CATEGORY

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Salutation and Closing

Salutation and closing have no errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Salutation and closing have 1-2 errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Salutation and closing have 3 or more errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Salutation and/or closing are missing.

Heading

Includes return address as Willamette Valley and date of 1853.

Includes one or the other--Willamette Valley or the date.

Includes no return address.

Sentences & Paragraphs

Sentences and paragraphs are complete, well-constructed and of varied structure.

All sentences are complete and well-constructed (no fragments, no run-ons). Paragraphing is generally done well.

Most sentences are complete and well-constructed. Paragraphing needs some work or some sentences need work.

Many sentence fragments or run-on sentences OR paragraphing needs lots of work.

Grammar & spelling (conventions)

Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling.

Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar and/or spelling.

Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar and/or spelling

Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar and/or spelling.

Capitalization and Punctuation

Writer makes no errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Writer makes 1-2 errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Writer makes 3-4 errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Writer makes more than 4 errors in capitalization and punctuation.

Ideas

Ideas were expressed the excitement about arriving in the promised land. Details included are who you are, what you will do to support your family, where you will live and more. See suggested questions for the assignment.

Ideas were expressed in a pretty clear manner, but the organization could have been better.

Ideas were somewhat organized, but were not very clear. It took more than one reading to figure out what the letter was about.

The letter seemed to be a collection of unrelated sentences. It was very difficult to figure out what the letter was about.

Content Accuracy

The letter contains at least 4 events that happened along the trail from Ft. Kearny until now.

The letter contains at least 3 events that happened along the trail from Ft. Kearny until now.

The letter contains at least 2 events that happened along the trail from Ft. Kearny until now.

The letter contains only 1 event that happened along the trail from Ft. Kearny until now.

Pre-Writing and Rough Draft

Pre-writing and rough draft are included and on the rough draft, there are lots of evidence of editing and revision.

Rough draft is included and there is much of evidence of editing and revision.

Rough draft is included and there is little evidence of editing and revision. Pre-writing is not included.

Rough draft is included, but no evidence of editing or revision. Pre-writing may or may not be included.