PIRATE Biography Rubric
Points scored
Ideas & Content
Lively, interesting, & memorable.
Writing keeps the reader's attention.
Ideas are supported by details
Organization
Introduction is inviting.
Ideas / important details & paragraphs fit where placed.
Transitions used effectively between ideas & paragraphs.
Ending is effective
Cites resources used
Voice
The reader feels the author's emotions.
Writing sounds real & has personality
Word Choice
Writer uses appropriate descriptive vocabulary
Sentence Fluency
The writing flows.
Writing is clear and the reader doesn’t stop to wonder what the writer is saying.
Writer uses different beginnings & lengths for sentences
Conventions
The writer shows a clear understanding of capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar
4 points
Exceeds the
standard
•Writer knows topic really well
• Details included about: early life, what led to piracy, tales of battles, ship/flag, fate
•Many interesting details
•Carefully organized with varied transitions
•Lead grabs reader's attention
•Conclusion works well
•Details & paragraphs are in right order
•Writer's personality comes through in a special way
•Writer's voice is lively & confident
•Has a variety of strong words
•Words create vivid pictures in reader's mind
•Has creative sentences of different kinds & lengths
•Sentences flow, making the writing enjoyable to read
•Has FEW or NO errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar
•Writing is easy to read
3 points
Meets the
standard
• Include information about: early life, what led to piracy, tales of battles, ship/flag, fate
•Writer knows the topic
•Most details fit & are interesting
•Has some transitions
•Most parts of paper fit together.
•Most details & paragraphs are in right order
**Cites at least 3 sources
• Most of the time the writer's voice & personality show up in the writing.
•Writing has some strong words
•Some words create pictures in the reader's mind
•Sentences are different lengths
•Sentences have varied beginnings
•Sentences fit together well
•Has FEW errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar
•Sounds correct when read aloud
2 points
In Process
•Missing ONE or more of the following: early life, what led to piracy, tales of battles, ship/flag, fate
•Writer doesn’t know enough about the topic
•Needs more details
•Few transitions used
•Too many details are out of order
**Does not cite enough sources
•Sometimes the writer's voice comes through
•Writing does not draw the reader in
•Too many dull, ordinary words
•Some words just don't fit or writer repeats words
•Sentences are too short or too long
•Same beginnings used over and over
•Reader is confused & has to re-read for meaning
•Too many errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar make the writing difficult to read
•Editing needed
Points scored
Ideas & Content
Lively, interesting, & memorable.
Writing keeps the reader's attention.
Ideas are supported by details
Organization
Introduction is inviting.
Ideas / important details & paragraphs fit where placed.
Transitions used effectively between ideas & paragraphs.
Ending is effective
Cites resources used
Voice
The reader feels the author's emotions.
Writing sounds real & has personality
Word Choice
Writer uses appropriate descriptive vocabulary
Sentence Fluency
The writing flows.
Writing is clear and the reader doesn’t stop to wonder what the writer is saying.
Writer uses different beginnings & lengths for sentences
Conventions
The writer shows a clear understanding of capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar
4 points
Exceeds the
standard
•Writer knows topic really well
• Details included about: early life, what led to piracy, tales of battles, ship/flag, fate
•Many interesting details
•Carefully organized with varied transitions
•Lead grabs reader's attention
•Conclusion works well
•Details & paragraphs are in right order
•Writer's personality comes through in a special way
•Writer's voice is lively & confident
•Has a variety of strong words
•Words create vivid pictures in reader's mind
•Has creative sentences of different kinds & lengths
•Sentences flow, making the writing enjoyable to read
•Has FEW or NO errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar
•Writing is easy to read
3 points
Meets the
standard
• Include information about: early life, what led to piracy, tales of battles, ship/flag, fate
•Writer knows the topic
•Most details fit & are interesting
•Has some transitions
•Most parts of paper fit together.
•Most details & paragraphs are in right order
**Cites at least 3 sources
• Most of the time the writer's voice & personality show up in the writing.
•Writing has some strong words
•Some words create pictures in the reader's mind
•Sentences are different lengths
•Sentences have varied beginnings
•Sentences fit together well
•Has FEW errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar
•Sounds correct when read aloud
2 points
In Process
•Missing ONE or more of the following: early life, what led to piracy, tales of battles, ship/flag, fate
•Writer doesn’t know enough about the topic
•Needs more details
•Few transitions used
•Too many details are out of order
**Does not cite enough sources
•Sometimes the writer's voice comes through
•Writing does not draw the reader in
•Too many dull, ordinary words
•Some words just don't fit or writer repeats words
•Sentences are too short or too long
•Same beginnings used over and over
•Reader is confused & has to re-read for meaning
•Too many errors in capitalization, punctuation, spelling & grammar make the writing difficult to read
•Editing needed