Growing Up Rubric

5/6 Growing-Up Narrative Rubric

Type in 12 point font, double-spaced, Times New Roman font.

Category	4	3	2	1	Student	Teacher
Grabber	First paragraph has a “grabber” or catchy beginning	First paragraph has a weak “grabber”	A catchy beginning was attempted but was confusing rather than catchy.	No attempt was made to catch the reader’s attention in the first paragraph
Organization	The story is very well organized. One idea or scene follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end.	The story is pretty well organized One idea or scene may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used.	The story is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear.	Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged.
Characterization	The main characters are named and clearly described in text as well as pictures. Most readers could describe the characters accurately throughout the story.	The main characters are named and described. Most readers would have some idea of the characters actions and appearance throughout the story.	The main characters are named. The reader knows very little about the characters.	It is hard to tell who the main characters are and what they’re doing in the story.
Snapshots	There are at least three snapshots spread evenly throughout the story. The reader can easily make a “movie in their mind” from the snapshot.	There are at least two snapshots spread evenly throughout the story. The reader can easily make a “movie in their mind” from the snapshot.	There is at least one snapshot spread evenly throughout the story. The reader can easily make a “movie in their mind” from the snapshot.	There are no snapshots in the story, or the snapshots do not allow the reader to make a “movie in their mind” from the snapshot.
Thoughtshots	There are at least three thoughtshots spread evenly throughout the story. The reader can easily understand the character’s thinking from the thoughtshot.	There are at least two thoughtshots spread evenly throughout the story. The reader can easily understand the character’s thinking from the thoughtshot.	There is at least one thoughtshot spread evenly throughout the story. The reader can easily understand the character’s thinking from the thoughtshot.	There are no thoughtshots in the story or the reader cannot easily understand the character’s thinking from the thoughtshot.
Explode-A-Moment	There is at least one example of time standing still (explode-a-moment) in the story. It contains both snapshots and thoughtshots, which combine to describe an important moment in time.	There is at least one example of time standing still (explode-a-moment) in the story. It may contain both snapshots and thoughtshots, which may combine to describe an important moment in time.	There is at least one example of time standing still (explode-a-moment) in the story. It contains either snapshots or thoughtshots, but the moment may be too big, too small or irrelevant.	There is little or no evidence of the use of explode-a-moment in this piece.
Story Ending	The story contains an ending that employs action, dialogue, images or whole-story reminders. It concludes the story and/or resolves the problem in a creative way	The story contains an ending that employs action, dialogue, images or whole-story reminders. It concludes the story and/or resolves the problem.	The story contains an ending which is unclear employs action, dialogue, images or whole-story reminders. It does not conclude the story and/or resolve the problem in a creative way	The story lacks evidence of a clear ending or resolution. It is confusing.
Spelling and Punctuation (as is)	There are no spelling or punctuation errors in the final draft. Character and place names that the author invented are spelled consistently throughout. The story is written in 12 point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced.	There is one spelling or punctuation error in the final draft.	There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors in the final draft.	The final draft has more than 3 spelling and/or punctuation errors.