Six-Trait Writing Rubric

Ideas

• 6   Main idea clearly communicated with relevant and rich supporting details
• 4-5  Main idea is clearly communicated with adequate details
• 3   Main idea vaguely communicated with some (or few) details
• 1-2  Main idea unclear with limited details that interfere with the meaning of the piece

Organization

• 6  Organization of ideas enhances and showcases the central idea or story line
• 4-5  Organization of ideas sufficiently organized to help reader understand the piece
• 3  Ideas poorly organized and somewhat confusing
• 1-2  Unorganized ideas

Voice

• 6  Writer speaks to the reader in an individualistic, expressive, and engaging way
• 4-5  Writer's personality and involvement in the topic are evident
• 3  writer shows little personal relationship with the writing task
• 1-2  The writer seems indifferent to the writing task

Word Choice

• 6  Distinguished language, presented in a precise, interesting, and natural way
• 4-5  Appropriate word choice and usage
• 3  Language lacks punch and usage is occasionally inappropriate or incorrect
• 1-2  Limited vocabulary with inappropriate or incorrect language usage

Sentence Sense

• 6  Well built and varied sentences give the piece an easy rhythm and flow
• 4-5  Good sentence sense with minimal sentence errors; pleasant but not musical
• 3  Some sentence fragments and run-ons
• 1-2  Lack of sentence sense; many fragments and run-ons

Conventions

• 6  Correct spelling, punctuation and capitalization
• 4-5  Occasional errors in spelling, punctuation and capitalization
• 3  Many errors in spelling, punctuation and capitalization
• 1-2  Difficult to read due to frequent errors in spelling, punctuation and capitalization