NEWS STORY GRADING RUBRIC CRITERIA lede and nutgraf

NAME: ___________________________ PROFICIENT (B) ^ lede presents news elements, but some might not be essential ^ lede is fewer than 35 words ^ nutgraf tells the reader the storys significance ^ story somewhat follows the inverted pyramid/triangle ^ story includes thorough and somewhat relevant background info ^ story uses three insightful, relevant direct quotations ^ most quotations (direct and paraphrased) include accurate attribution ^ story shows multiple perspectives but gives one side more space than others ^ story mostly does not show the writers opinion ^ story contains some grammatical and stylistic errors but they do not affect meaning ^ story is written mostly in the third person ^ story is 600 to 650 word OR 800 to 850 words ^ some grafs are longer than four sentences ^ story contains a few inaccuracies

LATE? ________

SCORE: ______________ NEEDS IMPROVEMENT (D) ^ lede does not present news elements ^ lede is longer than 40 words ^ story does not include a nutgraf

EXCELLENT (A) ^ lede clearly presents essential news elements ^ lede is fewer than 30 words ^ nutgraf tells reader the storys significance in a clear, concise manner ^ story follows the inverted pyramid/triangle format ^ story includes thorough but relevant background info ^ story uses at least four insightful, relevant direct quotations ^ quotations (direct and paraphrased) include accurate attribution ^ story shows multiple perspectives equally ^ story does not show the writers opinion (editorializing) ^ story is grammatically and stylistically flawless ^ story is written entirely in the third person ^ story is 650 to 800 words ^ each graf is no longer than four sentences ^ story contains no inaccuracies

DEVELOPING (C) ^ lede attempts to present news elements ^ lede is longer than 35 words ^ nutgraf attempts to address the storys significance ^ story attempts to follow the inverted pyramid/triangle format ^ story includes some relevant background info ^ story uses three direct quotations, but they are not insightful and/or relevant ^ some quotations (direct and paraphrased) include accurate attribution ^ story shows multiple perspectives but some sides are given more space ^ story shows the writers opinion at some points ^ story contains grammatical and stylistic errors that affect meaning ^ story is written in first- or second-person in many instances ^ story is more than 50 words short or 50 words long ^ many grafs are longer than four sentences ^ story contains some inaccuracies

body

^ story does not follow the inverted pyramid/triangle format ^ story includes little background info

quotations

^ story uses less than three direct quotations and/or quotations are not insightful or relevant ^ quotations (direct and paraphrased) do not include accurate attribution ^ story does not show multiple perspectives ^ story shows the writers opinion at many points ^ story contains many grammatical and stylistic errors that affect meaning ^ for the most part, story is written in first- or second-person ^ story is more than 100 words short or 100 words long ^ grafs are much too long for journalistic writing ^ story contains many inaccuracies

fairness and balance

conventions

Please note that a violation of the Lexington High School honor code can result in a failing grade for the assignment.