SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING RUBRIC
A GLIMPSE OF SCA
Name ________________________________ Date __________________________ # _____
In this assignment, you will write a descriptive essay describing a thing, place, or an
event that helps to define St. Clare of Assisi School. Upon completion of these essays, we will
create a book of our descriptive works and artwork/pictures.
Descriptive Writing
 Creates a picture of a person, place, thing or event that allows the reader to become a
part of the story – in our case, only thing, place, or event.
 Includes details that appeal to one or more of the five senses.
 Creates a link between those senses and the feelings or memories that they inspire.
 Is clear, detailed, and vivid.
TIMELINE
Monday, September 26, 2011
Class –Introduction, Descriptive Essay Rubric, Read pp.8285 and 108-109
Homework –Topic, Finish reading the above pages,
Parent signature on Rubric
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Due – Topic, Parent Signature
Class – Prewriting, Sensory Chart, Read pp. 88-90,
Drafting pp.110-111
Homework – Sensory Chart, Finish reading above pages
Monday, October 3, 2011
Due – Sensory Chart
Class – Drafting, Type Rough Draft using NEO2s, Rough
Draft Checklist
Homework - Begin Photo/Artwork/Picture - due
Wednesday, October 12
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
*May complete in Computer
Due – Nothing
Class – Drafting, Finish typing Rough Draft, pp. 92-95,
Thesaurus pp. 100-102
Homework – Finish typing and printing Rough Draft
Monday, October 10, 2011
Due – Hard copy of Rough Draft, Rough Draft Checklist
Class – Revising, Highlight long and short sentences, first
word of each sentence, RIP and overused words.
Number sentences in each paragraph.
Revising Conference, Revising Checklist
Homework – Finish the above, parent signs for checker,
CUPS
Wednesday, October12, 2011
Due - Revising Checklist and CUPS
Class – Editing, Editing Checklist,
Editing and CUPS Conference
Homework - Complete the above, parent signature for
checker
Type Final Draft in Computer Lab
Monday, October 17, 2011
Due - Editing Checklist, Photo/artwork/picture, Rubric
Final Draft Due
Assignments
Prewriting – Parent signature on Rubric,
Topic due
Prewriting - Sensory Chart due
Drafting - Rough Draft with Checklist due
Revising – highlighting and numbering,
Revising Checklist due
Editing – Editing Checklist due
Publishing - Final Draft including
photo/artwork due
Due Date
Wednesday, September 28,
2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Wednesday, October 12,
2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Point Value
5 points
10 points
15 points
10 points
10 points
40 points
IF YOU ARE ABSENT ON ANY OF THE WRITING DAYS, PLEASE CHECK THE
TIMELINE AND CHART ABOVE FOR CLASSWORK AND HOMEWORK DUE DATES.
Name __________________________________ Date ______________________ # ________
SIXTH GRADE DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
ROUGH DRAFT CHECKLIST: A GLIMPSE OF SCA
15 POINTS TOTAL
Focus:
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Descriptive Essay (6 points)
Each of the 5 senses
Include a simile or metaphor
Describes a thing, place, event regarding SCA
An overall feeling about the topic
A memory relating to the topic
Why the thing, place, event is important to SCA
Organization:
Paragraph I: Introduction (2 points)
Introduce the topic in a way that grabs the reader’s attention.
Topic sentence
Paragraph II: (1 point)
Begin your writing about the topic focusing on the senses
Paragraph III: (1 point)
Continue your essay in as many paragraphs (at least 4)
Spatial or Chronological Order
Paragraph IV: Conclusion (2 points)
Why is this place, thing, or event important to SCA
Format: (2 points)
 12 point font
 Times New Roman or the Default Font
 1 inch margins
 Heading (single spaced)
 Body (double spaced)
Checklist returned (1 point)
SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH
DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
FINAL DRAFT
RUBRIC
40 TOTAL POINTS
Name _________________________________ Date __________________________ # _____
Ideas – shows a distinct focus (2 points)
Organization (9 points)
Includes 4 paragraphs or more (2 points)
Constructs paragraphs in logical order (1 point)
Format (6 points)
 Heading (single spaced)
 Typed – Times New Roman or Default font
 12 point font
 1 inch margins
 Body - Double spaced
Word Choice (6 points)
Uses vivid adjectives and verbs (2 points)
Provides rich sensory details (2 points)
Uses simile or metaphor effectively (2 points)
Sentence Fluency (8 points)
Uses a variety of sentences (2 points)
Uses tradition words to show logical order (2 points)
Conventions – CUPS ( 8 points)
Photo/Artwork/Picture (5 points)
Chart, Checklists, Rubric attached (2 points)
(Sensory Chart, Rough Draft Checklist, Revising Checklist, Editing Checklist, Rubric)
SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH
DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
FINAL DRAFT
RUBRIC
40 TOTAL POINTS
Name _________________________________ Date __________________________ # _____
_____
Ideas – shows a distinct focus (2 points)
_____
Organization (9 points)
_____ Includes 4 paragraphs or more (2 points)
_____ Constructs paragraphs in logical order (1 point)
_____ Format (6 points)
_____ Heading (single spaced)
_____ Typed – Times New Roman or Default font
_____ 12 point font
_____ 1 inch margins
_____ Body - Double spaced
_____
Word Choice (6 points)
_____ Uses vivid adjectives and verbs (2 points)
_____ Provides rich sensory details (2 points)
_____ Uses simile or metaphor effectively (2 points)
_____
Sentence Fluency (8)
_____ Uses a variety of sentences (2 points)
_____ Uses tradition words to show logical order (2 points)
_____
Conventions – CUPS (8 points)
_____
Photo/Artwork/Picture (5 points)
_____
Chart, Checklists, Rubric attached (2 points)
(Sensory Chart, Rough Draft Checklist, Revising Checklist, Editing Checklist,
Rubric)
Your Points: _____
Name __________________________________ Date ______________________ # ________
SIXTH GRADE DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
ROUGH DRAFT GRADE SHEET: A GLIMPSE OF SCA
15 POINTS TOTAL
_____






Focus: Descriptive Essay (6 points)
Each of the 5 senses
Include a simile or metaphor
Describes a thing, place, event regarding SCA
An overall feeling about the topic
A memory relating to the topic
Why the thing, place, event is important to SCA
Organization:
_____ Paragraph I: Introduction (2 points)
Introduce the topic in a way that grabs the reader’s attention.
Topic sentence
_____ Paragraph II: (1point)
Begin your writing about the topic focusing on the senses
_____ Paragraph III: (1 point)
Continue your essay in as many paragraphs (at least 4)
_____ Paragraph IV: Conclusion (2 points)
Why is this place, thing, or event important to SCA
_____ Format: (2 points)
Rough Draft is handwritten in composition notebook.
Skip lines
_____ Checklist returned (1 point)
Your Points: _____
SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH
DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
REVISING CHECKLIST
10 POINTS TOTAL
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Does the introduction grab the reader’s attention?
Is there a good use of sensory language?
Does the description use spatial order or chronological order?
Are there any misused, confusing, or RIP words?
Can any of the descriptive words be improved by using a thesaurus?
Is there a satisfying conclusion?
Are a variety of sentences used?
Are transition words used to show logical order?
At the bottom and/or on the back, the checker will ask questions, for clarification, for
rewording, etc. of paragraphs. Identify the sentence/sentences on which the question relates
using (P1, S4) – Paragraph 1, Sentence 4.
Writer’s Name _________________________________________________________________
Checker’s Name ________________________________________________________________
SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH
DESCRIPTION
EDITING CHECKLIST
10 POINTS TOTAL
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CUPS
Are there overused or RIP words that could be replaced with synonyms?
Are vivid adjectives and verbs used?
Are sentences structurally logical and grammatically correct?
Does the writer avoid wordiness? “There are a lot of people who…” should be
“There are many…”
Does the writer use proper subject/verb agreement? “Each are” should be
“Each is”.
Does the writer include contractions abbreviations, or slang? “Can’t” should be
“cannot”. Unless in dialogue.
Does the writer avoid grammatical errors? “No one had their” should be “No
one had his or her”.
Does the writer use strong descriptions? “It is warm today” should be “The heat
swallowed my energy today”.
Are the plurals and the possessives correct? “the boys book” and “the boy’s
work” should be “the boy’s book” and the boys work”.
Writer’s Name _________________________________________________________________
Checker’s Name _______________________________________________________________