used
 Several errors on basics
 Frequent errors on more
complex conventions
 Only simple conventions are
used
 Too many errors of all kinds
get in the way of message
 Only very simple conventions
are used
[spelling, spacing, capitalization,
punctuation, and/or grammar]
 Riddled with all types of
serious errors that make
reading almost impossible
 Too brief to evaluate
 OR writing is plagiarized
Presentation Scoring Guide: Descriptive Essay
REQUIREMENT
Your name at the top of the page
POINTS
1
Language Arts and your class (8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 8-4) at the top of the page
1
My name at the top of the page (Ms Micelli)
1
The title centered and bold and in a bigger font size than the text
1
A professional and readable 11-point font
1
Line spacing:
-1.5
-an extra space after your info at the top and
1
-an extra space after the title
Margins:
Sides: 1.25 inches
1
Top and Bottom: .5 – 1 inch
Justification: Left and right justified (the text goes all the way to both margins)
Paragraphs: Show new paragraphs by indenting the first line (use the “tab” button).
Do not leave an extra space between paragraphs.
1
1
Footer:
Content: your name and page numbers
1
Size: 9-point
TOTAL
/10