Business Letter Rubric—Middle and High School

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Content: Purpose

I clearly state the purpose of my letter and any necessary background information.

I state the purpose of my letter and important background information.

I try to state the purpose of my letter and give some background, but some relevant information may be missing.

The purpose of my letter is unclear, and I provide little relevant background information.

Content: Action

I succinctly describe a satisfactory response in the opening paragraph.

I describe a satisfactory response in the opening paragraph.

I describe the response I want, but it is not in the opening paragraph, or my description is confusing in some parts.

I do not describe the response I want in my letter, or my description is confusing.

Persuasion: Arguments

I provide several compelling, well-supported reasons and detailed examples or illustrations to support the purpose.

I provide several reasons and examples to support the purpose.

I provide reasons to support the purpose, but some of my reasons are not convincing.

I do not provide reasons, or the reasons I give are unconvincing.

Persuasion: Rhetorical Devices

I use appropriate rhetorical devices (such as appeals to reason, to character, or emotion) effectively to persuade my audience.

I use rhetorical devices to persuade my audience.

I try to use rhetorical devices to persuade my audience.

I do not use rhetorical devices.

Voice: Audience

I anticipate and thoroughly address my audience’s concerns and questions.

I anticipate and address my audience’s concerns and questions.

I anticipate some of my audience’s concerns, and I try to address them.

I do not anticipate or address my audience’s concerns.

Voice: Sincerity

I convey a sense of sincere commitment to my letter’s topic and explain why my views should be taken seriously.

My letter sounds sincere and shows that my topic is important to me.

My letter sounds sincere and credible, but some parts of my letter may sound forced or contrived.

My letter does not sound sincere.

Voice: Personalization

My letter reflects me as a person by using personal examples and details to support the purpose.

My letter reflects me as a person by using personal details.

My letter includes some personal details, but some details are not appropriate.

My letter does not include personal details, or if it does, the details are not appropriate.

Tone

I use a respectful tone that is appropriate for the purpose of the letter and the reader.

I use an appropriate tone.

Sometimes, my letter’s tone is disrespectful or inappropriate for the audience and purpose.

My letter’s tone is disrespectful and inappropriate.

Organization: Introduction

My letter’s first paragraph states the purpose of my letter in a compelling way.

My letter’s first paragraph states the purpose of my letter.

My letter’s first paragraph partially states the purpose of my letter, but the purpose is unclear or hard to find.

My letter’s first paragraph does not state the purpose of my letter.

Organization: Body

I support my purpose by presenting my reasons in an order that builds to what I want for a response.

I present reasons in a logical order.

I try to put my reasons in order, but the order does not help the reader understand what I am saying.

My reasons do not seem to be in a particular order.

Organization: Transitions

I use a variety of words, phrases, and structures to connect ideas, so my ideas flow in a logical order and build on each other naturally.

I use transitions to connect ideas, so my ideas flow together.

I attempt to connect my ideas with transitions, but my writing is sometimes choppy.

My writing is choppy and unconnected.

Organization: Conclusion

My conclusion emphasizes the response I want in a memorable way.

My conclusion emphasizes my expected response.

My conclusion tries to explain why I wrote the letter.

My conclusion does not explain why I wrote the letter.

Writing: Word Choice

I use precise, accurate, powerful, and interesting words and phrases to create memorable pictures in the reader’s mind.

I use accurate, interesting words to engage the reader.

My language is sometimes vague, general, predictable, and uninteresting.

My language is vague, general, predictable, and uninteresting.

Writing: Sentences

My sentences are varied in length and structure to enhance meaning. My sentence beginnings are varied and interesting.

My sentences are generally varied in length and structure. My sentence beginnings are often varied.

The length and structure of my sentences rarely vary. I attempt to vary sentence beginning structures, but some are repeated.

My sentence structure, length, and beginnings are repetitive and predictable.

Conventions

My spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are correct. I use Standard English throughout my letter.

My spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are generally correct. My letter has no errors that detract from meaning. I use Standard English throughout my letter.

Occasional errors in spelling, punctuation, and capitalization detract from my letter’s meaning. My use of nonstandard English detracts from meaning.

Errors in conventions make my letter difficult to read and understand.

Format

I follow an appropriate business letter format consistently and accurately. I address my envelope correctly.

I follow an appropriate business letter format consistently. I make minor errors in addressing my envelope.

I make some errors in business letter format, or I make a few errors in addressing the envelope.

I make several errors in business letter format, and I make several errors in addressing the envelope.