WWI: Life in the Trenches Journal and Letters Rubrics —High School

4

3

2

1

Journal

Content

I wrote entries for more than three different days describing three different kinds of realistic war experiences.

I wrote 3 entries describing three different kinds of realistic war experiences.

I wrote fewer than 3 entries, or some of my entries may describe similar experiences.

I wrote only 1 entry or my entries all describe similar experiences.

Content: Historical Accuracy

I described my experiences and feelings thoroughly with historically accurate, concrete details about people, places, and events.

I described my experiences and feelings with historically accurate, concrete details about people, places, and events.

I used some concrete language to describe my experiences and feelings, but much of my description was brief, vague, and unsupported by actual historical information.

My entries were generally brief and vague and did not reflect historical information.

Writing Style

My journal was written in the style that is appropriate for private writing. I effectively used such features as era-appropriate slang, drawings, incomplete sentences, and stream-of-consciousness writing to create a accurately reflect my feelings about what I was experiencing.

My journal was written in a style that used some features of private writing to successfully explain my feelings.

My journal was an attempt to use some features of private writing but they may have been distracting and confusing.

My journal did not read like private writing.

Writing Conventions

The writing in my journal has no errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or usage, unless they are deliberately used to enhance the meaning.

The writing in my journal has no errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or usage that detract from meaning.

The writing in my journal has some errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or usage that detract from meaning.

The writing in my journal has so many errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or usage that it is difficult to understand.

Creativity

My journal includes some features that help make it seem realistic and contribute to its overall effectiveness.

My journal includes some features that make it seem authentic and realistic.

My journal includes some features that are meant to make it seem realistic, but they are distracting and do not contribute to its effectiveness.

My journal includes no features that make it seem realistic.