1. Creative Writing Rubric
Extraordinary A Accomplished B Competent C Unsatisfactory D
Ability To Catch
Attention
Captures reader's attention
from first interesting
sentence, paragraph, or line;
reader cannot help but
continue reading
Gets reader's attention with first
sentence, paragraph, or line,
draws reader into the rest of
piece.
First sentence, paragraph, or line
lacks the ability to draw the
reader into the piece; reader may
not keep reading.
First sentence, paragraph, or line
not only lacks interest for the
reader but also contains a cliché
idea/image (or worse, no ideas or
images).
Originality
Impresses the reader from
beginning to end through
original and interesting use
of ideas, language, plot,
character development,
dialogue, imagery, etc.
Contains no clichés or
stereotypes.
Interests the reader most of the
way through with some original
and interesting use of ideas,
language, plot, character
development, imagery, etc.
Contains a few clichés or
stereotypes.
Offers little originality in ideas,
language, plot, imagery, etc. May
contain many clichés and/or
stereotypes. Reader may lose
interest.
Lacks originality in ideas,
language, plot, imagery, etc. Filled
with clichés and/or stereotypes.
Reader sees the piece as
“spinning its wheels” – not
developing anything as it goes.
Maintenance of
Interest
Succeeds in getting the
reader to care about its
outcome by being grounded
in a significant problem,
dilemma, or paradox that
needs to be addressed and
gets reader involved.
Possesses a quality that keeps
reader reading--possibly,
grounded in a problem, dilemma,
or paradox that needs to be
addressed.
Lacks the ability to keep the
reader reading; problem,
dilemma, or paradox presented
may seem trivial at times.
Lacks the ability to hold reader
interest; fails to present problem,
dilemma, or paradox. Writer may
seem as uninterested in the work.
Clarity
Although challenging and
requiring reader
interpretation, the work has a
clarity that leaves no
questions in the reader's
mind. (i.e. Why is a certain
character doing what she
does?")
Has a clarity that leaves few
surface questions in the reader's
mind. (i.e. Why is a certain
character doing what she
does?")
Leaves several surface
questions in the reader's mind.
(i.e. "Why is a certain character
doing what she does?")
Is unclear because of significant
and unintentional gaps or
contradictions in logic, plot,
character, imagery, voice, point of
view, setting, etc.
Mechanics Contains no errors in
grammar, usage, or
mechanics (unless used for
Contains few errors in grammar,
usage, or mechanics (aside from
those used for artistic purposes)
Contains errors in grammar,
usage, or mechanics; that
interfere with reading.
Contains many errors in grammar,
usage, and mechanics; errors
block understanding.

2. artistic purposes)