Legend or Strange Phenomenon Informational Essay
Scoring Rubric
Construct
Measured
Comprehension
of Key Ideas
and Details
Development
of Ideas
Organization
Clarity of
Language
(voice, word
choice,
sentence
fluency)
Score Point 4
Score Point
3
Accurate analysis of
the research.
Accurate analysis
of the research.
Includes relevant
information only.
Includes relevant
information.
Demonstrates
complete
understanding of the
research.
Demonstrates some
understanding of
the research.
Informs about an
approved legend or
phenomenon.
Score Point
2
Score Point
1
Mostly accurate
analysis of the
research.
Minimally accurate
analysis of the
research.
Includes relevant
information.
Includes
information.
Informs about an
approved legend or
phenomenon.
Demonstrates
minimal
understanding of
the research.
Informs about an
approved legend or
phenomenon.
Demonstrates
minimal
understanding of the
research.
Informs about an
approved legend or
phenomenon.
Comprehensively
develops topic.
Effectively
develops the topic.
Somewhat develops
the topic.
Minimally develops
the topic.
Uses clear, relevant,
and descriptive
details.
Uses clear and
descriptive details.
Uses some
descriptive details.
Uses minimally
descriptive details.
Writes mostly
appropriate to task,
purpose, and
audience.
Writes somewhat
appropriate to task,
purpose, and
audience.
Writes with limited
appropriateness to
task, purpose, and
audience.
Essay has flow and
is mostly clear.
Essay has some
flow and is
somewhat clear.
Essay has limited
flow and not very
clear.
Includes an
introduction.
Lacks a fiveparagraph structure.
Writes consistently
appropriate to task,
purpose, and
audience.
Essay flows well and
is clear.
Includes a strong
introduction (with
hook and preview).
Includes an
introduction (with
hook and preview).
Includes a strong
conclusion (with a
synthesis of ideas and
new learning).
Includes a
conclusion (with a
synthesis of ideas
and new learning).
Includes three wellorganized body
paragraphs (with topic
sentence and
supporting details for
each).
Maintains formal
writing style
throughout.
Includes three body
paragraphs (with
topic sentence and
supporting details
for each).
Maintains formal
writing style
throughout.
Maintains a mostly
formal writing
style.
Uses descriptive
words and phrases
throughout.
Uses descriptive
words and phrases.
Uses some
descriptive words
and phrases.
Uses linking and
transitional words
throughout.
Uses linking and
transitional words.
Score Point:
0
Inaccurate analysis
of the research.
Includes
information.
Demonstrates little
to no understanding
of the research.
Underdeveloped
Inappropriate to task,
purpose, and/or
audience.
Essay has no flow
and is not clear.
Lacks a fiveparagraph structure.
Includes a
conclusion.
Includes three body
paragraphs.
Uses some linking
and transitional
words.
Maintains a limited
formal writing style.
Inappropriate style
of writing.
Uses limited
descriptive words
and phrases.
Does not use
descriptive words
and phrases.
Uses limited linking
and transitional
words.
Does not use linking
and transitional
words.
Legend or Strange Phenomenon Informational Essay
Scoring Rubric Continued
Construct
Measured
Conventions
Score Point 4
Score Point
3
Has few minor errors
in grammar.
Has few distracting
errors in grammar.
Has few minor errors
in vocabulary usage.
Has few distracting
errors in vocabulary
usage.
Varies sentence
structure.
Citations
Varies sentence
structure.
Uses at least three
credible sources.
Uses at least three
credible sources.
Cites one source
accurately in essay.
Cites one source in
essay with minor
errors.
Accurately formatted
works cited attached.
Works cited
attached with minor
errors.
Score Point:
0
Score Point 2
Score Point 1
Has distracting errors
in grammar that
occasionally impedes
understanding.
Has multiple
distracting errors in
grammar that
sometimes impedes
understanding.
Has multiple
distracting errors in
grammar that often
impedes
understanding.
Has multiple
distracting errors in
vocabulary usage that
sometimes impedes
understanding.
Has multiple
distracting errors in
vocabulary usage that
often impedes
understanding.
Uses outside sources.
Uses outside sources.
Does not cite one
source in essay.
Does not cite one
source in essay.
Incorrectly formatted
works cited attached.
No works cited is
attached.
Has few distracting
errors in vocabulary
usage that
occasionally impedes
understanding.
Somewhat varies
sentence structure.
Uses at least three
sources
Incorrectly cites one
source in essay.
Incorrectly formatted
works cited attached.