8th Grade Writing Rubric for FCAT Style Prompts
FOCUS
6
Focused and
purposeful
and reflects
insight into
the writing
situation.
2
1
Conveys a sense of
completeness and
wholeness with
adherence to main
idea. Pattern provides
for a logical
progression of ideas.
CONVENTIONS
Few, if any,
convention errors
in mechanics,
usage, punctuation,
and spelling.
Focused on
the topic and
may include
extraneous
or loosely
related
material.
Generally
focused but
may contain
extraneous
or loosely
related
material.
An organizational
pattern is apparent,
although some lapses
may occur. Exhibits
some sense of
completeness or
wholeness.
An organizational
pattern has been
attempted but may
lack a sense of
completeness or
wholeness.
Generally follows
the conventions of
mechanics, usage,
and spelling.
Related to
the topic but
includes
extraneous
or loosely
related
material.
May only
minimally
address the
topic.
Little evidence of an
organizational pattern
may be demonstrated
and may lack a sense of
completeness or
wholeness.
5
3
SUPPORT
Substantial, specific, relevant,
concrete. Shows commitment to
and involvement with the
subject. May use creative writing
strategies. Mature command of
language and freshness of
expression. Sentence structure is
varied and complete.
Organizational pattern Ample support. Mature
provides a logical
command of language, including
progression of ideas
precision in word choice.
(some lapses may
Variation in sentence structure,
occur). Conveys a sense and with rare exceptions,
of completeness or
sentences are complete.
wholeness.
Focused on
the topic.
4
ORGANIZATION
The paper is a
fragmentary listing of
related ideas or
sentences or both.
Support, including word choice, is
adequate although development
may be uneven. Little variation in
sentence structure, and most
sentences are complete.
Some support included, but
development is erratic. Word
choice is adequate but may be
limited, predictable, or
occasionally vague. Little, if any
variation in sentence structure.
Generally follows
the conventions of
mechanics, usage,
and spelling.
Knowledge of the
conventions and
mechanics and
usage is usually
demonstrated, and
commonly used
words are usually
spelled correctly.
Development is inadequate or
Errors in basic
illogical. Word choice is limited,
conventions of
inappropriate, or vague. Little, if
mechanics and
any, variation in sentence
usage may occur,
structure, and gross errors in
and commonly
sentence structure may appear.
used words may be
misspelled.
Little, if any, development of
Frequent and
support or a pattern is apparent.
blatant errors may
Limited or inappropriate word
occur in the basic
choice may obscure meaning.
conventions of
Gross errors in sentence structure mechanics and
and usage.
usage. Commonly
used words may be
misspelled.