Fairfax County Public Schools - PALS: Performance Assessment for Language Students

Level 2 Writing Tasks - Holistic Rubric

A holistic rubric, as opposed to an analytic rubric, is used when a quicker, less detailed assessment is desired. The teacher determines to what degree the student performance meets expectations, based on the rubric below. The teacher then gives the student a grade within the range for that performance level, based on the quality of the performance within the specific performance level.

Please note that the percentage ranges for the performance levels were determined based on the grading scale of Fairfax County Public Schools, which is:

A = 94 - 100 %

B+ = 90 - 93 %

C+ = 80 - 83 %

D+ = 70 - 73 %

F = 0 - 63 %

B = 84 - 89 %

C = 74 - 79 %

D = 64 - 69 %

Does Not Meet Expectations
Range: 54% - 73%

Task Completion:

Minimal completion of the task, and/or content frequently inappropriate

Comprehensibility:

Text barely comprehensible

Level of Discourse:

Predominant use of complete yet repetitive sentences, no or almost no cohesive devices

Vocabulary:

Inadequate and/or inaccurate use of vocabulary

Grammar:

Inadequate and/or inaccurate use of basic language structures

Mechanics:

Inaccurate spelling, use of diacritical marks, punctuation and/or capitalization

Almost Meets Expectations
Range: 74% - 83%

Task Completion:

Partial completion of the task, content mostly appropriate, ideas are undeveloped

Comprehensibility:

Text mostly comprehensible, requiring interpretation on the part of the reader

Level of Discourse:

Use of complete sentences, some repetitive, few cohesive devices

Vocabulary:

Somewhat inadequate and/or inaccurate use of vocabulary and too basic for this level

Grammar

Emerging use of basic language structures

Mechanics:

Somewhat inaccurate spelling, use of diacritical marks, punctuation and/or capitalization

Meets Expectations
Range: 84% - 93%

Task Completion:

Completion of the task, content appropriate, ideas adequately developed

Comprehensibility:

Text comprehensible, requiring minimal interpretation on the part of the reader

Level of Discourse:

Emerging variety of complete sentences, some cohesive devices

Vocabulary:

Adequate and accurate use of vocabulary for this level

Grammar:

Emerging control of basic language structures

Mechanics:

Mostly accurate spelling, use of diacritical marks, punctuation and/or capitalization

Exceeds Expectations
Range: 93.5% - 100% 

Task Completion:

Superior completion of the task, content appropriate, ideas well-developed and well-organized

Comprehensibility:

Text readily comprehensible, requiring no interpretation on the part of the reader

Level of Discourse:

Variety of complete sentences and of cohesive devices.

Vocabulary:

Rich use of vocabulary

Grammar:

Control of basic language structures

Mechanics:

Few or no errors in spelling, use of diacritical marks, punctuation and/or capitalization

Last update: September 1999

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