Book Report Template (Page 4 of 4) in pdf

Name__________________ Date_____________ Period________

Ideas/Content Rubric

4 This paper is extremely clear and focused. It holds the reader’s attention.

A: The topic is narrow and manageable.

B: Relevant, quality details give the reader important information that goes beyond the

obvious or predictable.

C: Reasonably accurate details are present to support the main ideas.

D: The writer seems to be writing from knowledge or experience; the ideas are fresh and

original.

E: The reader’s questions are anticipated and answered.

F: Insight—an understanding of life and a knack for picking out what is significant—is

shown and connections are made.

3 The writer is beginning to define the topic, although the development is basic or general.

A: The topic is fairly broad; however, you can see where the writer is going

B: Support is attempted, but doesn’t go far enough yet in fleshing out the key issues or ideas.

C: Ideas are reasonably clear, though they may not be detailed, personalized, accurate, or

expanded enough to show in-depth understanding or a strong sense of purpose.

D: A few examples of “showing” are present, but the writer relies on general examples.

E: The reader is lefts with questions. More information is needed to fill in the blanks.

F: The generally stays on the topic and begins to develop a clear theme.

2 No one main idea stands out yet, although possibilities are emerging.

A: The paper hints at topics, but doesn’t settle on one yet.

B: Support is incidental or confusing.

C: Several possible ideas may be present which could become central ideas on different

pieces of writing.

D: The writer makes statements without specifics to back them up.

E: The reader has so many questions because of the lack of specific information.

F: Glimmers of the writer’s topic or main point show up occasionally.

1 As yet, the paper has no clear sense of purpose or central theme. To extract meaning

from the text, the reader must make inferences based on sketchy or missing details.

A: The writer is still in search of a topic, is brainstorming, or has not yet decided on what the

main idea will be.

B: Information is limited or unclear or the length is not adequate for development.

C: The idea is a simple restatement of the topic or an answer to the question with little or no

attention to detail.

D: The writer has not begun to define the topic in a meaningful, personal way.

E: Everything seems as important as everything else; the reader has a hard time sifting out

what is important.

F: The text may be repetitious, or may read like a collection of disconnected, random thoughts

with no discernable point.

Book Report Template Page 4