​

• Connectability:  Writer’s ability to maintain connection between topic, details, and conclusion.  Writer stays focused on the main idea and does not distract the reader by adding unimportant, irrelevant, or off-topic information.

​​

• Evidence/Details:  Writer provides appropriate amount of evidence/details to support the writing prompt.  Evidence/details are relevant and accurate.

​​

• Introduction/Conclusion: Writer includes a hook sentence or something that grabs the reader’s attention.  Writer also includes a topic sentence or thesis statement/section that lets the reader know what the rest of the paragraph/essay is about.  Writer summarizes why the details/evidence prove the topic sentence is correct.

​

• Organization: Writer is able to present ideas that flow smoothly from one sentence to the next. Writer is able to choose the best possible words or phrases to provide meaning and understanding to the reader. If the organization does not provide readers with the information they are looking for in an orderly manner, they will quickly lose interest. 

​​

• Audience:  Writer knows who they are writing for and is able to make a good decision about what information to include, as well as the tone and language used to explain it.  Example:  We might say: 'Look at that silly doggie!' if the audience is a 2-year-old,   but we wouldn't say that to a teenager. We might say: 'I need you to pick up the kids from soccer practice tonight. ,' to a spouse or partner, but we wouldn't say that to our boss. 

​​

• Conventions:  Writer is able to use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.  The audience can finish reading, without having to stop to try to figure out what was actually intended. (proof read!!)