Download an editable Word copy to change criteria for your class or school. It also opens in Google Docs.
Scoring Scale
1 — DevelopingJust beginning with this skill. Needs a lot of support, or key parts are missing.2 — ApproachingShows parts of the skill. Needs some support or reminders, or some parts are missing or unclear.3 — MeetingDoes what the criterion describes on their own. This is the grade-level goal.4 — ExceedingGoes beyond the criterion: more depth or detail, a new way of using the skill, or explaining their thinking.
| Nailed It! | Criteria | To Think About and Work On | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic SentenceStarts the paragraph with a clear topic sentence that states the main idea (ex: “Polar bears are adapted to an Arctic habitat.”) | |||
| Supporting DetailsChooses facts that are important and relevant to the topic sentence; organizes them in a logical order. | |||
| Transitions & SequenceUses transition words (first, next, also, finally) to connect ideas and help the paragraph flow. | |||
| Concluding SentenceEnds with a sentence that wraps up the paragraph and echoes the topic sentence without repeating it. | |||
| Revision & Sentence VarietyRevises sentences by adding details, adjectives, and combining ideas into compound sentences; checks for capitals, punctuation, and neatness. | |||
| PublishingPublishes a neat final copy with a title and a text feature (a picture with a caption, a diagram, a map, or a Fact Spot) that helps the reader understand the topic. |