| Criteria | Exemplary | Proficient | Developing | Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideas & Story | Tells a complete story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. | Shares an idea with some story elements present. | Attempts to share an idea but it is hard to understand. | Drawing or writing does not convey a clear idea. |
| Pictures & Illustrations | Drawings clearly support and add detail to the written story. | Drawings relate to the writing topic. | Drawings are present but not clearly connected to writing. | No drawings or illustrations included. |
| Letter Formation & Spelling | Letters are clearly formed; spells many common words correctly. | Most letters are readable; attempts to spell words phonetically. | Some letters are recognizable; limited spelling attempts. | Letters are not yet formed; no spelling attempts visible. |
| Effort & Enthusiasm | Shows exceptional effort with creative details and careful work. | Shows good effort and completes the assignment. | Shows some effort but work feels rushed or incomplete. | Minimal effort; work appears unfinished. |
Related English Language Arts Templates
Persuasive Essay Rubric
Evaluate persuasive essays on argument strength, evidence use, rhetorical techniques, and writing conventions.
Narrative Writing Rubric
Assess narrative writing for plot development, character depth, descriptive language, and story structure.
Research Paper Rubric
Evaluate college-level research papers on thesis quality, source integration, analysis depth, and academic formatting.