Construct Measured
Score Point 6
Score Point 5
Score Point 4
Score Point 3
Score Point 2
Score Point 1
Ideas
The writer’s claim is
The writer’s claim is
The writer’s claim is
A claim is stated.
The writer’s claim is
The writer does not
stated clearly.
stated clearly.
stated adequately.
Counterclaims are not
not stated clearly.
state a claim.
Counterclaims are
Counterclaims are
The author may fail
anticipated or are
Counterclaims are not
Reasons and evidence
anticipated and
anticipated and
to anticipate or
not addressed well.
addressed. Reasons
are not provided.
addressed very well.
addressed. Most of
address one or more
There is little
and evidence are
Accurate reasons and
the reasons and
common
accurate support for
unrelated or
evidence from credible
evidence are accurate
counterclaims. One or
the writer’s claim.
inaccurate.
sources support the
and from credible
two reasons or pieces
claim.
sources.
of evidence may not
be from credible
sources.
Organization
The argument is
The argument is
The argument is
The argument is not
The argument is not
The writing is not
organized logically,
organized logically,
organized logically,
organized logically.
organized logically.
organized as an
including a strong
including a good
including an
The introduction or
The introduction and
argument.
introduction. A
introduction. The
introduction. The
conclusion is missing
conclusion are
compelling conclusion
conclusion restates
conclusion may not
(or problematic).
missing. Transitions
restates the thesis
the thesis and may
restate the thesis or
Transitions are not
are not used.
and includes a call to
include a call to
may not include a
appropriate or
Counterclaims are not
action. Clear and
action. Most
call to action. More
effective.
addressed.
unique transitions
transitions clarify the
or better transitions
Counterclaims are not
clarify the
relationship between
may be needed to
addressed effectively.
relationships between
the claim, reasons,
clarify the
the claim, reasons,
supporting evidence,
relationships between
supporting evidence,
and counterclaims.
claim, reasons,
and counterclaims.
supporting evidence,
and counterclaims.
Voice and Craft
The voice strongly
The voice supports
The voice mostly
The voice is fairly
The voice is weak or
The voice is flat or
supports the writer’s
the writer’s purpose
supports the writer’s
weak or passive
inappropriate for the
absent. Craft is not
purpose and
and almost always
purpose. The tone is
throughout the piece
purpose and audience.
used.
consistently connects
connects with the
mostly respectful and
and fails to connect
A respectful,
with the audience. A
audience. A
confident, but may
with the audience.
confident tone is not
respectful, confident
respectful, confident
be too informal in
The tone is
established. Craft is
tone is maintained.
tone is maintained.
some places. Craft is
inconsistent. Craft is
not evident
Craft is unique,
Craft is thought out
evident, but not
somewhat evident,
throughout the
intentional, and
and planned.
consistent.
but inconsistent.
entire writing.
carefully planned.
Word Choice
Compelling language
Most of the language
Some of the language
Much of the language
The language is not
Words are weak,
conveys the writer’s
is compelling. Nouns
is compelling, but
is vague or
compelling. Many
negative, or used
ideas and engages the
and verbs are mostly
some is vague or
ineffective. Nouns
words are very basic.
incorrectly.
reader. Nouns and
clear and precise.
ineffective. Some
and verbs lack clarity
Nouns and verbs are
verbs are clear and
Most modifiers are
nouns and verbs are
or precision. Too
vague, unclear, or
precise, supported by
carefully selected.
strong, but others
many or too few
confusing. Modifiers
a few carefully
are weak, requiring
modifiers are used,
may be missing.
selected modifiers.
too much help from
and many of these
modifiers. Modifiers
are weak.
are satisfactory.
Sentence Fluency
The sentences vary
Most of the
Sentence length and
In many places, the
Most sentences are
Sentences are
greatly in length and
sentences vary in
structure vary
writing does not flow
the same length and
incomplete or
structure, adding
their beginnings,
somewhat, with some
smoothly because
structure. Sentence
incorrect. The text
style and interest.
lengths, and
sentences adding
sentences are the
beginnings are
does not flow
Almost all sentences
structures. Several
style or interest.
same length or begin
repeated over and
smoothly.
begin differently. The
add style or interest.
Some sentences
the same way. The
over again. The flow
text flows smoothly
Most of the text
beginnings are
paper is difficult to
is too robotic or
and is effortlessly
flows smoothly and is
repeated. Parts of
read aloud with
rambling.
read aloud with
easy to read aloud
the text flow
inflection.
inflection.
with inflection.
smoothly. The paper
can be read aloud
with inflection.
Conventions
The writing has been
The writing contains
The writing contains
The writing contains
Serious errors affect
The writing has not
carefully edited.
one or two minor
some minor errors
many errors. Line-by-
or alter the meaning.
been edited.
Grammar, usage, and
errors that are easily
that may distract
line editing in specific
mechanics are correct.
corrected.
the reader, but
places is needed. The
meaning remains
errors interfere with
clear.
meaning in some
places.
Point Pleasant Beach School District
Scoring Rubric for Prose Constructed Response Items
Argumentative Task
POINTS EARNED OUT OF 36_____________ SCORE ON THE 100 PERCENTILE________________