Short Story Rubric for: _______________________________

5 - Advanced The setting is clearly presented and has an impact on the story. The reader will experience the story through the writer's use of sensory language. A significant amount of the story is SHOWN rather than just told. Characters are strongly developed as individuals. The reader learns about the main character(s) through appearance, actions, thoughts and speech. All the characters remain true to themselves throughout the story and have been flushed out with a past and a future. The central conflict is clearly identifiable and convincingly important to the characters. All actions form a chain of events, each leading to a new situation. This linking of events and situations will move the plot along, leading up to the climax in a logical and meaningful way. The characters will struggle with their problems in interesting and significant ways on their journey through the climax. The story will wrap up with a satisfying resolution. 4 - Thorough The setting is clear and somewhat impacts the story. Sensory language is used, but does not add to the experience. Most of the story is shown rather than told. The characters are well developed. The reader learns about the character through use of descriptors, but the connection between the character's traits and the plot may be hard to distinguish. The central conflict is clearly identifiable and convincingly important to the characters. There is a chain of events that may be partially developed, which lead the character towards a struggle or conflict. The character's struggle is relevant to the development of the story. There has been an attempt to wrap up the story effectively. 3 - Acceptable The setting is clear but may not have much of an impact on the story. An attempt to use some sensory language is present. Some of the story is shown rather than told. The main character(s) have identifiable characteristics that are reasonably well developed through most of the following: appearance, actions, thoughts and speech. They may seem to lack the depth of having a past or a future. The central conflict is clear and important to the characters. The chain of events that lead to new situations may lack development. The characters will struggle with their problems. The story will build up to the climax which will lead to a resolution that ties up most all of the loose ends of the story. 2 - Partial The setting may be unclear, but is roughly present. Little sensory language is used, and the story is mostly told rather than shown. The main character(s) are present and have not been developed effectively. Appearance, actions, thoughts and speech are disjointed from the plot. The conflict is clear but may not have a clear connection to the characters. There are developed events, but they do not flow with each other. There may not be a clear struggle or conflict for the character, and the story is not wrapped up convincingly. 1 - Minimal The setting may not be addressed at all. There is very little to no sensory language present. The story is mostly told rather than shown.

Setting

Characters are not clearly drawn. They may exist as little more than a name and a description or the writer may be relying on a stereotype. Characters may be inconsistent or may lack enough detail for the reader to form a judgement. The conflict may be confusing or nonexistent. There may be a clear conflict but its importance to the characters is never addressed. The action may be little more than a series of events. The characters may be passively engaged/there is no evidence of a struggle. The story may lack a climax and resolution or else they are present but are not convincingly tied in with the rest of the story. The author's voice and tone are confusing and interfere with the reader's understanding of the story. Sentences may need to be reread for meaning. Transitions may be lacking. There is no clear beginning, middle and end.

Plot

Characterization

Style/Voice

The author's voice and tone are appropriate and enhance the story. The use of dialogue, figurative language, and descriptive language help the reader experience the story. Sentences vary in length and type. The movement of the story from beginning, to the middle, to the end is handled in a fluent and logical manner.

The author's voice and tone are appropriate to enhance the story. There is an attempt to use dialogue, figurative language, and descriptive language but it does not flow with the experience of the story. Sentences have appropriate structure, but do not vary in length or type. There is a clear beginning, middle, and end. However, they do not flow.

The author's voice and tone do not interfere with the reader's understanding of the story. There may be a forced use of dialogue, figurative language and descriptive language, or the attempt lacks development. Writing is forced, but the meaning is clear. The transition from the beginning, to the middle, to the end may be choppy or awkward.

Conventions

The story has been carefully proofread and contains few or no errors in punctuation, sentence structure, grammar we have covered, or spelling from the word wall. The final copy is neat and properly formatted.

The story has been well proofread. Basic conventions are appropriately present. Grammar and word wall spelling is correct. The final copy is neat and properly formatted.

The story has been well proofread. There may be some errors but they do not interfere with the understanding of the story. The final copy is neat and properly formatted.

The author's voice and tone can sometimes interfere with the cohesiveness of the story. There is a shortage of dialogue, figurative language, and descriptive language. Writing is basic, and the meaning is sometimes unclear. The sequencing of events from the beginning, to the middle, to the end of the story may be disjointed. The story has been proofread, but many of the errors have been overlooked. The meaning of the story is partially lost at times. The final copy is partially formatted and minimal attempts for neatness have been made. 2+ 55% 2 50%

The story shows little evidence of proofreading. Too many errors distract from the meaning of the story. The story may not be "final copy" quality.

Overall

5+ 100%

5 95%

590%

4+ 85%

4 80%

475%

3+ 70%

3 65%

360%

1 40%