7th Grade Narrative Writing Rubric

CATEGORY
Content
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Focus

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Style
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Organization
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Conventions

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Name:_________________________________________
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*Effective use of narrative techniques

to develop characters, plot, conflict,
and setting.
Thorough elaboration that effectively
supports the writers purpose

*Adequate use of narrative techniques

to develop characters, plot, conflict,
and setting.
Adequate elaboration that supports the
writers purpose

*Inconsistent/limited use of narrative

techniques.

*Minimal use of narrative techniques.

Weak elaboration that somewhat

supports the writers purpose

Minimal elaboration that may or may

not support the writers purpose

*Entire piece is told from the point of

view of a main character.
*Author creates a well-rounded
character and allows the reader to
clearly understand the characters
personality and traits through what
the character says, thinks and does
and how others relate to the
character.
*There is only one highly focused
event or series of events.

*The piece is mostly told from the

point of view of a main character.
*Author creates a somewhat rounded
character and allows the reader to
generally understand the characters
personality and traits through what
the character says, thinks and does
and how others relate to the
character.
*There is one mainly focused event
or series of events.

*The piece is inconsistently told from *No attempt has been made to relate
the point of view of a main character. the story to the point of view of a
*Author creates a relatively flat
specific character.
character, with limited development *Authors characters are inconsistent,
of the characters personality and
poorly developed, and flat.
traits.

* Precise control of literary devices,

lead, sensory language, and sentence
structure that clearly conveys
experiences and events

*Appropriate control of literary

devices, sensory language, and
sentence structure that conveys
experiences and events

*There is no clear focused event or

series of events but all of the events
are somewhat related.

*There is no focused or connected

event or series of events.

* Limited control of literary devices,

sensory language, and sentence
structure that
inconsistently conveys experiences
and/or events
* Some attempt at a lead/hook or
* Strong lead and powerful conclusion. * Good lead and clear conclusion.
conclusion.
Consistent control of sentence
Adequate control of sentence
Limited control of sentence
formation
formation
formation. Author expresses his/her
thoughts in simple, non-vivid language.
Effective use of a variety of
Appropriate use of transitional words Inconsistent/limited use of transitional
transitional words and phrases
and/or phrases
words and/or phrases
Skillful narrative pattern/story line
*Adequate narrative pattern /story line *Weak narrative pattern/story line that
that clearly sequences events and
that sequences events; minor
inconsistently sequences events;
provides a conclusion
interruptions to the sequence may occur interruptions to the sequence may
detract from the story

*Minimal control of literary devices,

sensory language, and sentence
structure.

*The student demonstrates mastery of *The student demonstrates some

the required elements of dialogue
understanding of the required
punctuation.
elements of dialogue punctuation.

*The student demonstrates limited

understanding of the required
elements of dialogue punctuation.

*The student demonstrates little

understanding of dialogue
punctuation, or no dialogue is
present.

* Few errors may be present in

grammar, usage, spelling, and
punctuation; errors present do not
interfere with meaning

* Many errors may be present in

*Errors may be present in grammar,
usage, spelling, and punctuation; errors grammar, usage, spelling, and
punctuation; errors present often
present may interfere with meaning
interfere with meaning

* Some errors may be present in

grammar, usage, spelling, and
punctuation; errors present seldom
interfere with meaning

__________ /50 points = __________

* No clear lead/hook or conclusion.

Minimal control of sentence
formation. Authors writing is
confusing and disjointed.
Minimal use of transitional words
and/or phrases
Minimal narrative pattern/story line
that may or may not sequence events