Advanced Proficient Developing Beginning Does not meet expectations source? Does the contributes to clarity meaning is clear. inconsistently resulting in confusion. incomprehensible. paper show mastery and style. Almost no Some editing is correct though A great deal of editing Extensive editing (on of basic editing is needed. needed, but not a lot. problems do not is needed. almost every line) is conventions? distort meaning. needed. Moderate editing is needed. Voice: Does the Author seems Author seems Author seems Author seems bored; Writing is flat and writing sound like interested in the invested in the topic. disinterested in the writing is flat. Tone mechanical. Tone and the writer? Is it topic. Tone and style Tone and style are topic. Tone and and style are not style are inappropriately appropriate for the are appropriately usually appropriate; style are not always appropriate to the informal for audience or audience? formal for audience some lapses. appropriate for the audience or topic. topic. and topic. audience or topic. Sentence Fluency: Sentences flow Sentences flow. Sentences are Sentences vary little, Sentences are incorrectly Can you feel the smoothly. Sentences Sentences structure is technically correct with unchanging structured—choppy, words and phrases are well-built with correct and varied but not varied or structure. Phrasing incomplete, rambling, or flowing together as varied structure and but feels mechanical interesting. often sounds awkward. you read it out loud? rhythm. in places. Sentence flow is unnatural and awkward in places. awkward. Word Choice: Is the Vocabulary conveys Vocabulary conveys Vocabulary is Vocabulary is vague, Vocabulary is limited. vocabulary concise, meaning in a concise, meaning with functional but imprecise, or Words are frequently precise, and precise, and engaging precision and clarity. uninteresting. incorrect, resulting in incorrect, confusing interesting? way. Diction is Diction is appropriate Occasional lack of impaired meaning. reader. natural but never and used correctly. precision in diction overdone. Lively Too many “be” verbs results in wordiness verbs energize, may weaken writing, or an unclear precise make it boring. message. “Be” verbs nouns/modifiers abound. convey meaning clearly.
source? Does the paper show mastery of basic conventions? contributes to clarity and style. Almost no editing is needed. meaning is clear. Some editing is needed, but not a lot. inconsistently correct though problems do not distort meaning. Moderate editing is needed. resulting in confusion. A great deal of editing is needed. incomprehensible. Extensive editing (on almost every line) is needed. Voice: Does the writing sound like the writer? Is it appropriate for the audience? Author seems interested in the topic. Tone and style are appropriately formal for audience and topic. Author seems invested in the topic. Tone and style are usually appropriate; some lapses. Author seems disinterested in the topic. Tone and style are not always appropriate for the audience or topic. Author seems bored; writing is flat. Tone and style are not appropriate to the audience or topic. Writing is flat and mechanical. Tone and style are inappropriately informal for audience or topic. Sentence Fluency: Can you feel the words and phrases flowing together as you read it out loud? Sentences flow smoothly. Sentences are well-built with varied structure and rhythm. Sentences flow. Sentences structure is correct and varied but feels mechanical in places. Sentences are technically correct but not varied or interesting. Sentence flow is awkward in places. Sentences vary little, with unchanging structure. Phrasing often sounds unnatural and awkward. Sentences are incorrectly structured—choppy, incomplete, rambling, or awkward. Word Choice: Is the vocabulary concise, precise, and interesting? Vocabulary conveys meaning in a concise, precise, and engaging way. Diction is natural but never overdone. Lively verbs energize, precise nouns/modifiers convey meaning clearly. Vocabulary conveys meaning with precision and clarity. Diction is appropriate and used correctly. Too many “be” verbs may weaken writing, make it boring. Vocabulary is functional but uninteresting. Occasional lack of precision in diction results in wordiness or an unclear message. “Be” verbs abound. Vocabulary is vague, imprecise, or incorrect, resulting in impaired meaning. Vocabulary is limited. Words are frequently incorrect, confusing reader. Advanced Proficient Developing Beginning Does not meet expectations
hhs_writing_guide_2013_2014.docx