Grade 8

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1Stru&ture

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r Narrative cohesion: Main character'smotivation and response to the eventconnected

t Story begins in the midst of actionr Writer uses problem/solution structurer Plot contains/mentions an historic event

I Main characteros motivation and responseto the event connected

I Story begins in the midst of actionWriter begins to use problem/solutionstnrcture

I Plot contains/mentions an historic event

t Main character's motivationand response to the event notclearly connected

t Story is somewhat a summary. Unclear path to the resolution of

the problem

I Main character's motivationand response to the event notclearly connected

I Story is a summary. Problem and resolution are

unrelatedElaboration

/ ShowDon't Tell

Story retold step by step, not a summaryPlot and personal struggle of character isrelevant to the time periodWriter has made a movie in his/her mindso reader can envision the time periodHeart of the story is slowed down and toldbit-by-bit actionDevelops setting that is reflective of timeperiodUses greater variety of details to showfeelingsBraid of authentic dialogue, setting, action,internal thoughtslncludes what character sees, hears, smells,& feels in environment in relation to thetime period

Story retold step by step, not a $ummaryPlot and personal struggle of character isrelevant to the time periodWriter has made a movie in his/her mindso reader can envision the time periodAn attempt is made to slow down time inthe heart of the storyDevelops setting that is reflective of timeperiodUses a variety of details to show feelingsBraid of authentic dialogue, setting,action, internal thoughtsMakes an attempt to include whatcharacter sees, hears, smells, & feels inenvironment in relation to the time period

Story is somewhat a summaryPlot and personal struggle ofcharacter is not clearly relevantto the time periodTime period not clearly evidentHeart of the story undevelopedLittle or not evidence of thetime period in settingTells characters feel ingsBraid of dialogu€, setting,action, internal thoughts

Makes no attempt to includewhat character sees, hears,smells, & feels in environmentin relation to the time period

Story is a summaryEach action/step told in severalsentences

Character has no personalstruggleTime period not evidentHeart of the story undevelopedNo evidence of the time periodin settingTells characters feelingsNo use of dialogue, setting,action, or internal thoughts

Does not include what charactersees, hears, smells, & feels inenvironment in relation to thetirne period

Craft r Develops story tension, building up risingaction

r Sensory detail or figurative language tocreate place and/or mood

t Language used is authentic to the timeperiod

r Dialogue reveals personality and rnovesthe story along_

Starts right in the story with charactersaying something or engaged in actionSensory detail or figurative language tocreate setting reflective of the time periodWriter attempts to write a good storyusing literary words, descriptive clausesDialogue reveals personality

. Story is mostly retellingr Uses a few descriptive wordsI Language is simplistic and

shows little or no relation to thetime period or genre

I Dialogue is simplistic and doesnot reveal personality

I Story is all retellingr Uses no descriptive wordst Language is simplisticI Dialogue is simplistic and does

not reveal personality and doesnot move the story

Meaning/Significance

t Personal struggle is reflective to thehistorical event

r Character changed or learned something inthe story

I Personal struggle is reflective to thehistorical event

r Character changed or learned somethingin the story

t

I

Personal struggle is not clearlyreflective to the historical eventMade an attempt to show thecharactbr learned a lesson

r No personal struggle or is notreflective of the time period

. No attempt to show thecharacter learned something

. Character remains flatWriting

Mechanics &Conventions

r Uses correct punctuation throughout thestory

r Uses correct capitalization throughout thestory

I Uses correct homophonesI Uses correct verb tense

I Minor enors in punctuation that do notinterfere with fluency

I Uses correct capitalization most of thetime

I Uses correct homophonesI Minor erors in verb tense

t Errors in punctuationsomewhat interfere withfluency

I Minor errors in capitalization

' Some errors using homophones. Some effors in verb tense

I Many errors in punctuation &capitalization that greatlyinterfere with fluency

r Many effors with homophones& verb tense

Adapted from TC Narrative Continuum In A Glance for I.s. 230 -(by 8u'gradeteam: B. Newkirk; K. Semenick; O. Stevkovski; M. Tergerides)