NORTH COLONIE CENTRAL SCHOOLS

LATHAM, NEW YORK

3rd Grade Opinion Writing Rubric

Student Name _________________________

Date____________________

Teacher_______________________________

School _____________________

4-Excelling

Meaning

demonstrates a thorough
understanding of a topic or
text
states a claim that is
connected to the task and
purpose
may include minor
inaccuracies that do not
interfere with the overall
meaning

Grade 3 Draft April 2016

3-Proficient

2-Partially Proficient

demonstrates an
understanding of a topic
or text
states an opinion that
demonstrates an
understanding of the task
and purpose
may include minor
inaccuracies that do not
interfere with the overall
meaning

demonstrates a literal
understanding of a topic
or text
states a superficial
opinion that is generally
connected to the task
and/or purpose
inaccuracies interfere with
the overall meaning

1-Well Below Proficient

conveys confusing or
inaccurate information
about a topic or text
does not state an opinion,
or states an opinion that is
unrelated to the topic or
task

Development

develops ideas with reasons

and evidence in an attempt
to convince readers
incudes relevant sources,
facts, concrete details,
quotations, or other
information*
demonstrates grade
appropriate analysis of how
the evidence supports the
claim; some explanations
may be general or loosely
connected

develops opinion with

reasons and examples
includes relevant facts,
details, or other
information*
provides an explanation
of how reasons support
the opinion; some
reasons and examples
may be general or loosely
connected

develops opinion briefly

with minimal reasons
and/or examples
some use of facts, details,
or other information*
attempts to provide an
explanation of how
reasons support the
opinion; some reasons
and/or examples may be
irrelevant

incomplete, vague, or
largely underdeveloped
little to no use of facts,
details, or other
information*
provides no or an
inaccurate explanation of
how reasons support the
opinion

*Other information may include anecdotes and personal experiences.

4-Excelling
establishes an evident
organizational structure
through the grouping of
related information into
paragraphs or sections

introduction and conclusion

Transitional words
relates to the information
and phrases may
presented and connects to
include, but are
the claim
not limited to, for

uses appropriate transitions

example,
to link ideas and to show a
because,
shift between reasons and
therefore, since,
evidence
also, and another.

Organization

Language

skillfully uses academic

and/or domain specific
vocabulary related to the

Grade 3 Draft April 2016

3-Proficient

2-Partially Proficient

1-Well Below Proficient

groups related
information into
paragraphs or sections
introduction and
conclusion relates to the
opinion/information
presented
uses appropriate
transition words to
connect ideas and
reasons with examples

related information may

not be grouped logically
introduction or conclusion
is attempted but may be
underdeveloped
little variety and/or
inconsistent use of
transition words

exhibits no organizational
structure
introduction and/or
conclusion may be missing
or unrelated to the
information or opinion
presented
few or no transition words
are used

uses academic and/or

domain specific
vocabulary related to the

attempts to use academic

and/or domain specific
vocabulary related to the

does not use academic

and/or domain specific
vocabulary related to the

topic
uses persuasive
techniques** to convince
readers
skillfully varies sentence
structure for meaning and
reader/listener interest

Conventions

skillful use of grade

appropriate sentence
formation, punctuation,
capitalization, grammar
usage, and spelling

topic
varies sentence structure
for meaning and
reader/listener interest

adequate use of grade

appropriate sentence
formation, punctuation,
capitalization, grammar
usage, and spelling

topic
attempts to vary sentence
structure for meaning and
reader/listener interest

topic
does not vary sentence
structure for meaning and
reader/listener interest

inconsistent use of grade

appropriate sentence
formation, punctuation,
capitalization, grammar
usage, and spelling

infrequent use of grade

appropriate sentence
formation, punctuation,
capitalization, grammar
usage, and spelling

errors may obscure the

meaning

errors interfere with the

meaning

**For a level 4, persuasive techniques may include, but are not limited to, repetition, figurative language, direct address, emotional appeals, and
rhetorical questioning.

Grade 3 Draft April 2016