Four-Point Informative/Expository Writing Rubric

4	3	2	1
Creates and develops a central idea that demonstrates deep understanding, and is appropriate for the writer’s purpose and audience	Creates and develops a central idea that demonstrates some understanding, and is usually appropriate for the writer’s purpose and audience	Creates and develops a central idea that demonstrates a little understanding, and is not always appropriate for the writer’s purpose and audience	Does not create and develop a central idea that demonstrates understanding, and contains little information appropriate for the writer’s purpose and audience
Develops ideas creatively with a wide variety of details	Develops ideas adequately with enough details	Develops ideas too briefly with too few details	Does not develop ideas with details
Creates and maintains a logical structure by using smooth transitions	Creates and maintains an adequate structure, but may be missing some transitions	Creates and maintains a weak structure, missing several transitions	Does not create and maintain an adequate structure with transitions
Uses precise descriptive language with creative word choices and varied, well-structured sentences	Uses appropriate language with some good word choices and some variety of adequately structured sentences	Uses simple language with basic word choices and little variety with some inadequately structured sentences	Uses unclear language with poor word choices and poorly structured sentences
Makes few or no errors in paragraphing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics	Makes some errors in paragraphing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics	Makes frequent errors in paragraphing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics	Makes major errors in paragraphing, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics