Grades 3 – 12 Conventions Rubric
3rd – 12th Grade
Conventions
Name:
Text Layout/Handwriting
* Independently writes
letters and words
legibly in cursive
3
2
1
0
* Correct spacing and
directionality
Date:
Grammar
* Independently
writes a variety of
sentences at grade
level expectations
with good control of
grammar
* Uses a wide range
of tenses
Punctuation
Capitalization
Spelling
* Independently uses
correct punctuation
at grade level
expectations
* Appropriately uses
correct capital letters
throughout sentence
(I, names, begin. of
sentence)
* Spells grade level
words correctly and
makes clear phonetic
attempts to spell
words above grade
level
*Spells a limited
number of grade
level words correctly
and makes phonetic
attempts to spell
words at or above
grade level
* Makes phonetic
attempts to spell
grade level
appropriate words
* Uses classroom
resources to find
correct spelling
*Independently writes
letters and words legibly in
manuscript
* Uses correct directionality
and spacing
* Independently writes
simple sentences with
moderate control of
grammar
* Uses basic common
structures
* Attempts correct
punctuation at grade
level expectations
*Independently uses
correct capital letters
at beginning of a
sentence
*Writes letters legibly
using a model in
manuscript
* Attempts spacing
within and between
words
* Uses simple sentence
structures (noun + verb)
which contain correct
grammar following a
model
* Uses correct
punctuation following
a model
* Uses correct capital
letters following a
model
*Incorrect or no sentence
structures
* no punctuation
* Capital letters and
lower case letters not
distinguished
*Writing does not contain
letters
* Writing illegible
* No spaces
* Phonetic attempts
not made
* Spelling resources
not used
Grades 6 – 12 Crafts Rubric
6th – 12th
Grade
Craft
3

2
1
0
Date:
Name:
Organization
Idea Development
Language Use
Word Choice
Voice
* Organizes writing with an
effective and engaging
introduction, body, conclusion
and a closing statement
* Uses grade appropriate
transitional words
*Organizes writing appropriately
to fit the purpose or genre
*Writes well-crafted paragraphs
organized in a logical sequence
*Organizes writing by
providing simple introduction,
body and clear sense of closure
* Uses simple transitional words
* Attempts to organize information
to fit purpose or genre
*Writes paragraphs organized in a
logical sequence
* States and
develops clear main
idea/ thesis
* Provides supporting
details that are
accurate, relevant
and helpful
* Shows strong
knowledge of topic
and maintains focus
* Develops main idea
*Provides supporting
details
*Maintains focus
* Varies simple,
compound, and
complex sentence
structures.
*Varies sentence
length
* Uses a range of
figurative and
descriptive language
* Chooses precise
and descriptive
words to convey
intended meaning
*Uses appropriate
content vocabulary
* Writes in a way
that speaks to the
reader
*Uses a range of
complete sentences
(declarative,
interrogative and
exclamatory)
*Uses some figurative
and/or descriptive
language
* Chooses
appropriate words to
convey intended
meaning
*Uses basic
vocabulary to
communicate a
range of ideas
* Organizes writing by providing at
least 2 of the following:
introduction, body or closure

* Organizes writing to fit purpose or
model using a model
*Writes in paragraphs but lacking 
logical sequence
*Lacks organization appropriate
to genre
* No paragraphs evident
*Lacks clear 
main idea
*Provides
detail that may not 
support main idea
*Strays from
topic
* No main idea
communicated
* No details
* Topic unclear
*Uses only
simple sentence
structures
*Attempts use
of descriptive
language
*Uses high frequency
vocabulary to
communicate ideas
* Incomplete sentence
structure
* Lacks figurative or
descriptive language
*Isolated words
AND
*Reveals the
person behind
the writing
* Writes in a way
that speaks to the
reader
OR
*Reveals the
person behind
the writing
Lacks clear
connections to
the reader or
writer
* Voice is not
present