State Presentation Rubric

4
(Above Grade Level)
Focus/Opinion

Communicates an
opinion/claim that
demonstrates an
insightful understanding
of your state.
Organization
Organizes ideas and
information into
purposeful, coherent
paragraphs. Each section
includes an elaborated
introduction, structured
body, and insightful
conclusion.
Support/Evide Supports opinion skillfully
nce
with substantial and
relevant evidence
(details about your
state).
Flow
Uses a variety of linking
words and phrases
skillfully to connect your
details to your
opinion/claim.
Language Uses purposeful and

varied sentence
structures.

Demonstrates creativity
and flexibility when
using conventions
(grammar, punctuation,
capitalization, and

spelling) to enhance
meaning.
Uses precise and
sophisticated academic
vocabulary appropriate
for the audience and
purpose.

3
(At Grade Level)
Communicates an opinion
that demonstrates an
understanding of your
state.
Organizes ideas and
information into logical
paragraphs. Each section
must include an
introduction, structured
body, and conclusion.
Supports opinion with
sufficient and relevant
evidence (details about
your state).
Uses linking words and
phrases appropriately to
connect your details to
your opinion/claim.

2
(Approaching Grade
Level)
Communicates an
opinion that
demonstrates limited
understanding of your
state.
Organizes ideas and
information in an
attempted paragraph
structure. Each section
includes a sense of
introduction, body and
conclusion.
Supports opinion with
minimal and/or irrelevant
facts, details, and/or
reasons (details about
your state).
Uses some linking words
and phrases to connect
details to opinions but
simplistically

1
(Below Grade Level)
Does not communicate
an opinion and/or
demonstrates little or no
understanding of your
state.
Does not organize ideas
and information
coherently due to lack of
paragraph structure
and/or a missing
introduction, body, or
conclusion.
Does not support opinion
with evidence and or
evidence is irrelevant or
inaccurate.
Uses no linking words or
phrases.

Uses correct and varied Uses some repetitive yet Does not demonstrate
sentence structure.
correct sentence
sentence mastery.
structure.
Demonstrates grade level
Demonstrates limited
Demonstrates grade level
appropriate
understanding of grade
conventions; errors are
appropriate conventions
level appropriate
minor and do not affect
but errors obscure the
conventions, and errors
the meaning.
meaning.
interfere with the
meaning.
Uses interesting,
Uses limited academic
Uses no academic or
descriptive, and
and/or powerful
powerful vocabulary
vocabulary for the
powerful vocabulary.
appropriate for the
audience and purpose.
audience and purpose.

Format

Uses correct formatting. Uses correct formatting. Uses some incorrect

formatting.

Adapted from EGUSD

Uses incorrect formatting.