CATEGORY

Mastering

Progressing

Developing

Content

Ideas were expressed in a clear and organized fashion. It was easy to figure out what the letter was about.

Ideas were expressed fairly clearly, but the organziation could have been better.

Ideas were not very clear. It took more than one reading to figure out what the letter was about.

Content Accuracy - biographical information

The letter includes at least 3 accurate facts about the nominee's life (dates, place of birth, etc.)

The letter includes 1 or 2 accurate facts about the nominee's life (dates, place of birth, etc.) 

The letter includes no  accurate facts about the nominee's life.

Content Accuracy - historic events

The letter includes a summary of the role the nominee played in South Carolina history. The summary should be at least 3 sentences in length.

The letter includes 1 or 2 sentences about the nominee's role in history.

The letter includes no information about the nominee's role in history.

Content Accuracy - qualities

The letter lists at least 2 admirable qualities the nominee had and cites examples of actions that demonstrated those qualities.

The letter lists 2 admirable qualities the nominee had but provides no examples.

The letter includes 1 quality or no qualities and no examples.

Sentences & Paragraphs

Sentences and paragraphs are complete, well-constructed and of varied structure.

Most sentences are complete and well-constructed (no fragments, no run-ons). Paragraphing is generally done well.

Many sentence fragments or run-on sentences OR paragraphing needs work.

Capitalization and Punctuation

Writer makes no errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Writer makes 1-2 errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Writer makes 3-4 errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Grammar & spelling (conventions)

Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling.

Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar and/or spelling.

Writer makes 3 or more errors in grammar and/or spelling

Neatness

The letter is written in neat cursive on clean paper and is easy to read with no distracting error corrections. It was done with pride.

The letter is neatly printed and is easy to read with no distracting error corrections. It was done with care.

The printing is not neat. The letter is hard to read, with distracting erasures and smudges.

Format

The letter is correctly formatted.

Complies with most of the requirements for formatting a letter.

The letter is not formatted correctly.