4-Point

Argumentative
Performance Task Writing Rubric (Grades 6-11)
Score 4 3 2 1 NS
The response provides thorough The response provides adequate The response provides uneven, The response provides minimal Unintelligible
and convincing support/evidence support/evidence for the cursory support/evidence for the support/evidence for the In a language
for the argument(s) and claim argument(s) and claim that argument(s) and claim that argument(s) and claim that other than
that includes the effective use of includes the use of sources (facts includes partial or uneven use of includes little or no use of English
sources (facts and details). The and details). The response sources: (facts and details). The sources: (facts and details). The Off-topic
response clearly and effectively adequately expresses ideas, response expresses ideas response’s expression of ideas is Copied text
expresses ideas, using precise employing a mix of precise with unevenly, using simplistic vague, lacks clarity, or is Off-purpose
language: more general language: language: confusing:

comprehensive evidence from adequate evidence from some evidence from sources evidence from the source
sources is integrated; references sources is integrated; some may be weakly integrated, material is minimal or
Evidence/Elaboration

are relevant and specific references may be general imprecise, or repetitive; irrelevant; references may be
references may be vague absent or incorrectly used

effective use of a variety of adequate use of some weak or uneven use of minimal, if any, use of
elaborative techniques* elaborative techniques elaborative techniques; elaborative techniques;
development may consist emotional appeal may
primarily of source summary dominate
or may rely on emotional
appeal

vocabulary is clearly appropriate vocabulary is generally vocabulary use is uneven or vocabulary is limited or
for the audience and purpose appropriate for the audience somewhat ineffective for the ineffective for the audience
and purpose audience and purpose and purpose

effective, appropriate style generally appropriate style is inconsistent or weak attempt little or no evidence of
enhances content evident to create appropriate style appropriate style

*Elaborative techniques may include the use of personal experiences that support the argument(s).
 2-Point
Argumentative
Performance Task Writing Rubric (Grades 6-11)
Score 2 1 0 NS
The response demonstrates an adequate The response demonstrates a partial command The response demonstrates little or no Unintelligible
command of conventions: of conventions: command of conventions: In a language
other than
adequate use of correct sentence limited use of correct sentence formation, infrequent use of correct sentence
Conventions

English
formation, punctuation, capitalization, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, formation, punctuation, capitalization, Off-topic
grammar usage, and spelling and spelling grammar usage, and spelling Copied text

(Off-purpose
responses will still
receive a score in
Conventions.)

Holistic Scoring:

Variety: A range of errors includes formation, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, and spelling
Severity: Basic errors are more heavily weighted than higher-level errors.
Density: The proportion of errors to the amount of writing done well. This includes the ratio of errors to the length of the piece.