Expository Writing Rubric
Explanatory
4
Advanced
E1
Ideas
Strong, organized
subtopics; scheme
apparent – may be
unique
IDEAS - research
OUTLINE first
Organized facts to build
your piece
Interesting; unexpected
New information to most
Citations / Footnotes
Succinct, meaningful,
fact only statements
Facts get to heart of
topic; fascinating and
original
Unexpected
information
E4
E5
Organization
Voice
E3
Word Choice
E2
Organization
Multiple accurate
sources; footnotes
accurately used
THESIS and CLOSING
Strong; clever; enticing the
audience to learn more
ORGANIZATION
Focus
Coherence
Factual Evidence
VOICE
Connecting to your
Audience
Personality
Originality
Anecdotes
Insider perspective
Word Choice
Strong vocabulary
Formal Style
3
Proficient
2
Developing
Subtopics balanced;
organizational
‘scheme’ apparent
Subtopics show
synthesis; may still be
too broad or unclear
Disorganized
Mainly ‘facts only’
statements
Subtopics disorganized
with no ‘scheme’
apparent
Sub-topics absent or
unclear
Many interesting facts
Facts seem inaccurate
Some sentences; moving or unsupported
toward ‘facts only’
What is a citation?
Reliable facts
Still relies heavily on
‘standard’ information
Sentences included
One accurate citation
Multiple sources
accurately cited –
alpha order
Theme based thesis
(lead) draws in reader
Effective thesis (lead)
& conclusion
Satisfying conclusion
reconnects to theme in
lead
Focused on what really
matters
May stay connected
strictly to content
Factual graphics
and/or multi-media
effectively used;
caption adds value
1
Beginning
Many focused
descriptions;
Generally stays on
topic
Graphics or multimedia present; caption
adds value
Invites reader to
analyze the topic and
draw or conclusions
Audience is engaged
Offers an insider’s
perspective
Compelling voice
interests reader
Tells anecdotes to
bring topic to life
Still an outsider’s
perspective
Establishes and
maintains a formal
style strong, single
word verbs
Inconsistently formal
style strong, single
word verbs
Nothing really fresh or
interesting
One or more incomplete
citations
Thesis (lead) &
conclusion present but
ineffective
No thesis and / or
conclusion apparent
Some focused; some
vague descriptions or
suspicious facts
Unfocused; incoherent
Citations present;
incomplete or
disorganized
Details may be
unrelated to thesis
No citations present
No graphics present
Graphics or multi-media
present; may not be very
effective; caption absent
or ineffective
Occasionally intrigues
No connection or
audience
concern for audience
Creative, but natural
Accurate words create
Precise, content
a message. More
specific vocabulary
content specific words
creates a clear message. would help.
Spotty voice; still
unconvincing
No anecdotes used to
connect to audience
Outsider’s perspective
Outsiders’ perspective
Does not anticipate
reader’s questions
Needs to establish a
more formal style
strong, single word
verbs
Many informal
grammar patterns; work
on stronger single word
verbs
More accurate and
content specific
vocabulary needed.
Words lack the power
to support your
message.