Pennsylvania Writing Assessment Holistic Scoring
Guide
5.5.5
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
| sharp, distinct focus substantial, specific, and/or illustrative content; sophisticated ideas that are particularly well developed obviously controlled and/or subtle organization writer's voice apparent in tone, sentence structure, and word choice few mechanical and usage errors |
clear focus specific and illustrative content logical and appropriate organization precision and variety in sentence structure and word choice some mechanical and usage errors |
adequate focus sufficient content appropriate organization some precision and variety in sentence structure and word choice mechanical and usage errors not severe enough to interfere significantly with the writer's purpose |
vague focus content limited to a listing, repetition, or mere sequence of ideas inconsistent organization limited sentence variety and word choice repeated weaknesses in mechanics and usage |
confused focus superficial content confused organization lack of sentence and word choice variety mechanical and usage errors that seriously interfere with the writer's purpose |
absence of focus absence of relevant content absence of organization no apparent control over sentence structure and word choice mechanical and usage errors so severe that writer's ideas are difficult if not impossible to understand |
Non-Scorable (NS) |
Off-Prompt (OF) |
| is illegible; i.e., includes so many undecipherable words that no sense can be
made of the response is incoherent; i.e., words are legible but syntax is so garbled that response makes no sense is a blank paper |
is readable but did not respond to prompt |
Characteristics of Effective Writing |
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Focus |
Content |
Organization |
Style |
Conventions |
| demonstrates an awareness of audience and task establishes and maintains a clear purpose sustains a single point of view exhibits clarity of ideas |
information and details are specific to topic information and details are relevant to focus ideas are fully developed |
logical order or sequence is maintained paragraphs deal with one subject logical transitions are made within sentences and between paragraphs introduction and conclusion are evident |
precise language effective word choice voice, tone, originality of language variety of sentence structures, types, and lengths |
mechanics; spelling, capitalization, punctuation usage (e.g., pronoun references, subject-verb agreement) sentence completeness |
