Personal Response to Literature Rubric – Grade 7
Exceeds
Meets
Content/Focus
Topic is exceptionally clear.
Response makes a strong
personal connection. The
writer is synthesizing not
summarizing.
Topic is generally clear.
Response makes a personal
connection. The writer is
synthesizing not
summarizing.
Organization
Organizational structure is
consistently easy to follow.
Response is effectively
organized into two coherent
paragraphs. Format is
correct (proper heading, title,
double-spaced).
Organizational structure is
generally easy to follow.
Response is organized into
two paragraphs. Format is
correct (proper heading, title,
double-spaced).
Elaboration
Writer effectively uses
personal examples to show
how the piece of literature
changed the writer’s view of
him/herself or the world.
Writer includes a significant
direct quote and properly
uses MLA citation.
Response is strongly
elaborated with interesting
language and word choice.
Fluency and Conventions
Writing is exceptionally
fluent. English conventions
of punctuation,
capitalization, grammar, and
spelling are consistently
applied.
23-25
Near
Below
Topic lacks clarity. Response
does not make a clear
personal connection. The
writer may do more
summarizing than
synthesizing.
Organizational structure is
difficult to follow. Response
is not organized into coherent
paragraphs. There may be
errors in format (proper
heading, title, doublespaced).
Topic is unclear. Response
does not make a personal
connection. The writer
summarizes instead of
synthesizes.
Writer uses personal
examples to show how the
piece of literature changed
the writer’s view of
him/herself or the world.
Writer uses a direct quote
and properly uses MLA
citation. Response is
elaborated with interesting
language and word choice.
Ineffective use of personal
examples. Response does not
clearly show how the piece
of literature changed the
writer’s view of him/herself
or the world. Writer may not
use a direct quote and/or may
properly use MLA citation.
Response is somewhat
elaborated with interesting
language and word choice.
Poor or no use of personal
examples. Response does
not show how the piece of
literature changed the
writer’s view of him/herself
or the world. Writer does not
include a direct quote. Letter
is not elaborated with
interesting language and
word choice.
Writing is generally fluent.
English conventions of
punctuation, capitalization,
grammar, and spelling are
usually applied.
Writing is somewhat fluent.
English conventions of
punctuation, capitalization,
grammar, and spelling are
not consistently applied.
Writing is not fluent. English
conventions of punctuation,
capitalization, grammar, and
spelling are not applied.
20-22
18-19
Organizational structure is
unclear. Response is not
organized into paragraphs.
There are errors in format
(proper heading, title,
double-spaced).
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