Name Date

Narrative Summary Rubric: Grades 4-6Excellent Strong Proficient Fair Needs

WorkBeginning

Important Events

The summary includes only the most important events from the story.

The summary includes important events, plus one or two others.

The summary includes the important events, with obvious added unnecessary ones.

The summary does not include all of the main events from the story.

The summary includes only a few events from the story, or reflects only a portion of the text.

The summary includes only copied words from the text.

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is used smoothly and accurately.

Paraphrasing is used accurately, with a bumpy spot or two.

Paraphrasing is used with accuracy, but doesn’t sound completely smooth.

There are a few places where the paraphrased ideas are not accurate.

Serious inaccuracies show a limited understanding of the text.

The summary has been copied from the text, ORThe summary is so short that there is no opportunity for paraphrasing

Story Elements

The summary shows a clear awareness of the characters, setting, plot, and theme. Any changes to the order of events help to make the summary clear.

The summary shows an awareness of the characters, setting, plot, and theme. Events from the story are included in order.

The summary shows an awareness of the characters, setting, and plot. Events from the story are included in order.

The summary shows an awareness of the characters and setting of the story, but may contain minor inaccuracies.

The summary shows major inaccuracies, showing a lack of awareness of character, setting, and plot.

The ideas in the summary are simply copied from the text.

Word Choice

The summary is clearly written. Words are chosen to express ideas concisely.

The summary is clearly written.

An awkward phrase or two makes reading the summary a little difficult.

Bumpy sentences and awkward phrases are present, but the reader can get the gist.

Bumpy sentences and awkward phrases make the summary very difficult to understand.

The summary has been copied directly from the text.

E. Kissner 2012