| "A" Range | "B" Range | "C" Range | "D" Range | "F" Range |
| Invites reading | Specific/original focus | Completes assignment | Does not fulfill assignment | Ignores assignment |
| Teaches reader something | Significance is clear; integrated into narrative | Significance is clear to reader | Lacks focus/significance | Lacks significance or significance is not clear |
| Unique topic or unique treatment of topic | Has dramatic shape: 1) effective use of narration and sense; 2) effective pacing | Retains over-all focus | Difficult to follow | Lacks coherence |
| Takes risks with content or narrative techniques | Concrete details: vividly portrays characters, action/dialogue setting, significance | "Shows" rather than "tells:" concrete details; portraits of characters; description of setting & action | Relies on "telling" rather than "showing" | Completely unfocused |
| Sense of discovery | Writer's persona emerges | "Recreates" event and "reflects" upon it | Lacks concrete details | Incoherent expression |
| Original and organic organization (i.e., it flows) | Sense of voice | Uses scene and narration | Expression is often awkward | Problems with usage and/or mechanics |
| Confidence in voice | Precise use of language | Competent use of language | Mechanical errors impede understanding | Major problem with any one of the above |
| Sophisticated use of language for effect; sentence variety, etc. | Few mechanical errors | Few mechanical errors | Major problem with any one of the above |