Response to Literature—Windsor Central Supervisory Union

April 2009
 Criteria Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 High School Grade 13
Focus
Purpose is defined in
Statement: A Purpose is defined Purpose is clearly
a focus statement
statement that through a student Purpose is clearly Purpose is clearly Purpose is clearly defined. An original thesis
that is created in
clearly defines established focus defined. defined. defined. statement is
response to a Responds directly to
the main or statement. A thesis statement is established that
teacher generated Attempts to Responds directly to Responds directly to the text with
central established that responds directly to
Responds to a Responds to a Responds to a question. Shows an analysis of articulate a point of the text with the text with invention, creativity,
idea/focus that responds directly to the text with
teacher generated teacher generated teacher generated the text that moves view or judgment analysis. creativity. and lucidity.
runs throughout Shows a basic the text with invention, creativity,
focus statement. focus statement. focus statement. beyond a retelling about the text
the paper. At the analysis of the text Articulates a point of Articulates a point Articulates an original invention, creativity, and lucidity.
of the plot.
high school level that moves beyond Makes a connection view, or states a of view, or states a point of view, or and lucidity.
this may also be a retelling of the Attempts to make a to prior knowledge firm judgment about firm judgment states a firm Provides an insightful
referred to as plot. connection to prior or other texts. the text. about the text. judgment about the analysis of the text.
the thesis knowledge. text.
statement.
Evidence includes
the creative use of Supports the thesis
specific details, and statement with Supports the thesis
references to the references to critical statement with
Evidence includes
Attempts to use Evidence includes text,. sources about text. references to critical
Evidence includes specific details, and
examples from the references to the Evidence includes sources about text.
Supporting Evidence includes Evidence includes specific details, Attempts to make references to the text. Makes at least ONE
text. May be a text and Evidence includes specific details,
Details: Evidence relevant references specific details, references to the at least ONE thematic connection Makes multiple
general summary connections to prior details, connections references to the Make at least ONE
that directly to the text and connections to prior text, and/or thematic between texts, prior thematic
or retelling. knowledge. to prior knowledge text, connections to thematic connection
supports the connections to prior knowledge and/or connections to prior connection knowledge, or the connections
and references to prior knowledge between texts, prior
writer's focus Evidence may take Evidence takes the knowledge. references to the knowledge and at between texts, prior broader world of between texts, prior
the text. and/or text-to-text knowledge, or the
statement. the form of pictures, form of pictures, text. least one text-to-text knowledge, or the ideas (text-to-text, knowledge, or the
connections. broader world of ideas
words, sentences, or words, sentences, or connection. broader world of text-to-self, or text- broader world of
(text-to-text, text-to-
some combination some combination ideas (text-to-text, to-world) to ideas (text-to-text,
self, or text-to-world).
text-to-self, or text- effectively support text-to-self, or text-to-
to-world). the thesis world).
statement.

The connection
The connection between the thesis
between the thesis statement and
The connection
Uses specific details, statement and supporting details
The connection between the focus The connection
Uses details, references to the The connection supporting details are well established
Use details and between the focus statement and between the focus
references to the text and/or citations between the focus are well established and clearly explained
references to the statement and supporting details statement and
Elaboration: text and citations to to elaborate on the statement and and clearly explained through the use of
text to elaborate on supporting details are well established supporting details are
Words used to Attempts to explain elaborate on the connection between supporting details through the use of striking imagery and
the connection are established through the use of well established and
explain the the connection connection between the focus statement are established sophisticated metaphor,
between the focus through the use of specific details and clearly explained
connection N/A between the focus the focus statement and supporting through the use of language and a sophisticated
statement and specific details and references to the through the use of
between the statement and and supporting details. specific details and synthesis of ideas. language, and a
supporting details. references to the text or relevant specific details and
focus and supporting details. details. references to the This includes the use synthesis of ideas.
Elaboration on the text or relevant citations. references to the text
details. Might be a text or citations. of specific details This includes the use
Citations are used citations is vague or citations. or relevant citations.
summary or Elaboration is and references to of specific details
with minimal incomplete. Citations are used
retelling. Citations are used focused on the topic Elaboration is focused the text or relevant and references to
elaboration. with elaboration.
with elaboration. with minimal on the topic. citations. the text or relevant
digression. citations.
Elaboration is
focused on the topic. Elaboration is
focused on the topic.
Supporting details
and elaboration
Supporting details Supporting details display an insightful
and elaboration and elaboration and well-founded
display an insightful display an insightful analysis of the
and well-founded and well-founded relationship(s) among Supporting details
Supporting details
inferential analysis of analysis of the the text's literary and elaboration
Supporting details display an insightful
the relationship(s) relationship(s) elements , or display an
and elaboration and sophisticated
among the text's among the text's author’s craft. interpretation of the
Analysis: A Supporting details display an inferential interpretation of the
Supporting details Supporting details literary elements literary elements writer’s decisions
separating of a and elaboration analysis of the text's Analysis author’s decisions
and elaboration and elaboration (plot, events, (plot events, regarding elements
whole into its display an inferential literary elements demonstrates an regarding elements
display an attempt display an inferential characters, setting, characters, and/or of the text.
parts with an analysis of the text's (plot, events, interpretation of the of the text.
to analyze the text's analysis of the text's or common setting, theme), or
examination of N/A N/A literary elements characters, setting, text that is moving Analysis includes
literary elements literary elements themes). author’s craft. Contains evidence of
 Criteria Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 High School Grade 13
Has a clear,
Has clear and consistent, coherent
organizational Has a clear, Has a clear,
coherent Has a clear,
structure includes consistent, coherent consistent, coherent
organizational consistent, coherent
an introduction body organizational organizational
structure that organizational
Has coherent and conclusion. structure that structure.
includes an structure.
organizational includes an
introduction body Introduction Includes an
Includes an structure that introduction body The writer's ideas
Includes an and conclusion. establishes a introduction body
Using a teacher introduction, body includes an and conclusion. are woven
introduction, body relevant context to and conclusion.
created template, and conclusion. introduction, body Introduction throughout the
and conclusion. support focus Introduction
organizes ideas into and conclusion. attempts to Introduction introduction, body,
Introduction statement and establishes context
Organization: beginning, middle, Introduction includes establish relevant establishes context and conclusion.
establishes the Introduction includes contains a hook that in support of the
The clear and conclusion. a hook, establishes context to support in support of the
context and states a hook, establishes connects to the focus statement Draws an insightful
evidence of a the context and focus statement thesis statement
OR the title and author. the context to focus statement. through some and sophisticated
plan or N/A N/A states the title and and contains a hook through a synthesis
support the focus synthesis of the text conclusion that
foundation on May have evidence Conclusion consists author. that attempts to of the text and
and states the title and contains a hook connects to the
which writing is of an organizational of a concluding connect to the focus contains a hook that
Conclusion consists and author. Conclusion consists that connects to the thesis statement
built. structure that statement or statement. connects to the
of a concluding of a concluding focus statement. and synthesis
includes an sentence. Conclusion consists thesis statement.
paragraph. Conclusion consists paragraph that information and
introduction, body of a concluding Conclusion that
Attempts to use of a concluding provides closure by Conclusion connects contains a hook that
OR conclusion. Uses basic paragraph that connects to the
basic transitional paragraph that connecting back to to the focus connects to the
transitional words. provides closure. focus statement
words. provides closure by the focus statement and thesis statement.
and includes a
Uses transitional clearly connecting statement. includes a synthesis
synthesis Transitional phrases
words effectively. back to the focus of information.
The conclusion information. provide a seamless
statement.
attempts to Effectively uses connection between
Effectively uses
Attempts to uses synthesis transitional phrases. ideas.
transitional phrases.
transition phrases. information. Uses
transitional phrases.
Uses sophisticated
Voice and Tone: sentence structure.
The overall Uses basic sentence Uses sophisticated Uses sophisticated Uses a variety of
Uses sophisticated Uses sophisticated
feeling or effect Minimal sentence variety and Uses effective sentence structure. sentence structure. sentence patterns
sentence structure. sentence structure.
of the writing variety. structure. Varies sentence sentence patterns. and diction.
Effectively uses Language is often
that portrays the structure. Attempts to use Uses sophisticated
N/A N/A Uses some Basic but Includes a variety of sophisticated figurative. Language is
author’s figurative language vocabulary.
confusing language. appropriate Varies vocabulary. vocabulary to clearly vocabulary. figurative and
personality or (imagery, Uses precise, high-
vocabulary. articulate ideas. Uses some distinctive.
the personality metaphors). Uses figurative level vocabulary to
figurative language.
of a chosen language. articulate ideas. Uses precise, high-
persona. level vocabulary to
articulate ideas.
Insightful and
Effectively uses
Insightful ideas and original ideas and
elaboration and
strong sense of strong sense of
personal and text-
Uses elaboration personal personal
based connections
and personal and engagement are engagement are
to engage the
Attempts to engage text-based evident. evident.
reader.
the reader. connections to Engages the reader. Engages the reader.
Audience: Those Attempts to address engage the reader. Engages the reader.
who read or hear N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A the reader’s possible Addresses the Effectively Effectively
reader’s possible Effectively Effectively
what is written. questions. anticipates and anticipates and
questions. This may anticipates and anticipates and
addresses the addresses the
appear as an add-on addresses the addresses the
reader's possible reader's possible
reader's possible reader's possible
questions in a questions and
questions. questions in a
manner that adds to weaves the answers
manner that adds to
the strength of the into the writing in a
the strength of the
writing. manner that adds to
writing.
its strength .