The Student Writers’ Scoring Guide
 

IDEAS

5) My paper is clear, focused, and filled with important details.

• You can tell I know a lot about this topic.
• My writing is bursting with interesting tidbits.
• I can sum up my paper in one clear sentence.
• When you start reading, you will not want to stop.
• You can picture what I’m talking about.  I show things happening; I don’t just tell you about them.

3) Even though my writing grabs your attention here and there, it could use some spicy details.

• I know just enough to write about this topic – but more information would help make it interesting.
• Some “details” are things most people probably already know.
• My topic is too big.  I’m trying to tell too much.
• Here and there it might be hard to picture what I’m talking about.
• I’m afraid my reader might get bored and go off to raid the refrigerator.

1) I’m just figuring out what I want to say.

• I need a lot more information before I’m really ready to write.
• I’m still thinking on paper, looking for an idea.
• I’m not sure anyone reading this could picture anything.
• I’m not even sure it’s ready for someone else to read!
• Could I sum it up in one clear sentence?  No way!  I’m not ready for that yet.
   

ORGANIZATION 

5) My paper is as clear as a good road map.  It takes readers by the hand and guides them along every step.

• My beginning gives a hint of what is coming, and makes you want to read on.
• Every detail falls in just the right place.
• Nothing seems out of order.
• You never feel lost or confused; however, there could be a surprise or two.
• Everything leads up to my most important point or to the main event of my story.
• My paper ends at just the right spot, and it leaves you thinking.

3) You can begin to see where I’m headed.  If you pay attention, you can follow along pretty well.

• I have a beginning.  Will my reader be completely hooked, though?
• Most things fit where I have put them.  I might move some things around.
• Usually, you can see how one idea links up with another.
• I guess everything should lead up to the most important part.  Let’s see, where would that be?
• My paper has an ending.  The last thing I leave my reader thinking about is _______.

1) Where are we headed?

• A beginning?  Well, I might have just repeated the assignment….
• You could get dizzy trying to follow this.  I do!
• I’m not really sure yet where I’m headed or which things to include.
• This needs some order – kind of like an old closet!
• An ending?  I just stopped when I ran out of things to say!

VOICE

5) I have put my personal, recognizable stamp on this paper.

• You can hear my voice booming through.  You can tell this is me.
• You can tell I care about this topic.
• I speak right to my audience, always thinking of the questions they might have.
• My writing rings with confidence.
• I wrote to please myself.

3) What I truly think and feel shows up sometimes.

• You might not laugh or cry when you read this, but you won’t go away either.
• I’m right on the edge of finding my own voice.
• My personality pokes out here and there.  You might guess this was my writing.
• It’s pleasant and friendly enough, but I didn’t think about the audience all the time!

1) I did not put too much energy or personality in this writing.

• It could be hard to tell who wrote this.  I don’t think most people would recognize it as mine.
• I kept my feelings in check.
• If I liked this topic better or knew more about it, I could put more life into it.
• Audience?  What audience?

WORD CHOICE

5) I picked just the right words to express my ideas and feelings.

• The words and phrases I’ve used seem exactly right.
• My phrases are colorful and lively, yet nothing’s overdone.
• I used some everyday words in new ways.  Expect a few surprises.
• Do you have a favorite phrase or two in here?  I do.
• Every word is accurate and precise.  You won’t find yourself wondering what I mean.
• Verbs carry the meaning.  I don’t pile too many adjectives on my reader.

3) It might not tweak your imagination, but hey, it gets the basic meaning across.

• It’s functional and it gets the job done, but I can’t honestly say I stretched a lot.
• OK, so there are some clichés hiding in the corners.
• I’ve got a favorite phrase lurking around here someplace.
• Verbs?  What’s wrong with good old is, are, was, were,…?
• I might have overutilized the functionality of my thesaurus.
• You can understand it, though, right?  Nothing’s really wrong.

1) My reader is likely to ask, “Huh?”

• Help!  I’m a victim of vague wording a fuzzy phrasing.
• It’s very hard to understand what I’m talking about.  I don’t even know what some of this general stuff says.
• Maybe I misutilized a word or two.
• Some redundant phrases might be redundant.

SENTENCE FLUENCY

5) My sentences are clear and varied – a treat to read aloud.

• Go ahead, read it aloud.  You won’t need to rehearse.
• Sentence variety is my middle name.
• Hear the rhythm?
• Deadwood has been cut.
• It’s smooth as an Olympic skater on ice.

3) My sentences are clear and readable.

• My writing is pretty smooth and natural – allowing for a bump or two.
• Some sentences should be joined together.  Others might be cut in two.
• There’s a little deadwood, sure, but it doesn’t bury the good ideas too badly under extra verbiage, even though I must say it wouldn’t hurt to cut some unneeded words here and there and shorten things up.
• I guess I did get into a rut with sentence beginnings.  I guess I could use more variety.  I guess I’ll fix that.

1) I have to admit it’s a challenge to read aloud (even for me).

• You might have to stop or reread now and then it just feels like one sentence picked up right in the middle of another a new sentence begins and, oh boy, I’m lost…I can’t make sense of this .
• Some parts I wish I’d cut out altogether!
• So many sentences begin the same way.
• Bumpity, bump, bump, bump.
• It’s like trying to skate on cardboard.  Help!

CONVENTIONS

5) I made so few errors, it would be a snap getting this ready to publish.

• Capitals are all in the right places.
• Paragraphs begin at the right spots.
• Great punctuation – grammar, too.
• My spelling (even of formidable, abstruse words) would knock your socks off.
• An editor won’t have much to do on this paper.

3) Some bothersome mistakes show up when I read carefully.

• Spelling is correct on simple words.
• Capitals are mostly Ok.  maybe i should look again, Though.
• The grammar might be a little informal, but it’s OK for everyday writing.
• A few pronouns do not match what IT refers to.
• You might stumble over my innovative! punctuation.
• It reads like a first draft, all right.
• I’d definitely need to do some editing to get this ready to publish.

1) Better read it once to decode, then once again for meaning.

          Lotsuv errers Mak? The going ruf.

          i’ve forgotten some CAPS – others aren’t Needed.

          Look out four speling mysteaks.

          To tell the truth, I didn’t spend much time editing.

          I’ll really have to roll up my sleeves to get this ready to publish.