Texas STAAR Writing Rubrics for Grades 3–5: Informational Writing

Key Points

• This rubric guides informational writing assessment for grades 3-5
• It helps teachers evaluate students’ ability to convey information clearly and effectively
• It’s crucial for STAAR writing test preparation
• It aims to improve elementary students’ informational writing skills

Full Rubric

Note: A score of 0 in Development and Organization automatically results in a 0 for Conventions.

Detailed Rubric Breakdown

Development and Organization of Ideas

Conventions

Note: If a response receives a score point 0 in the Development and Organization of Ideas trait, the response will also earn 0 points in the Conventions trait.

How to Use This Rubric

1. For Teachers: Use this rubric to assess your students’ informational writing skills. It can help you identify areas where students excel and where they need improvement. Incorporate these criteria into your writing instruction to help students develop strong informational writing skills.

2. For Students: Familiarize yourself with this rubric to understand what’s expected in your informational writing. Use it as a checklist when revising your work to ensure you’ve covered all the important aspects of effective informational writing.

3. For Parents: Review this rubric to understand how your child’s informational writing is evaluated. Use it as a guide to support your child’s writing development at home.

Tips for Success in STAAR Informational Writing

1. Clear Central Idea: Ensure your writing has a clear, well-developed central idea that remains consistent throughout the essay.

2. Effective Organization: Use a logical organizational structure with a strong introduction and conclusion. Connect your ideas smoothly.

3. Relevant Evidence: Include specific, well-chosen evidence from the text to support your central idea. Explain how this evidence relates to your main point.

4. Clear Expression: Use precise language and well-constructed sentences to clearly convey your ideas.

5. Conventions: Pay attention to sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling. Proofread your work carefully.

By focusing on these areas, students can improve their informational writing skills and perform better on the STAAR Writing test. Remember, practice makes perfect! Regular writing practice using this rubric as a guide can significantly enhance your performance.