Biography Rubric – Writing Evaluation Name:________________

Criteria Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

Ideas -Many highlights of the

person’s life, shared in

an expressive,

entertaining and

informative way

-Several highlights of

the person’s life,

shared in an expressive

and informative way

-Some highlights of

the person’s life,

shared in an

informative way

-Few highlights of the

person’s life, shared in

an informative way

Organization -Organizational pattern

and layout are an

excellent fit for the

topic, purpose and

audience

-Introduction grabs

the reader’s attention

and conclusion is strong

-Transitions smoothly

connect sentences and

ideas

-Organizational pattern

and layout are a good

fit for the topic,

purpose and audience

-Introduction is

appealing and the

conclusion ties up loose

ends

-Transitions adequately

connect ideas

-Organizational pattern

and layout may not

match the task well

-Introduction and/or

conclusion need some

improvement

-Transitions are not

always present

-Organizational pattern

and layout not evident,

or interfere with the

meaning

-Introduction and/or

conclusion are not clear

or not present

-Transitions are rarely

attempted

Word Choice Writer uses vivid

words and phrases that

linger or draw pictures

in the reader's mind.

Writer attempts to use

descriptive words and

phrases that draw

pictures in the

reader's mind.

Writer uses some

words that

communicate clearly,

but the writing lacks

variety, punch or flair.

Writer uses a limited

vocabulary that does

not communicate

strongly or capture the

reader's interest.

Voice The writer seems to be

writing from knowledge

or experience of

knowing this person.

The author has taken

the ideas and made

them "his own."

The writer seems to be

drawing on knowledge

or experience of

knowing this person,

but there is some lack

of ownership of the

topic.

The writer relates

some of his own

knowledge or

experience of this

person, but there is

lack of ownership of

the topic.

The writer has not

tried to transform the

information in a

personal way. The ideas

and the way they are

expressed seem to

belong to someone else.

Conventions -Writer rarely makes

errors in capitalization,

punctuation, spelling

and/or grammar, and

the writing is

exceptionally easy to

read

-Writer makes some

errors in capitalization,

punctuation, spelling

and/or grammar

-Writer makes several

errors in capitalization,

punctuation, spelling

and/or grammar, and

this can interrupt the

flow of the piece

-Writer makes many

errors in capitalization,

punctuation, spelling

and/or grammar, and

this greatly interferes

with the flow of the

piece

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