Advanced ELL Writing Rubric
(March 2010)
Student: _______________________________________
0 or 1
Content:
Relevancy,
Adequacy,
Clarity,
Support
Organization
Word Choice:
Appropriate
use, richness
of expression
Grammar &
Sentence
Structure
Mechanics:
Spelling,
Punctuation, &
Capitalization
Raw Score
Scale Score
Badge #: _______________
2
Conveys meaning
with comprehensible
sentences related to
a picture prompt.
Contains 4+ lines.
Meaning conveyed clearly
through loosely organized
paragraph with 5+
sentences related to one
another & picture prompt.
May have unrelated detail
and/or need inference.
Handles word order Begins with indentation.
consistently & shows Writing includes a topic
some apparent
sentence and 4+
organization of a
related sentences. May
group of sentences.
have a conclusion.
May write sentences
in a list.
Word choice is
related to prompt,
but may be limited
and/or incorrect
at times. Uses subject
pronouns correctly.
May show repetition.
Teacher/Class: _________________________
3
Writing consists of a
5-8 line paragraph that
directly relates to a
picture /written prompt.
Little inference, if any, is
needed to understand
writing clearly.
Begins with indentation
& a clear, concise topic
sentence followed by
at least 3 distinct detail
sentences & a conclusion
that is different from
the topic sentence.
Writer uses appropriate
words, less common
vocabulary, and
connecting expressions
with few errors and
little, if any, repetition.
Pronouns & prepositions
are mostly correct.
Simple SVO structure Writing contains complete Demonstrates correct,
is evident. May
sentences that show
use of simple tenses; may
contain multiple
correct use of simple
include past continuous &
errors in subjectpresent, pres. continuous, present perfect. Errors in
verb, singularsimple past, and/or simple article use & agreement
plural, & time-tense future. May contain some are minimal and do not
agreement.
agreement errors & runinterfere with meaning.
ons. May be missing some May contain a run-on.
articles.
Uses capitals and
Uses capitals & periods
Uses capitals, periods,
periods with some
correctly & consistently.
commas, & apostrophes
errors. May contain May make spelling
with very few errors.
multiple spelling
errors with less common
May have spelling
errors that may
words. Common words
errors with less common
confuse the reader.
have few spelling mistakes. words.
0-4
Writing for ELL 4
Word choice relates well
to prompt, but may show
errors w/ less common
& content-specific words.
May exclude/ incorrectly
use prepositions &
pronouns (S., Obj. & Poss.)
5-9
Writing 1
10-14
Writing 2
4
Date: ____________
5
Responds to prompt w/ clearly Writing consists of a
expressed ideas and relevant 5-paragraph essay that
details. No inference needed. responds to a written
Writing consists of 8-10 clear, prompt with relevant,
connected sentences and three supporting details. No
well-developed, distinct
inference needed.
paragraphs.
Writing begins with a clear,
Essay begins with a clear,
concise topic sentence/
concise thesis statement
thesis statement that is
in the introduction. Three
expanded in three distinct,
well-organized and wellsupporting paragraphs. Writer developed supporting
indents paragraphs & includes a paragraphs expand the
concluding statement.
thesis statement. Includes
concluding paragraph.
Writing contains a variety of
Word choice is creative,
content-specific, less common, dynamic, and mostly
and/or idiomatic expressions accurate. Errors in word
used with very few errors.
choice are few and do not
A variety of adjectives and
interfere with meaning.
adverbs creates a richness of
expression. Repetition is rare.
Demonstrates ability to use
different verb tenses, articles,
adjectives, pronouns, etc. with
very few errors. May include a
variety of complete sentences
with independent & dependent
clauses. Grammar errors are
few & do not confuse reader.
Writing is easy to
understand & combines a
variety of verb tenses with
simple, compound, &
complex sentences.
Very few, if any, agreement
errors and run-ons.
Demonstrates strong control
in using capitals, commas,
periods, etc. May use
semicolons & quotation marks
competently. Spelling errors
are minimal and do not
interfere with meaning.
Minimal to no errors in
capitalization, spelling,
or punctuation. Any
errors do not interfere w/
meaning.
15-19
Writing 3
20-25
Academic Writing
Score