NJSLA-A Grades 6–8 Narrative Rubric

5 points

Focused response, clear understanding of task and purpose. Characteristics: a context and point of view that clearly introduces a narrator and/or characters; narrative techniques that clearly develop experiences, events and/or characters.

4 points

Mostly focused response, general understanding of task and purpose. Characteristics: a context and point of view that generally introduces a narrator and/or characters; narrative techniques that generally develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

3 points

Basic response, some understanding of task and purpose. Characteristics: a context and point of view that somewhat introduces a narrator and/or characters; narrative techniques that somewhat develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

2 points

Limited response, partial understanding of task and purpose. Characteristics: a limited or attempted context and/or point of view that introduces a narrator and/or characters; narrative techniques that attempt to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

1 point

Minimally written response, minimal understanding of task and purpose. Characteristics: a minimal context and/or point of view; minimal, missing, or unclear use of narrative techniques.

5 points

Focused response. Characteristics: a clearly organized event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically; a conclusion that clearly follows the experiences and events.

4 points

Mostly focused response. Characteristics: a generally organized event sequence that unfolds logically; a conclusion that generally follows from the experiences and events.

3 points

Basic response. Characteristics: a sequence of experiences or events that unfold somewhat logically; a conclusion that somewhat follows from the experiences and events.

2 points

Limited response. Characteristics: a limited or attempted sequence of experiences or events; a limited or attempted conclusion.

1 point

Minimally written response. Characteristics: minimal or unclear relationship between events; minimal or missing conclusion.

5 points

Focused response. Characteristics: transition words and phrases to clearly signal shifts in time frame or setting; precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to clearly convey experiences and events.

4 points

Mostly focused response. Characteristics: transition words and phrases to generally signal shifts in time frame or setting; words and phrases, mostly relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to generally convey experiences and events.

3 points

Basic response. Characteristics: transition words or phrases to somewhat signal shifts in time frame or setting; words, phrases, and descriptive details to somewhat convey experiences and events.

2 points

Limited response. Characteristics: limited transition words or phrases that attempt to signal shifts in time frame or setting; limited descriptive details that attempt to convey experiences and events.

1 point

Minimally written response. Characteristics: minimal transition words to signal shifts in time frame or setting; minimal or unclear descriptive details to convey events or characters.