Scoring

Grade 4 Narrative Composition
Focused Holistic Score Scale

Score Point 4
The response exhibits a strong command of narrative writing. The response is focused and has an effective sequencing of events and clear progression of ideas. The writer provides specific, relevant details to support ideas. The composition is unified and well elaborated. The writer's organization provides a clear strategy or controlled plan; the composition progresses logically and has a sense of overall completeness.

Score Point 3
The response exhibits a reasonable command of narrative writing. The response is focused and establishes progression of ideas and events although minor lapses in focus and progression may be present. The composition contains elaboration and support in the form of specific details. The composition may have minor weaknesses in coherence. The writer's organization provides a reasonable sense of logical progression and overall completeness.

Score Point 2
The response exhibits a weak command of narrative writing. The response exhibits some progression of ideas and events and provides some elaboration and support. The elaboration is relevant but may be flawed. The composition may not be evenly elaborated, having a list-like quality with concrete supporting details. The composition may have little connection between a controlling idea and supporting details relevant to development.

Score Point 1
The response exhibits a lack of command of narrative writing.
There is evidence that the writer has read the prompt and attempted to respond to it. The writer may attempt to support ideas, but there may be not sense of strategy or control, the writer may exhibit skeletal control but the response is too sparse to be scored higher than a "1." The response may not sustain focus on the topic, may lack clarity, and/or may have an inappropriate strategy.

NS
This code may be used for compositions that are entirely illegible or other wise unscorable:  blank responses, responses written in a foreign language, restatement of the prompt, and responses that are off topic or incoherent. The Scoring Director must give permission for the use of "NS."
 

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