The A Response
Supporting accurate illustrative historical details are relevant and provide important information about the prompt. Use of events and pertinent vocabulary is required!
• The writing has balance; the main idea stands out from the details.
• The writer seems in control and develops the topic in a logical, organized way.
• The writing connects ideas to the specified purpose.
• The writer selects words that are accurate, specific, and appropriate for the specified purpose.
• The writer uses a variety of sentence structures.
• The writing is readable, neat, and nearly error-free.
The B Response
The writer has defined but not thoroughly developed the prompt using accurate illustrative historical evidence. Use of events and pertinent vocabulary is required!
• Some supporting details are relevant but limited, or overly general, or less important.
• The writer makes general observations without using specific details or does not delineate the main idea from the details.
• The writer attempts to develop the topic in an organized way, but may falter in either logic or organization.
• The writer connects ideas with the specified topic implicitly rather than explicitly.
• The writer mostly selects words that are accurate, specific, and appropriate for the purpose of the writing.
• The writer uses simple but accurate sentence structures.
• The writing is mostly readable and neat.
• Errors in language usage, spelling, and mechanics do not impede communication.
The C Response
The writer has defined but not thoroughly developed the prompt; response may be unclear or sketchy or may read like a collection of thoughts from which no central idea emerges. Use of events and pertinent vocabulary is required!
• Supporting accurate illustrative historical details are minimal or irrelevant or no distinction is made between main ideas and details.
• The writer does not develop the topic in an organized way; response may be a list rather than a developed paragraph.
• Ideas are not connected to the specified purpose.
• The writer sometimes selects words that are not accurate, specific, or appropriate for the purpose of the writing.
• Writing may be choppy or repetitive.
• Portions of the writing are unreadable or messy; errors may impede communication in some portions of the response.
The D Response
The writer has not defined the prompt. Use of events and pertinent vocabulary is required!
• Supporting accurate illustrative historical details are used minimally.
• Organization is not evident; may be a brief list.
• Ideas are fragmented and unconnected with the specified purpose.
• Much of the writing is unreadable or messy.
• Word choice is inaccurate or there are many repetitions.
• The writer uses simple, repetitive sentence structures or many sentence fragments.
• Errors severely impede communication.
The Failing Response
The writer is off topic or the response fails to develop any meaningful connection to the prompt.
• No accurate supporting illustrative details are given.
• Organization is missing!
• Word choice is inaccurate or there are many repetitions.
• The writer uses simple, repetitive sentence structures or many sentence fragments.
• Errors severely impede communication.
• Much of the writing is unreadable or messy.