November 2008

Summary (non-fiction) 8th Grade

Practice Prompt “Bridges – From Vines to Steele”

Directions: Write a summary. You will have time to plan, write and proofread your work. Writing: Read “Bridges – From Vines to Steele” on pp. 450 - 454 in your

science book. Write a multi paragraph essay summarizing the article. Scoring: Your writing will be scored on how well you: Include the main ideas and most significant details. Use your own words, except for quotations. Reflect underlying meaning, not just the superficial details.

Draft November 2008

Santee School District Summary Rubric Grade 8

Score 4 (Skillful) Score 3 (Adequate) Score 2 (Limited) Score 1 (Ineffective) Score _ Main idea or Theme: clearly states and

understands main idea(s) from the reading _ Format: Includes title, author, genre, and catches the reader’s attention _ Details: carefully chooses and elaborates on significant details to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of main idea/underlying meaning _ Word usage: skillfully uses own words except for quotations

_ Main idea or Theme: clearly states main idea from the reading _ Format: includes title, author, and genre _ Details: chooses only significant details to support main idea; reflects an understanding of the underlying meaning of text _ Word usage: uses own words except for quotations

_ Main idea or Theme: does not clearly state main idea from the reading _ Format: missing one of the following: title, author, genre _ Details: uses some significant details but may not support main idea; reflection/understanding of underlying meaning not evident _ Word usage: uses too many of the author’s words (retells)

_ Main idea or Theme: not given _ Format: missing more than one _ Details: does not demonstrate an understanding of important details to support a main idea _ Word usage: does not use own words (retells)

_Introduction: Includes a well organized paragraph containing a topic sentence that attracts the reader’s attention

_Introduction: Includes an organized paragraph that contains a topic sentence

_Introduction: Includes a topic sentence but main idea is unclear

_Introduction: No topic sentence

_Supporting Paragraph(s): Effectively includes paragraph(s) that supports the main idea of essay and maintains excellent focus

_Supporting Paragraph: Includes paragraph(s) that support the main idea or theme of essay and has adequate focus

_Supporting Paragraph: Does not always support main idea of essay and/or is unfocused

_Supporting Paragraph: No support

_Conclusion: Provides a clear link to main idea and creates a feeling of closure

_Conclusion: Links to main idea and creates closure

_Conclusion: brief, not linked to main idea and/or no feeling of closure

_Conclusion: Missing

_Vocabulary: consistently uses rich lang. and writes to appropriate audience

_Vocabulary: usually uses rich language

_Vocabulary: little use of rich language (simple, repetitive)

_Vocabulary: no use of rich language

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_Transitions: effectively uses transition words to link paragraphs, essay flows smoothly

_Transitions: uses some transition words (e.g. next, meanwhile) to create flow

_Transitions: uses few or inappropriate transitions, essay does not flow well

_Transitions: none

_Grammar: consistent use of correct grammar (e.g. clear subject verb agreement and proper verb tense)

_Grammar: adequate use of correct grammar (subject verb agreement and consistent verb tense evident)

_Grammar: limited use of correct grammar, several errors

_Grammar: little use of correct grammar, many errors, doesn’t make sense

_Sentence Structure: effectively uses varied sentence length and word order and writes in complete sentences

_Sentence Structure: adequately uses varied sentence length, word order and usually writes in complete sentences

_Sentence Structure: may not use a variety of sentence structures and/ or complete sentences (has several fragments and run-ons)

_Sentence Structure: does not use a variety of sentence structures and has many incomplete sentences and/or run-ons

_Spelling: spells correctly _Spelling: spells grade level words correctly most of the time

_Spelling: several errors, and/or mistakes may distract the reader

_Spelling: many errors, mistakes distract the reader

_Punctuation: punctuates correctly _Punctuation: punctuates correctly most of the time

_Punctuation: lacks control of basic punctuation rules, many errors

_Punctuation: little or no understanding of basic rules

_Capitalization: capitalizes correctly _Capitalization: capitalizes correctly most of the time

_Capitalization: capitalizes correctly some of the time

_Capitalization: rarely capitalizes correctly

_ Indention: consistently indents with understanding _ Citation: skillfully uses MLA format, when applicable

_ Indention: usually indents with understanding _ Citation: adequately uses MLA format, when applicable

_ Indention: may indent with understanding _ Citation: limited use of MLA format, when applicable

_ Indention: doesn’t indent or indents without understanding _ Citation: no MLA format, when applicable

Scorer’s Initials______________ 11-12 exceeds standards 9-10 meets standards 6-8 approaching standards 3-5 below standards Total Score _____

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