Six Traits Writing Rubric
6
Exemplary
Ideas &
Content
 main theme
 supporting
details
 Exceptionally
 Clear,
clear, focused,
focused,
engaging with
interesting
relevant, strong
ideas with
supporting detail
appropriate
detail
Organization  Effectively
 structure
 introduction
 conclusion
Voice
 personality
 sense of
audience
5
Strong

organized in
logical and

creative manner
 Creative and
engaging intro and
conclusion
4
Proficient
3
2
Developing Emerging
1
Beginning
 Evident main  Main idea  Purpose and  Lacks
idea with some may be
main idea
central idea;
support which
cloudy
may be
development
may be general because
unclear and
is minimal or
or limited
supporting
cluttered by
non-existent
detail is too
irrelevant
general or
detail
even offtopic
Strong order  Organization is 
and structure
appropriate, but
Inviting intro conventional
and satisfying  Attempt at
closure
introduction
and conclusion 
Attempts at 
organization;
may be a
“list” of
events
Beginning 
and ending
not
developed
 Expressive,
 Appropriate  Evident
 Voice may 
engaging, sincere
to audience
commitment to be
and purpose
topic
inappropriate
 Strong sense of
audience
 Writer behind  Inconsistent or or non
the words
dull personality existent
 Shows emotion:
comes
 Writing may
humour, honesty,
through
seem
suspense or life
mechanical
Lack of
 Lack of
structure;
coherence;
disorganized confusing
and hard to  No
follow
identifiable
introduction
Missing or
weak intro
or conclusion
and
conclusion
Writing

tends to be
flat or stiff 
Little or no
hint of writer
behind words
Writing is
lifeless
No hint of
the writer
Word Choice  Precise, carefully  Descriptive,  Language is
chosen
 precision
effectiveness  Strong, fresh,
vivid images
 imagery
broad range of
words
 Word choice 
energizes
writing
 High degree of 
craftsmanship
 rhythm, flow  Effective variation 
in sentence
variety
patterns
Sentence
Fluency
Conventions  Exceptionally
age
appropriate,
spelling, caps,
punctuation,
grammar
strong control of
standard
conventions of
writing
 Words may 
functional and
be correct
appropriate
but mundane
Descriptions  No attempt
may be
at deliberate
overdone at
choice
times
Easy flow
 Generally in  Some

and rhythm
control
awkward
Good variety  Lack variety in constructions 
in length and
length and
 Many similar
structure
structure
patterns and
beginnings 
 Strong
 Control of

control of
most writing
conventions;
conventions;
errors are few occasional
and minor
errors with high
risks
Limited

control of
conventions;
frequent
errors do not
interfere with
understandin
g

Monotonous,
often
repetitious, 
sometimes
inappropriate
Limited
range of
words
Some
vocabulary
misused
Often
 Difficult to
choppy
follow or
Monotonous read aloud
sentence
 Disjointed,
patterns
confusing,
rambling
Frequent
run-on
sentences
Frequent
significant
errors may
impede
readability
 Numerous
errors
distract the
reader and
make the text
difficult to
read