Decoding the Informational Writing Rubric

Mrs. Conrad explains the informational explanatory writing rubric, detailing how essays are graded based on purpose, focus, organization, evidence, elaboration, and conventions. She emphasizes the importance of a clear thesis, logical progression, and the use of transitional strategies. The video also covers the use of relevant textual evidence, domain-specific vocabulary, and varied sentence structures. Finally, the word 'smithereens' is introduced with a practical example.

What is the total point value of the informational/explanatory writing rubric?

• 15 points

• 25 points

• 20 points

• 10 points

Which category is worth the most points in the rubric?

• Introduction

• Conventions

• Evidence and Elaboration

• Purpose, Focus, and Organization

What should the thesis statement do in your essay?

• Describe your personal experiences

• Introduce the authors

• Answer the prompt and direct the essay

• Summarize the conclusion

Which of the following is NOT recommended for a formal writing style?

• Using third person

• Avoiding slang

• Using contractions

• Maintaining an objective tone

What is the purpose of using transitional strategies in an essay?

• To conclude the essay

• To make the essay easier to follow

• To introduce new topics

• To make the essay longer

What should you do if a piece of evidence does not clearly show the relationship between humans and animals?

• Find another example

• Ignore it

• Keep it in the essay

• Rewrite the evidence

What does 'precise reference' mean in the context of evidence and elaboration?

• Using exact quotes

• Mentioning the source of the evidence

• Paraphrasing the content

• Summarizing the text

Why is it important to use domain-specific vocabulary in your essay?

• To make the essay more complex

• To increase the word count

• To show understanding of the text

• To confuse the reader

Which of the following is an example of varied sentence structure?

• Using different sentence beginnings like adverbs and similes

• Starting every sentence with 'The'

• Using only short sentences

• Repeating the same sentence pattern

What does the word 'smithereens' mean as used in the conclusion?

• Large pieces

• Tiny pieces

• Whole parts

• Fragments