iRubric: Journal Rubric

The writer wrote a beginning in which they not only what the prompt was asking, but also give some clues to how the author relates.

The writer wrote a beginning that not only set the plot/story in motion, but also hinted at the larger meaning the entry would convey. It introduced the issue or conflict, set the stage for the lesson that would be learned, or showed how the writer relates to the prompt in a way that matters in the entry.

The writer wrote a beginning that not only sets the entry in motion, it also grounds it in a place or situation. It includes details that will later be important to the entry. These details might point to the central issue or conflict, show how entry's elements connect, or hint at key topics.

The writer wrote a beginning that establishes the situation and place, hinting at a bigger context for the entry (revealing issues that have been brewing, showing how the setting affects the writer, contextualizing a time in history, developing one out of many points of view).

The transitions between ideas are unclear or nonexistent

Some transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are fuzzy.

Transitions clearly show how ideas are connected, but there is little variety.

A variety of thoughtful transitions are used. They clearly show how ideas are connected.

The writer wrote an ending that connected to the main part of the story.
The writer said, did, or realized something at the end that came from what happened previously in
the entry. The writer gave readers a sense of closure.

The writer wrote an entry that connected to what the entry is really about. They gave the reader a sense of closure by showing a new realization or insight or a change in the entries. The writer showed this through dialogue, action, inner thinking, or small actions the writer takes.

The writer gave the reader a sense of closure by showing clearly how they
or a place changed or the problem was resolved. If there was no resolution, they gave details to leave the reader thinking about a central idea or theme.

The writer gave the
reader a sense of closure
by revealing change(s) that followed from events in the entries, or a resolution. If there was no resolution, they wrote to convey how the events of the entries affected them or others, and circled back to a central idea, issue, or theme.