Name:
Period:
Date:
Forces of Nature: Acrostic Rubric
Exceeds
Meets
Below
the Standard
the Standard
Standard
(“A” Quality)
(“B/C” Quality)
(“D/F” Quality)
Acrostic clearly and
Acrostic accurately
Acrostic does not define
accurately defines the
defines the earth’s force the earth’s force, or is not
Definition of earth’s force, but phrases it
accurate
Earth’s Force in one’s own words
(3 points)
Causes
(3 points)
Acrostic accurately and with Acrostic accurately
Acrostic does not identify a
detail explains at least one identifies a cause of the cause of the earth’s force,
cause of the earth’s force earth’s force
or is not accurate
Acrostic accurately and with Acrostic accurately
specific details describes
identifies two ways the
Effects on
two ways the force affects force affects the earth’s
Earth’s Surface the earth’s surface
surface
(3 points)
Effects on
Human
Activities
(3 points)
Acrostic accurately and with Acrostic accurately
specific details describes
identifies two ways the
two ways the force affects force affects human
human activities
activities
Acrostic uses a simile
or metaphor to make
a comparison about
Simile
the earth’s force in an
(2 points)
especially thoughtful or
unusual way
Acrostic uses many strong,
descriptive word choices
Poetic Writing and ideas flow smoothly
from line to line; it “sounds”
(2 points)
like a poem
Acrostic contains no more
than 2 errors in spelling,
Writing
grammar, or punctuation
Conventions
that distract the reader from
(2 points)
the writing
Creativity
(2 points)
Acrostic incorporates
outstanding creativity
with the use of color,
illustrations, and/or word
choices
Total: _____ / 20
Acrostic uses a simile
or metaphor to make a
comparison about the
earth’s force
Acrostic does not
accurately identify two ways
the force affects the earth’s
surface
Acrostic does not
accurately identify two ways
the force affects human
activities
Acrostic does not use a
simile or metaphor to make
a comparison about the
earth’s force
Some parts of the
Acrostic sounds more like a
acrostic “sound” like a
listing of facts rather than a
poem, but some parts
poem
sound more like a listing
of facts
Acrostic contains no
more than 4 errors in
spelling, grammar, or
punctuation that distract
the reader from the
writing
Acrostic includes at
least one noticeable
creative touch by using
color, illustrations, and/
or word choices
Acrostic contains 5 or more
errors in spelling, grammar,
or punctuation that distract
the reader from the writing
Acrostic does not
incorporate any
noticeable creative
touches
SelfAssessment
Name:
Period:
Date:
Forces of Nature: Acrostic Poem
Directions: Choose one of the four forces of nature we’ve learned about (earthquakes, volcanoes, weathering,
and erosion) and create an acrostic poem about it. Your poem should include each of the details outlined
below. Use the organizer below to brainstorm and plan your writing. Then write your acrostic on a separate
piece of notebook paper.
Definition (What is it?)
What causes it?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
How does it affect human activities (people)?
How does it affect earth’s surface (nature)?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
For your simile—What can you compare it to? What is it like? HOW is it like this?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________