Creative Writing - Fiction Analytical Rubric

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* 1. COURSE NUMBER

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* 2. SECTION NUMBER

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* 3. YEAR/SEMESTER

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* 4. FOCUS

(4) Exemplary:
Riveting opening captures reader’s attention
Theme implied & gradually revealed
Specific audience, occasion, or situation addressed
May be challenging to identify theme, but work has a clarity that leaves no surface questions, such as “What happened in this part?”
Prompt responded to thoughtfully

(3) Accomplished
Interesting opening captures reader’s attention
Theme implied & gradually revealed
Awareness of audience, occasion, or situation
May be challenging to identify theme, but work mostly has a clarity that leaves no surface questions, such as “What happened in this part?”
Prompt responded to thoughtfully

(2) Developing
Adequate opening
Theme may still be developing
Occasional awareness of audience, occasion, or situation
Work usually has a clarity that leaves few surface questions, such as “What happened in this part?”
Prompt responded to adequately

(1) Beginning
Rudimentary opening
Theme still developing
Little or no awareness of audience, occasion, or situation
Work leaves reader with several surface questions, such as “What happened in this part?”
Prompt responded to partially

(0) Unacceptable
Rudimentary opening
No theme
No awareness of audience, occasion, or situation
Work leaves reader with numerous surface questions, such as “What happened in this part?”
Prompt not addressed

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* 5. ORGANIZATION & DEVELOPMENT

(4) Exemplary
Effective paragraphing & structure
Smooth, sophisticated transitions between & within paragraphs
Body employs literary elements, often creating scenes that put the reader there
Demonstrates being informed by techniques, narrative structure, ideas explored in class and readings
Interesting, effective, insightful conclusion
Builds through a startling dramatic tension
Meets page/word length requirement

(3) Accomplished
Mostly effective paragraphing & structure
Mostly smooth, effective transitions between & within paragraphs
Frequently body employs literary elements, creating scenes that put the reader there
Frequently demonstrates being informed by techniques, narrative structure, ideas explored in class and readings
Interesting, effective, insightful conclusion
Builds through a suspenseful dramatic tension
Meets page/word length requirement

(2) Developing
Occasionally unclear paragraphing & structure
Occasional transitions between & within paragraphs
Sometimes body employs literary elements, creating scenes that put the reader there
Occasionally demonstrates being informed by techniques, narrative structure, ideas explored in class and readings
Adequate conclusion
Infrequently builds through dramatic tension
Meets minimum page/word length requirement

(1) Beginning
Mostly ineffective paragraphing & structure
Awkward or missing transitions between & within paragraphs
Rarely employs literary elements, creating scenes that put the reader there
Rarely demonstrates being informed by techniques, narrative structure, ideas explored in class and readings
Weak, mechanical, or incomplete conclusion
Lacks dramatic tension
Below or barely meets minimum page/word length requirement

(0) Unacceptable
No paragraphing and structure
No transitions
Inadequate or no use of literary elements and scenes
No indication of being informed by techniques, narrative structure, ideas explored in class and readings
Missing, ineffective, dull, incoherent, or irrelevant ending
Lacks dramatic tension
Below page/word length requirement

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* 6. STYLE & SENTENCE STRUCTURE

(4) Exemplary
Concrete, startling, and precise diction
Original use of language
Sophisticated, varied sentence length & structure
Appropriate voice and tone
Free of sentence faults and errors
No wordiness
No clichés

(3) Accomplished
Concrete, startling, and precise diction but perhaps a few imprecise word choices
Mostly original use of language in the work
Frequently varied sentence length & structure
Mostly appropriate voice and tone
Infrequent errors
Little wordiness
Infrequent clichés

(2) Developing
Generally accurate diction
Occasional original use of language in the work
Sometimes varied sentence length & structure
Voice and tone still developing
Occasional errors
Some wordiness
Some clichés

(1) Beginning
Often limited, frequently imprecise diction
Lacks original use of language
Mostly simple, rarely varied sentence length & structure
Voice and tone still developing
Distracting, unidiomatic expressions & syntax
Frequent errors
Wordy
Frequent clichés

(0) Unacceptable
Limited, imprecise diction
Little or no original use of language
Unsophisticated or no variation in sentence length & structure
Voice and tone undeveloped or flat
Unreadable
Widespread errors
Excessive wordiness
Frequent clichés

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* 7. GRAMMAR & MECHANICS

(4) Exemplary
Free of grammatical, usage and mechanical errors unless used for artistic purposes
Appropriate format

(3) Accomplished
Few grammatical , usage, and mechanical errors unless used for artistic purposes
Appropriate format

(2) Developing
Some grammatical , usage, and mechanical errors
Appropriate format

(1) Beginning
Distracting number of grammatical, usage, or mechanical errors
Inappropriate format

(0) Unacceptable
Excessive grammatical, usage, or mechanical errors
Distorted, obscured, or incomprehensible meaning
Inappropriate format

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* 8. RESEARCH

(4) Exemplary
▪ Consistently uses reliable, relevant, appropriate sources
▪ Unfailingly uses appropriate and correct document design and citation style
▪ Complete absence of plagiarism

(3) Accomplished
▪ Frequently uses reliable, relevant, appropriate research materials
▪ Few lapses in appropriate and correct document design and citation style
▪ Complete absence of plagiarism

(2) Developing
▪ Sometimes uses reliable, relevant, appropriate research materials
▪ Occasional lapses in appropriate and correct document design and citation style
▪ Complete absence of plagiarism

(1) Beginning
▪ Frequently uses unreliable or irrelevant sources
▪ Frequent lapses in appropriate and correct document design and citation style
▪ Complete absence of plagiarism

(0) Unacceptable
▪ Little or no use of reliable, relevant, appropriate sources
▪ Little or no use of appropriate or correct document design and citation style
▪ Evidence of plagiarism