4
Ideas/
Information
ideas; numerous
more often than not;
& focused ones;
random notes;
quality details;
good details;
limited detail;
lacking detail;
historical info is
historical info is
contains inaccurate
historical info is
accurate & relevant
accurate & relevant
&/or irrelevant
inaccurate or does
historical info
not exist
Structure of memoir
Overall lack of
is confusing; intro &
structure; no intro or
conclusion
conclusion; memoir
misleading or
seems to be a
inefficient; missing
disjointed collection
transitions
of details/thoughts
easy to read; strong
intro & conclusion;
Unique &
individual; enhances
the feel of the
memoir
tremendously;
vibrant & lively
Words chosen are
strong & to the
point; unique &
engaging; express
ideas clearly
Organization makes
memoir easy to
follow; efficient intro
& conclusion; uses
transitions well
Distinctive &
appealing; adds life
to the memoir;
pleasant &
expressive
Voice emerges at
times; does only a
Unable to detect a
small work to
voice; does not
enhance the memoir;
enhance the memoir
inconsistent &
at all
restrained
Chose words well;
Vague & overused
Cloudy word choice;
practical & clear
words; have to
repeated use of the
language; expresses
search for words
same words; does
ideas well
that express ideas
not engage reader
Easy to read
Fluency
Lacks clarity &
focus; appears to be
extremely well
Sentence
Underdeveloped
ideas outweigh clear
used transitions
Word Choice
1
Clear & focused
structure; memoir is
Voice
2
Very clear & focused
Very thoughtful
Organization
3
Memoir is readable;
sentences; lots of
Easy to read; some
minimal variety in
variety in sentence
variety in sentence
sentence structure;
structures; sentences
structure; minimal
contains choppy
flow effortlessly;
choppy sentences,
sentences,
memoir has a
fragments & run-ons
fragments, & run-
rhythm
ons
Hard to read;
irregular sentence
structures; habitual
choppy sentences,
fragments, & runons
Memoir is
Well edited; minor
An attempt has been
Appears minimum
Conventions
thoroughly edited;
errors that do not
made at editing;
editing took place;
(spelling,
uses conventions
interfere with
noticeable errors
serious/frequent
punctuation,
well; no errors
reading; overall
that distract reader;
errors; errors require
grammar)
distracting reader
understanding of
problems with basic
rereading of the
from essay
conventions
conventions
essay