Historical Diaries and Letters Rubric—Middle and High School

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Clarity Innovations

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Content: Historical Accuracy
I include numerous specific references to well-documented people, places, and events of the time period.	I include several specific references to well-documented people, places, and events of the time period.	I include specific references to people, places, and events of the time period, but some references are inaccurate.	I include very few references to people, places, and events, and most of the references are inaccurate.
Content: Research
I thoroughly research the person and time period. I use primary and secondary sources. I investigate alternate views and interpretations of historical people and events.	I research the person and time period. I investigate alternative points of view about historical people and events.	My research on the person and time period is somewhat superficial.	My research is brief and superficial.
Content: Conclusions
I use the information from my research to make inferences and draw conclusions that I use to imagine realistic, possible situations and thoughts made by the person whose point of view I am writing from.	I use the information from my research to imagine what realistically might have happened.	I try to use the information from my research to imagine what might have happened, but some of my ideas do not fit very well with the time period or the person.	I do not realistically imagine what might have happened.
Writing Style
My writing reflects the style of the historical period and the person’s point of view.	My writing is appropriate for the time period and the person.	I try to write in a way that is appropriate for the time period and the person.	My writing does not reflect an understanding of the time period or the person’s point of view.
Word Choice
I use strong, specific verbs and nouns, along with appropriate figurative language, to create detailed images in the readers’ minds and enhance the meaning of my diary or letter.	I use interesting words and figurative language to keep readers interested in the journal or letter.	I try to use interesting words and figurative language.	The language in my story is usually predictable and ordinary.
Creativity
I include unusual features that effectively portray in surprising ways the book’s atmosphere and the character’s personality.	I include some rather unusual features that make the writing more interesting and unique.	I try to include some features that make the writing more interesting and unique, but the features I add are sometimes more distracting than effective.	I do not include any features to make the writing more interesting and unique. OR The features I add are distracting.
Format
My writing has the characteristics of the format I chose (such as a date, Dear Diary, greeting, and closing).	My writing has most of the characteristics of the format I chose.	My writing has a few characteristics of the format I chose.	My writing does not have any features of the format I chose.
Conventions
I follow the conventions of writing, except to portray accurately the historical period or the character’s personality.	I follow the conventions of writing, and sometimes manipulate conventions to portray the historical period or the character’s personality.	I try to follow the conventions of writing, but some errors distract from the meaning.	The errors in my writing are distracting and make understanding what I am writing difficult.