Idaho 5th Grade Direct Writing Assessment Scoring Standard For Extended Narrative Writing    2003

 

General Descriptions of Levels of Proficiency

 

“4”

Advanced (Clear)

 

“3”

Proficient (Clear)

 

 

Although not flawless in relation to all three areas of focus, a “4” paper is an engaging piece of extended narrative writing.  Demonstrating a clearly defined knowledge of narrative writing, the writer uses language that is above grade level to uniquely develop a clear and concise paper.  A score of "4" indicates the student's writing for that day and prompt demonstrates advanced proficiency for grade level.

 

A “3” paper demonstrates that the writer has a high-level knowledge of basic extended narrative writing.  The paper is clear, concise, and easy to understand.  The writer uses age-appropriate language and attempts to “show” rather than “tell” but may not succeed throughout essay.  A score of "3" indicates that the student's writing for that day and prompt demonstrates proficiency at grade level. 

 

 

Focusing on Six Traits

 

“4” Papers Exhibit MOST of the Characteristics Listed Below

 

“3” Papers Exhibit MOST of the Characteristics Listed Below

Ideas/Organization

Ideas

Ideas are the story line of the essay that, together with elaboration, anecdotes, or selected details, build reader’s understanding.

Organization

Organization, the internal structure of an essay, includes the lead, close, and linking details.  Together, they create a picture that builds to a turning point in the story.  Transitions within the story assist the reader to avoid getting lost.

*   Effective introduction and satisfying conclusion

*    Organization that purposely moves reader

*    Developed and elaborated story

*   A relevant, narrowed, and focused topic

*    Able to capture reader’s interest

*    Apparent knowledge and/or experience related to the topic

*    Strong sense of direction within story

*    Fresh approach and/or original ideas

*    Details that relate to time, place, characters, and plot

*    Elaboration of story elements to establish context

 

*    A developed and easily-followed topic

*    Ideas that clearly express chronological sequencing

*    Writing that is based on knowledge and/or experience

*    Clear, complete, and concise thoughts

*     Details that are significant to plot and move the story

*    Effective introduction and ordinary conclusion

*    Easily-followed organization that incorporates beginning, middle, and end concepts

*    Accurate accounting of events to support story line

*                              Apparent understanding of prompt

*    Transitions that connect ideas

Voice/Word Choices

Voice

Effective writing holds the reader's attention through the use of appropriate vocabulary.  Descriptive and figurative language makes writing unique by creating mood and feeling for the reader.

Word Choices

Word Choice involves the selecting words to create the mood, impression, or word picture a writer desires to instill within the reader.

 

*    Consistent voice throughout essay

*    Word choices that may surprise, amuse, or move reader and paint a picture in his/her mind

*    Specific, detailed description that enhances story line 

*    Intentional approach

*    Effective use of ordinary words

*    Figurative language: similes, metaphors, and/or personification

*    Predominantly active rather than passive voice 

*    Unique, interesting, and above-grade-level vocabulary that demands reader’s attention

*    Reflection of writer’s own experiences throughout essay

*    Occasional use of effective, engaging slang or vernacular

*    Manipulation of punctuation to enhance atmosphere

*   Effective descriptive language: adjectives, adverbs, and powerful verbs in unusual ways

*    Figurative language attempted

*    Writing that reflects interests of and vocabulary spoken by fifth graders

*    Sustained voice throughout essay

*    Vocabulary that reflects writer's personality

*    Natural-sounding language--not overdone

*    Glimpses of personal insights and feelings

*    Reflection of writer’s experiences throughout essay

*    Occasional use of appropriate slang

*                              Glimpses of personal insights and feelings

*    Enhancement of atmosphere through manipulation of punctuation

*    Word choices that may surprise, amuse, or move reader

*    Some descriptive language: adjectives and adverbs

*    Appropriate use of energetic verbs throughout story

*    Effective words, phrases, and/or modifiers that create pictures in reader’s mind

Fluency/Conventions

Sentence Fluency

Effective construction of a sentence and its rhythm and grace determines sentence fluency.  Aspects of fluency include the following:  logic, phrasing, parallel structure, alliteration, redundancy, and sentence lengths

Conventions:

Punctuation, spelling, grammar, usage, capitalization, and paragraphing fall under the umbrella of Conventions.

 

*    Purposeful and varied sentence beginnings

*    Variety of sentence structures and lengths

*    If used, natural sounding dialogue that is typically correctly punctuated

*    Control of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization that is relative to length and complexity of essay

*    Generally correct spelling—even among less common words

*    Accurate punctuation, both external and internal, that guides readers through text:  periods, question marks, exclamation marks, commas, colons, and apostrophes

*    Correct comma usage within series, clauses, and cities/states

*    Surface errors that do not detract from readability or fluency

*    Appropriate paragraphing that facilitates readability

*    Accurate capitalization

*    Suitable grammar and usage that contribute to clarity

*    Appropriate indentation and logical paragraphing

*    Varied beginnings of most sentences

*    Few subject/verb agreement problems

*    Three to five paragraphs

*    Surface errors related to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and indention that do not detract from readability or meaning

*    Correct spelling of most high-frequency words

*    Correct end punctuation and capitalization, for most part

*    Evidence of some correct internal punctuation: commas in series and apostrophes in contractions

*    Correct punctuation of dialogue attempted

*    Appropriate indentation of paragraphs

 

 


Idaho 5th Grade Direct Writing Assessment Scoring Standard for Extended Narrative Writing    2003

General Descriptions of Levels of Proficiency

“2”

Basic (Alert)

“1”

Below Basic (Alert)

 

 

A “2” paper demonstrates some degree of basic narrative writing skills, but is clearly flawed.  It reveals one or more of the following weaknesses:

 

1.   Inadequate organization or development

2.   Inadequate narration of events

3.   Limited or inappropriate word choices

4.   A pattern or accumulation of errors in mechanics, usage, sentence structure, or word choices

 

A score of "2" indicates that the student's writing for that day and prompt is developing toward proficiency at grade level.

 

A “1” paper demonstrates basic narrative writing deficiencies and exhibits one or more of the following:

 

1.        Serious and persistent writing errors

2.        Incoherency

3.        Underdevelopment

4.        One or more of following:  *blank; *illegible; *too brief to assess

                *partially or completely written in a language other than English; *not written in blue or black ink; *not written in narrative form; *not responsive to specified topic; *excessively difficult or impossible to read

 

A score of "1" indicates that the student's writing for that day and prompt is “Below Basic” at grade level.

Focusing on Six Traits

“2” Papers Exhibit MOST of the Characteristics Listed Below

“1” Papers Exhibit MOST of the Characteristics Listed Below

Ideas/Organization

Ideas

Ideas are the story line of the essay that, together with elaboration, anecdotes, or selected details, build reader’s understanding.

Organization

Organization, the internal structure of an essay, includes the lead, close, and linking details.  Together, they create a picture that builds to a turning point in the story.  Transitions within the story assist the reader to avoid getting lost.

*    Little elaboration or description of story elements: characters, setting, and plot

*    Limited narration of plot   

*    Ideas that are sometimes unclear, undeveloped, and lacking detail

*    Fairly broad and unfocused topic

*    Vague details

*    Weak introduction and satisfying conclusion 

*    Some evidence of beginning, middle, and end

*    In some cases, deviation from topic with irrelevant information

*    Skeletal listing of events

*    Logical progression of writing with some wandering

*    Irrelevant information

*    Limited or unclear information, inadequate length, or blank

*    Sketchy and loosely-focused writing frequently requiring reader to infer information

*    More of an answer to a question with little or no detail

*    Seemingly loosely strung ideas, details, and events

*    Equal emphasis on all or many items

*   Frequent descriptions of lists of events, rather than relating of a story

*    Simplistic introduction; simplistic or no conclusion 

*   Lack of identifiable structure—limited organization

*    Random and purposeless sequencing

*    Repetitious and/or disconnected writing

Voice/Word Choices

Voice

Effective writing holds the reader's attention through the use of appropriate vocabulary.  Descriptive and figurative language makes writing unique by creating mood and feeling for the reader.

Word Choices

Word Choice involves the selecting words to create the mood, impression, or word picture a writer desires to instill within the reader.

 

*    Limited figurative language and/or sensory adjectives and verbs

*    Emerging and retreating voice

*    Seeming lack of awareness of audience

*    Limited vocabulary and/or misuse of parts of speech

*    Below grade-level vocabulary

*    Few sensory adjectives and verbs

*    Simplistic responses to thoughts and feelings

*    Generic, empty adjectives: good, bad, nice, cool, fun

*    Inadequate language

*    Occasionally incorrectly-used words

*    Redundant use of words and/or phrases

*    Lack of voice, life, spirit, and/or energy

*    Limited vocabulary

*    Little or no descriptive or specific language

*    Mechanical and/or lifeless

*    Lacks risk; tends to shut-out reader

*    Frequently difficult to decipher and/or understand

*    Vague or empty words and/or phrases

*    Incorrectly-used words

*    Redundancies

 

Fluency/Conventions

Sentence Fluency

Effective construction of a sentence and its rhythm and grace determines sentence fluency.  Aspects of fluency include the following:  logic, phrasing, parallel structure, alliteration, redundancy, and sentence lengths

Conventions

Punctuation, spelling, grammar, usage, capitalization, and paragraphing fall under the umbrella of Conventions.

*    Predominant use of simple sentences

*    Attempts to vary sentence beginnings

*    Incomplete and/or run-on sentences (choppy)

*    Occasionally choppy sentences

*    Frequent listing of events:  I did, then I did, then I did

*    Frequent misspellings   

*    Frequent grammar and usage errors

*    Inconsistent subject/verb agreement

*    Surface errors that hinder readability and meaning

*    Short, simple sentences frequently connected by “and” or “that”

*    Common starts among sentences

*    Choppy, rambling, and/or awkward sentences

*    Many connectives 

*    Incorrect sentence structure—includes fragments and run-ons

*    Little or no grasp of spelling patterns

*    Phonetic spelling

*    Grammar and/or usage errors

*    Frequent lack of end and internal punctuation

*    Extensive need for editing

*    Surface errors that hinder or even hide readability