iRubric: Short Story (Creative Writing) rubric

edit print share Copy to my rubrics Bookmark test run assess... delete Do more...

Short Story (Creative Writing)

Students will write a short story based on conventional story writing methods.

Rubric Code: BC6B32

By TheMead

Ready to use

Public Rubric

Subject: English

Type: Writing

Grade Levels: 9-12

Creative - short story
	Excellent 10 pts	Great 9 pts	Good 8 pts	Adequate 7 pts	Poor 6 pts
Characterization	Excellent The main character(s) is/are realistic and developed. The reader can easily picture the character(s) as a real person.<BR> The protagonist and antagonist are recognizable and realistic	Great The character(s) is/are realistic, but inconsistently so. Traits are somewhat developed, or character does things against his/her personality with no explanation. Unclear protagonist and antagonist	Good The character is barely developed, with traits simply listed or actions/words not giving any insight into his/her personality. Lacks clear protagonist or antagonist.	Adequate There is some character development.	Poor Character is completely flat.
Plot	Excellent The story is extremely developed and thorough without being wordy. The conflict is explored;all events are clear (rising action, climax, and some type of resolution).	Great The story is developed, but needs just a little more. The conflict is somewhat explored; plot is missing a major component (rising action, climax, or resolution).	Good The story is somewhat developed or rambling OR not detailed enough to follow. Story is missing a conflict.	Adequate The story is undeveloped or very poorly worded.	Poor There is little or no plot.
Setting	Excellent Setting is described vividly and correlates with the storyline.<BR> Reader is able to distinguish when a change of setting has occurred.	Great Setting is clear, but not described well enough for the reader to fully picture.	Good It is difficult for the reader to identify setting in the story, or the reader is merely told what the setting is.	Adequate There are few clues as to the setting.	Poor Setting is a complete mystery (and not purposefully so). No details are given to help the reader place where the action is happening.
Point of View	Excellent Use of first person, third person limited or omniscient is appropriate for the story. It is easily detected by the reader and does not needlessly shift.	Great Chosen narrator is somewhat ineffective; story may have been stronger if told in differerent POV, or there are unexplained shifts in POV.	Good POV is clearly inappropriate for the story, or POV shifts multiple times without explanation.	Adequate POV is confusing is difficult to follow.	Poor Narration is ineffective; reader cannot connect with the story line through the details given by the narrator.
Problems/complications	Excellent Short story has a clear problem that has five complications that create suspense. The resolution is clear.	Great Short story has a problem with limited complications. The resolution is unclear.	Good Short story has a problem with no complications. the resolution is lacking.	Adequate The problem is difficult to discern.	Poor The problem in the short story is unclear no complications.
Dialogue	Excellent The use of dialogue is formatted correctly. The dialogue is easy to follow and moves the story forward.	Great There is some use of dialogue that is formatted correctly. There are gaps in the conversation.	Good There is little use of dialogue. When it is used, it is formatted incorrectly.	Adequate Dialogue is flat.	Poor There is no use of dialogue in the story.
Writing Conventions/MLA	Excellent One or less errors in writing conventions and MLA	Great Two to three errors in writing conventions or MLA.	Good Four to five errors in writing conventions or MLA	Adequate Six to seven errors in writing conventions or MLA	Poor More than eight erros in writing conventions or MLA.
Description	Excellent The use of figurative languages: metaphors, similes, etc help create a clear picture. Description is vital and energetic.	Great Limited use of figurative language. Limited use of description.	Good Figurative language seldom used. Little use of description.	Adequate Not much use of figurative language.	Poor Not evident use of figurative language. Lacks description
Theme	Excellent Theme is obvious and expertly modeled after one of the assigned short stories.	Great Theme is well- modeled after one of the short stories.	Good Theme can be gleaned, but it is unclear which short story it is modeled after.	Adequate Theme is unclear, as is the model.	Poor No theme.

Keywords:

Creative Writing

Subjects:

English

Types:

Writing

Discuss this rubric