Business Letter Rubric—Elementary

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Content: Purpose

I clearly state the purpose of my letter in an interesting way. I focus the ideas in my letter on one important idea.

I clearly state the purpose of my letter. Most of the ideas in my letter are about one important topic.

The purpose of my letter is not obvious. My letter sometimes wanders from the main topic.

The purpose of my letter is difficult to figure out. My letter seems to be about several different topics.

Content: Action

I clearly explain what I want the reader to do in the first part of the letter.

I explain what I want the reader to do in response to my letter.

I try to explain what I want the reader to do in response to my letter.

I do not explain what I want readers to do in response to my letter.

Content: Support

I give well-thought-out reasons to support the purpose of my letter. I use appropriate, vivid details and examples.

I give good reasons and examples to support the purpose of my letter.

I give some reasons to support the purpose of my letter.

I do not give any reasons to support my letter, or my reasons do not make sense.

Voice: Sincerity

My letter sounds sincere and honest, and it shows that I care deeply about my topic.

My letter sounds sincere and honest, and it shows that the topic is important to me.

My letter is honest, and I try to show that I care about the topic.

My letter sounds like I do not care very much about the topic.

Voice: Personalization

My letter lets the reader see me as a person. I include personal details to support my case.

I include some personal details.

I try to include some personal details, but some of my details are not appropriate.

I do not include personal details, or if I do, they are not appropriate.

Tone

The tone of my letter is appropriate for the content and the audience.

The tone of my letter is appropriate.

Sometimes, the tone of my letter is not appropriate for the audience and purpose.

I use an inappropriate tone for the audience and purpose.

Organization: Introduction

My letter’s introduction clearly states my purpose. My reasons support my purpose by logically building on each other.

My letter’s introduction states my purpose. I give my reasons in a logical order.

My letter’s introduction does not fully state my purpose. Most of my reasons are in a logical order.

My letter’s introduction does not state my purpose. The order of my reasons does not make sense.

Organization: Paragraphs

I divide my letter into paragraphs. Each paragraph is about one idea.

I divide my letter into paragraphs.

My letter has some paragraphs, but there may be too many or too few.

My letter has no paragraphs or too many undeveloped paragraphs.

Organization: Conclusion

The conclusion at the end of my letter emphasizes what I want my reader to do in a memorable way.

My conclusion emphasizes what I want my reader to do.

My conclusion somewhat tells what I want my reader to do.

My conclusion leaves the reader confused about what I want.

Writing: Word Choice

I use interesting, powerful, precise words that describe accurately what I mean and make my writing come alive.

I use precise words to say what I mean and make my writing interesting.

I often use ordinary, predictable words.

I use words without thinking very much about whether they are the right ones.

Writing: Sentences

Some of my sentences are long, some are medium, and some are short. I start my sentences with different words and phrases so they do not all sound the same.

I have some variety in my sentence length. I begin my sentences in different ways.

Many of my sentences are about the same length. Several of my sentences begin with the same kind of phrase or word.

My sentences are mostly about the same length. Many of my sentences begin with the same kind of phrase or word.

Conventions

I am careful to check my writing for accuracy in spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. My letter does not have any mistakes.

I check my writing for accuracy in spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. My letter does not have any mistakes that would confuse people.

I try to check my writing for accuracy in spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. My letter has some mistakes that would confuse people.

I do not check my writing for accuracy in spelling, capitalization, grammar, and punctuation. My letter has many mistakes.

Format

I choose an appropriate business letter format and follow it correctly. I correctly address the envelope, writing the return address and the mailing address in the proper places.

I follow a business letter format correctly. I make some minor errors when writing the return address and the mailing address on the envelope.

I make some errors in business letter format. I make some errors when writing the return address and the mailing address on the envelope.

I make several errors in business letter format. I make so many errors when writing the return address and mailing address on the envelope that the post office will not be able to deliver it.