Name_______________________________

Literary Essay Novel

Summative Assessment Rubric
Question #

1
Write about a
part in the
book that
really stuck
out in your
mind (a part
that seems
important).

Undeveloped,
brief, unclear to
someone who
has not read
the book. Very
little effort
given.

May be short,
undeveloped,
or unclear.
Lacking major
points of plot or
characters.

Somewhat
clear
description.
Some gaps
exist for the
reader who has
not read the
book

Mostly clear, a
few gaps might
be present.
Relatively clear
description.

Clear,
descriptive
details:
characters
introduced,
gaps filled in
for a person
who hasnt
read the book

2
Explain why
that part
seems
important.

Undeveloped,
unclear, makes
no attempt to
show
importance, or
clearly does
not know the
importance of
the section
chosen

Not very
convincing of
overall
importance,
may be short,
undeveloped,
or unclear.
May not prove
importance.

Somewhat
convincing,
details may be
present, but no
strong attempt
to show
importance to
the overall
story

Mostly
convincing,
may fall a bit
short in
convincing
readers of
importance in
the story

Very
convincing
arguments
about
importance,
clearly
described and
leaves no
question for the
reader

3
Where does
the story take
place? What
kind of place
is it? Be
descriptive.

Very short,
brief, little
description.
The readers
walks away
with little to no
vision in mind.

Brief,
undeveloped
description of
setting. May
include some
details, but not
enough to
show
understanding

Somewhat
clear, detailed
description.
May not leave
a complete
picture in the
readers minds
due to lack of
details

Mostly clear,
detailed
description.
May be a bit
lacking in depth
of description.
May not give
concrete
examples.

Clear, detailed
description of
the setting.
Gives concrete
examples of
places, sights,
and important
parts of the
setting.

4
Tell me about
the main
character.

Very short,
brief, little
description. It
seems that the
writer does not
really know this
character.

Brief
description,
may have no
description
beyond
physical and
basic.

Somewhat
clear
description.
May be
concrete and
lacking inner
characteristics
of the person

Mostly detailed
description, but
may be lacking
one or two of
the indicators
in 5 box.

Vivid
description
including
physical,
emotional,
social
characteristics.
Motivations,
strengths,
weaknesses
etc.

5
Choose any
point in the
story and
answer: what
do you
imagine the
main
character
might be
feeling and
why?

Very concrete,
little detail, or
no analysis of
the feelings of
the character

6
Tell me about
any themes or
issues that
you noticed.

Brief
description,
may not
analyze
characters
feelings as
related to the
event. No
mention of
overall growth
of the character

Somewhat
detailed. May
be lacking in
description of
the event,
character
growth, or
overall very
concrete.

Very good
analysis of
characters
thoughts and
feelings. Some
details may be
lacking in
description of
the event, or
the characters
growth

Event
described and
a thorough
analysis of
characters
thoughts and
feelings.
Relates these
thoughts to the
overall growth
of the
character.

No strong issue May be able to

or theme given. identify a
theme or
issues, but
does not back
it up with
evidence.

Identifies a
theme or
issues, but may
do little to back
it up with
evidence from
the text

Somewhat
strong analysis
of themes/
issues. May be
lacking in
complexity or
strong
evidence

Strong analysis
of themes/
issues. States
a theme and
backs the
statement up
with evidence
from the text

7
Are there any
lessons that
you think the
character is
learning or
has learned?

No lesson
given.

May be able to
identify a
lesson, but
does not back
it up with
evidence.

Identifies a
lesson the
character has
learned, but
may do little to
back it up with
evidence from
the text

A lesson is
described, but
may be lacking
in complexity or
strong
evidence

Clear lesson
described.
Details are
given from the
text that back
up the writers
claim

Overall

The reader
read little or
none of the
book

It seems the
student either
didnt finish the
whole book, or
did not
comprehend
nearly enough

The answers
show that the
student may
have read the
book, but is
missing some
key
components

It seems that
this student
read the book,
and mostly
comprehended
the book, with
maybe a few
gaps in
understanding
or deep
thought

It is clear that
this student
read, analyzed,
and
comprehended
this book to a
high degree

Total (80) ____________________