STAAR English Literary Writing
Score Point 1
Organization and Progression:
• Form or structure is inappropriate to purpose or
specific demands of prompt. Writer uses strategies
and devices that are marginally suited, inappropriate
or not evident. Story presented illogically or randomly
causing lack of clarity and direction.
• many details do not contribute to story and writer's
lack of focus weakens unity and coherence
• story is weak and repetitive or wordy causing
disruptions in story line. Lack of transitions and
connections between sentences make parts of the
story unclear or difficult to follow
Score Point 1
Development of Ideas:
• Development of story is weak; inappropriate
vague or insufficient details do not contribute
to key literary elements
• story is insubstantial; writer's response to
prompt is vague or confusing because it is
weakly linked to prompt or shows lack of
understanding to the literary task.
Score Point 1
• Language Conventions:
• Writer's word choice is vague or limited,
reflecting little or no awareness of literary
purpose and may impede quality and clarity of
story
• simple, awkward or uncontrolled sentences
weaken effectiveness of story
• demonstrates partial command of sentence
boundaries. Distracting errors may be evident,
creating minor disruptions in fluency and
meaning.
Score Point 2
Organization and Progression
• Form or structure is evident but not always
appropriate to the purpose and specific demands
of prompt.
• Some details do not contribute to story. May not
sustain focus limiting unity and coherence of
story.
• Presentation is inconsistent. Repetition or
wordiness may cause minor disruptions or
transitions and sentence connections are too
weak to support logical movement of story
Score Point 2
Development of Ideas
• Minimal story development because the few
details are not always or too general
• Reflects little or no thoughtfulness. Response
is sometimes formulaic. Story development
demonstrates only a limited understanding of
the literary task
Score Point 2
Language/Conventions
• Word choice is too general or imprecise. Reflects
basic awareness of literary purpose and may limit
the quality and clarity of story
• Awkward or somewhat controlled sentences limit
effectiveness of story.
• Demonstrates a partial command of sentence
boundaries. Distracting errors may be evident,
creating minor disruptions in fluency and
meaning.
Score Point 3
Organization and Progression
• For the most part, form or structure is
appropriate to the purpose and specific demands
of the prompt
• Most details contribute to story’s effectiveness.
Writer is able to maintain focus for the most part
and story is coherent, though not always unified
due to minor lapses in focus
• Presentation of story is adequately controlled.
Transitions are mostly meaningful and sentence
connections support logical movement of story.
Score Point 3
Development of Ideas
• Specific details add some substance and
contribute mostly to key literary elements.
• Story reflects some thoughtfulness and
response is original rather than formulaic.
Story’s development demonstrates good
understanding of the literary writing task.
Score Point 3
Language/Conventions
• Word choice is mostly specific and concrete
reflecting awareness of literary purpose.
Word choice usually contributes to quality and
clarity of story.
• Demonstrates adequate command of
sentence boundaries. Some errors are
evident, but create few disruptions in the
fluency and do not affect clarity.
Score Point 4
Organization and Progression
• Form or structure is appropriate to purpose and
specific demands of prompt. Uses strategies a
devices that are well suited to literary task and
writer is able to skillfully convey story.
• All details contribute to effectiveness of story and
writer’s ability to focus and sustain focus,
strengthens unity and coherence.
• Presentation is well controlled and meaningful
transitions and strong sentence connections
enhance logical movement of story.
Score Point 4
Development of Ideas
• Specific, well-chosen details add substance to
story and contribute significantly to key literary
elements.
• Story is thoughtful and engaging and responds to
prompt from an unusual perspective. Uses
unique experiences or world views as basis for
writing or connects ideas in interesting ways.
Story development demonstrates a thorough
understanding of literary task.
Score Point 4
Use of Language
• Word choice is vivid and expressive reflecting a
keen awareness of literary purpose. Word choice
strongly contributes to quality and clarity.
• Sentences are purposeful, varied, and well
controlled, enhancing effectiveness of the story.
• Demonstrates a consistent command of sentence
boundaries. Minor errors do not detract from
fluency and clarity and overall strength of
conventions contributes to story’s effectiveness.