CATEGORY

E

P

S

I

Creativity

The story contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his imagination.

The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his imagination.

The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story. The author has tried to use his imagination.

There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.

Action

Several action verbs (active voice) are used to describe what is happening in the story. The story seems exciting!

Several action verbs are used to describe what is happening in the story, but the word choice doesn't make the story as exciting as it could be.

A variety of verbs (passive voice) are used and describe the action accurately but not in a very exciting way.

Little variety seen in the verbs that are used. The story seems a little boring.

Setting

Many vivid, descriptive words are used to tell when and where the story took place.

Some vivid, descriptive words are used to tell the audience when and where the story took place.

The reader can figure out when and where the story took place, but the author didn't supply much detail.

The reader has trouble figuring out when and where the story took place.

Title

Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the story and topic.

Title is related to the story and topic.

Title is present, but does not appear to be related to the story and topic.

No title.

Dialogue

There is an appropriate amount of dialogue to bring the characters to life and it is always clear which character is speaking.

There is too much dialogue in this story, but it is always clear which character is speaking.

There is not quite enough dialogue in this story, but it is always clear which character is speaking.

It is not clear which character is speaking.

Mechanics

There are no grammatical, punctuation, and/or spelling errors.

There are between 1 and 2 grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling errors.

There are between 3 and 5 grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling errors.

There are 6 or more grammar, punctuation, and/or spelling errors.