Third Grade Personal Narrative Writing Rubric

Scoring Guide 4 (Above Grade Level) 3 (At grade level) 2 (Approaching Grade 1 (Below Grade Level)
Level)
Focus: Write about a *Responds skillfully to *Responds to all parts *Responds to most *Responds to some or
Seed all parts of the prompt of the prompt parts of the prompt no parts of the prompt
*Orients the reader by *Establishes a real *Establishes a real *Fails to establish a real
CCSS: W-3a, W-4 establishing a vivid situation situation situation/problem
situation
Narrative Techniques *Uses a new style of *Uses a lead that has *Attempts to use a lead *Does not use a lead to
-Strong Start lead to grab the previously been to grab reader’s grab reader’s attention
-Dialogue (2 sentences) reader’s attention practices to grab attention *Does not use dialogue
-Strong Ending *Uses vivid dialogue to reader’s attention *Attempts to use to support plot when
show the response of (question or dialogue to support plot appropriate
CCSS: W-3b characters to situations description) when appropriate *Does not use a
*Uses a skillful ending *Uses dialogue to show *Attempts to use a “powerful ending” or
to write a conclusion the response of “powerful ending” to attempt to write a
that follows the characters to situations conclude conclusion
narrated experience or when appropriate
events *Uses a “powerful
*Uses creative ending” to provide a
descriptions of actions, sense of closure
thoughts, and feelings
to develop experiences
and events
Introduction: *Uses a new style lead *Uses a lead to grab *Attempts to use a lead *Does not use a lead to
-Lead to grab reader’s reader’s attention to grab reader’s grab reader’s attention
-Who? attention *Introduces characters attention *Does not introduce
-Where? *Uses creative and/or a narrator *Attempts to introduce characters and/or a
descriptions of *Introduces setting characters and/or a narrator
CCSS: W-3.3 characters narrator *Does not introduce
*Uses vivid imagery to *Attempts to introduce setting
 establish setting setting
Body Paragraphs *Skillfully establishes *Includes 3 events that *Attempts to include 1- *Does not include 3
1: Rising Action (3 events (rising and falling build to a climax 3 events that build to a events that build to a
events) action) using varied *Includes a climax (the climax climax
2: Climax descriptions, dialogue, most exciting event in *Attempts to include a *Does not include a
3: Falling Action (3 and action the story) climax climax
events) *Creatively establishes *Includes 3 events after *Attempts to include 1- *Does not include 3
CCSS: W-3.3 a climax the climax 3 events after the events after the climax
climax
Organization/Plot *Coherently organizes a *Organizes a clear *Organizes some *Does not sequence
CCSS: W-3a, W-3c, W- clear event sequence event sequence that sequencing but might narrative in a logical
3d, W-4 that unfolds naturally unfolds naturally confuse the reader order. Narrative is
*Skillfully uses *Uses transition words *Uses some transition confusing
transition words or or phrases to signal words or phrases to *Uses few to no
phrases to signal event event order signal event order transition words or
order phrases to manage the
sequence of events
Grammar *Uses purposeful and *Uses correct and *Uses some correct *Uses little to no
CCSS: L-1 varied sentence varied sentence sentence structure correct sentence
structures structures *Utilizes vague or basic structure
*Utilizes precise and *Utilizes strong and word choice; correct *Utilizes incorrect
sophisticated word grade-level appropriate simple and compound and/or simplistic word
choice word choice sentences choice
Conventions *Demonstrates *Demonstrates grade *Demonstrates some *Demonstrates limited
CCSS: L-2 creativity and flexibility level appropriate grade level appropriate understanding of grade
when using conventions conventions; errors are conventions, but errors level appropriate
(grammar, punctuation, minor may obscure meaning conventions, and errors
capitalization, and interfere with the
spelling) to enhance meaning
meaning.