iRubric: Writing a Mystery rubric

No attention getter.

Attention getter is evident, but may not be particularly compelling and it gives away information that could be saved for later in the story.

Attention getter is well developed & contains imagery without giving away too much of the story.

Attention getter is well developed & contains vivid imagery without giving away too much of the story.

Dialogue is not used.

The writer uses dialogue, but it is unnatural or contains grammatical errors.

The writer uses dialogue realistically and it is almost all grammatically correct.

The writer cleverly uses dialogue realistically and it is grammatically correct.

Paragraphs lack an opening or closing sentence. Paragraphs contain irrelevant details (that do not belong in the paragraph).

Paragraphs contain almost all of the following:
opening sentence, detail sentences, closing sentence.

Paragraphs contain all of the following:
opening sentence, details relevant to the paragraph, closing sentence.

Paragraphs contain all of the following: clever opening sentence,
vivid details relevant to the paragraph,
transitional sentence.

The writer uses 1 or 2 elements of writing a mystery.
The elements of mystery used need more developing.

The writer plainly uses almost all elements of writing a mystery.

The writer uses all elements of writing a mystery appropriately (as listed in the Advanced column).

The writer effectively uses all elements of writing a mystery discussed in class (suspense, explaining everything, tying off loose ends, clues, problem solving complications, punishing evil).