| 4 | Very good ideas about one specific topic. | Excellent details. Describes things and gives many examples to SHOW, not tell. | Has a strong introduction, body, and conclusion. Keeps details clear and in order. New ideas start new paragraphs. | Has excellent words that SHOW, not tell. Sentences have different beginnings. Some sentences are short and some are long. | Very few mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. |
| 3 | Good ideas about one topic. | Good details. Gives some examples and descriptions. | Has an introduction, body, and conclusion. Details are clear. | Has some interesting words. Some sentences have different beginnings and lengths. | Some mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. |
| 2 | A few good ideas about a topic. | A few details, descriptions, or examples. | Is missing an introduction, body, or conclusion. Ideas run together or are in the wrong order. | Has a few interesting words. A few sentences have different beginnings and lengths. | Many mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization, but still understandable. |
| 1 | Not many ideas about the topic. | Not enough details, descriptions, and examples. | Ideas are mixed up and no introduction, body, or conclusion is shown. | Same words used over and over. Many sentences begin the same way and are the same length. | Hard to understand because of mistakes in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization. |