8th Grade Writing Rubrics

Increase student performance in your class, or schoolwide!

With the 5 absolutes of writing:

Five Absolutes of Writing

1.All students will answer open-ended questions with complete sentences.

2.All answers to open-ended questions will follow one of the following response formats:

1-3 Sentences (L1-Daily)

Short Response (L2-Weekly)

Extended Response (L3-Quarterly)

3.All sentences will follow the standard rules of writing with a capital letter at the beginning and correct punctuation at the end of a sentence.

4.All responses must use correct content area spelling.

5.All written responses must be legible.

Get your school scores up! I use this in my Government, United States History, and World History courses. My grade levels range from 6-8 and I have seen great increases with my students. Initiated at my previous school as a schoolwide curriculum (including Math), we went from an F to a C in 1 year alone. Now I am at a B school working with the low 25% students hoping to get their writing and reading scores to where they need to be. Go check it out.

Check out samples on my Instagram: @HistoryGuruTeachShare

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Elevate your writing assessment process with our comprehensive writing prompt rubric and grade sheet combo.  This meticulously designed spreadsheet is perfect for educators, writers, and content creators who need a structured and efficient way to evaluate written work.  The writing prompt rubric offers clear criteria across various aspects of writing, such as creativity, grammar, structure, and content relevance, making it easy to provide constructive feedback.  Paired with an integrated grade Sheet, this tool automates the grading process, calculates overall scores, and offers a streamlined approach to tracking progress.  Whether you’re grading essays, creative writing pieces, or content drafts, this all-in-one solution saves time and ensures consistency in your evaluations.  This spreadsheet is editable.

Orange Shirt Day: Truth and Reconciliation

Grades 6-8

Reading, Reading Compression, Vocabulary and Word Work, Questions with Answers, Journal Responses, Graphic Organizer, Rubric

PDF

12 Pages

Exciting End-of-Novel Song Playlist Project for Your Classroom!

Bring Literature to Life with Music!

Engage your students with this End-of-Novel Song Playlist Project. This creative and interactive assignment encourages students to dive deep into their favorite novels by connecting key story elements with popular songs. Perfect for middle and high school ELA classrooms, this project enhances comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking skills.

What’s Included:

• Project Overview & Instructions: Clear guidelines for students on how to select songs and explain their relevance to the novel (this project can be done as a slide presentation or physical project - I usually give students the choice)
• Rubric: A detailed rubric for easy grading, ensuring consistency and fairness.

Why You’ll Love It:

1. Engaging & Fun: Students will love the opportunity to blend their love of music with literature.
2. Critical Thinking: Encourages deeper analysis of characters, themes, and plot developments.
3. Creativity: Allows students to express their understanding in a creative and personalized way.
4. Easy to Implement: Comes with everything you need to get started right away

I have used this project for novels such as F451, The Outsiders, Wednesday Wars, The Giver, etc.

This resource is for personal use in one classroom only. Please do not distribute

to others or post publically online (within your Google Classroom, etc. is

permitted). If a friend or colleague would enjoy this resource, you may

purchase additional licenses at a discounted price. The information ,activities

and images included are copyrighted. You may not reuse or sell any part of

this resource as your own. 

I would love to hear how you used this resource in your classroom. Please leave your feedback for TeachShare credits towards your next purchase.

To view more of my products, visit my store at Nemo's Nook.

Unlock Student Writing Potential with this 16-Point Writing Prompt Rubric!

Are you an educator looking to enhance your students' writing skills and provide clear, detailed feedback? This 16-Point Writing Prompt Rubric is a must have resource!

Comprehensive Evaluation: This rubric covers four essential criteria - Content and Development, Organization, Style and tone, and Conventions/Proofreading - ensuring a thorough assessment of each student's writing.

Easy-to-Use: With clear descriptions for each performance level, you'll find it simple to provide constructive feedback that students can understand and apply.

Flexible and Adaptable: Suitable for a variety of writing assignments and adaptable to different grade levels, this rubric is perfect for any classroom setting.

Promotes Growth: Designed to help students recognize their strengths and areas for improvement, our rubric encourages continuous growth and development in writing.

What’s included:

A detailed 16-point rubric with four criteria, each broken down into four performance levels, ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation of student writing.

This resource is for personal use in one classroom only. Please do not distribute

to others or post publically online (within your Google Classroom, etc. is

permitted). If a friend or colleague would enjoy this resource, you may

purchase additional licenses at a discounted price. The information ,activities

and images included are copyrighted. You may not reuse or sell any part of

this resource as your own. 

Please provide your feedback and receive TeachShare credits towards you next purchase.

To view more of my products, visit my store at Nemo's Nook.

This file includes an assignment sheet for the students to create a found poem from chapter 4 of The Outsiders. The assignment sheet for student distribution includes the definition, purpose, and rules of a found poem, and an example from ch 17 of The Maze Runner that I wrote. Also included in the file is an example found poem from chapter 4 of The Outsiders for your reference, and a rubric you can use to score the poems. Lastly, there is a writer's checklist the students can use as they write.

This digital product is perfect for Distance Learning. Students can access the directions, rubric, and example poems in the pdf. Then they can write their poem in a Google Doc or whatever way you have your students submit their work!

Elevate Your Tolkien Unit Finale: Conclude the adventure of The Hobbit with this comprehensive final assessment pack! Tailored to middle and high school students, this resource offers everything you need to gauge student comprehension and creativity after the epic journey through Middle Earth.

This product provides you access to the Canva template!

✨ What's Included:

• Character Analysis Writing Prompt: Encourage in-depth reflection with a thought-provoking writing prompt and a structured graphic organizer.
• Character Comparison Writing Prompt: Foster critical thinking by prompting students to compare key characters, supported by a detailed graphic organizer.
• Rubric for Character Analysis: Simplify grading with a comprehensive rubric designed for character analysis assessments.
• Project-Based Learning Ideas: Fuel creativity with five engaging project ideas, connecting literature to real-world applications.
• Creative Writing Assessment: Unleash students' imagination with a captivating creative writing prompt and a corresponding rubric.

Features:

• Holistic Assessment: Cover various aspects of literary analysis, ensuring a well-rounded evaluation of students' understanding.
• Project-Based Learning: Enhance comprehension through creative projects, promoting a deeper connection to Tolkien's world.
• Versatile Application: Suitable for both individual and group assessments, accommodating diverse teaching styles.
• Seamless Integration: Aligns seamlessly with ELA and ESL curricula, offering a flexible addition to your teaching resources.

This package includes 4 tasks to get your students thinking about their musical choices. What Is Included: Task 1: Create Your Apple Playlist Task 2: Descriptive Paragraph About Your Playlist Task 3: Cover Art Design Task 4: Reflection Questions (Equity and Inclusivity) Rubric I typically give this assignment out at the beginning of the school year to get to know my student’s taste in music. It takes between 4-6 periods to complete and is appropriate for grade 5-8. Please note: This assignment works best if you are able to access Apple Music. As a teacher, you could always set up a free account to show to your students or ask your students if any of them already have it and would be willing to show the class how it works. Spend some time and show them how to use it if you have access to it. You can also see some demos from the Apple website. If you do not subscribe to Apple Music, I highly recommend it. You can still use this assignment without Apple Music with your students and they can reflect on the inclusivity of the playlist that they create. TIPS: 1. Be sure to leave feedback to earn your TeachShare credits! 2. If you like what you see - follow me for new products and updates (click the star by my store name MsNerdWood).

Not grade specific/Excellent for ALL grades!

One-page 4-Point Rubric for any writing response that requires students to identify the challenges character(s)/individual(s) face and how the character(s)/individual(s) overcome them. This Rubric is thorough and explicate making it feasible for teachers to accurately score and evaluate their students' writing responses or essays. Rubric criteria categories include: Introductory Paragraph, Explanation of Challenges, Explanation of Overcoming of Challenges, Details / Evidence, Conclusion, and Writing Mechanics. This rubric is suitable for one or multiple characters.

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NEW Personal Narrative Journal Rubric FREEBIE

*Updated 4/28/2021*

This update does not change the content of the rubric. The look of the resource has just been revamped!

I created this rubric to help my middle students know what is expected of them when completing a journal writing prompt for a personal narrative. Often times, my students take advantage of free writing and do not think of it as a "real grade." Giving them something to base their writing off of gives them more direction and motivation to turn in their best work, while also sticking to their personal story/experiences.

*This was intended for, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, the global pandemic COVID-19 experience. My students are given a weekly prompt via Google Classroom as well as this rubric to follow.

Make this back to school season unforgettable with our fantastic ELA language arts interactive notebook cover / ELA language arts journal cover! Interactive notebooks are a wonderful way to engage students in the learning process. Our interactive notebook cover / journal cover is designed not only to enhance student involvement but also to keep everything neatly organized. This resource ensures that students can quickly access information, review previously-studied material, and seamlessly add new entries. Perfect for back to school, this notebook cover will help you and your students stay organized all year long!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Save money with the bundle! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This resource includes:

• An original ELA language arts interactive notebook cover / ELA language arts journal cover
• A 5-point interactive notebook grading rubric
• An EDITABLE interactive notebook grading rubric (PowerPoint required for editing)
• An 8-page table of contents with spaces for up to 303 pages

With three options included—COLOR, GRAYSCALE, and BLACK AND WHITE—this ELA language arts interactive notebook cover / ELA language arts journal cover is easy to use. Simply cut along the dotted lines (no dotted lines on the large cover) with scissors or a paper cutter, then glue or tape it into your notebooks.

Don't miss out! Check out the PREVIEW to see everything this resource has to offer. Get your back to school preparations in order with our ELA language arts interactive notebook cover / ELA language arts journal cover and set your students up for success!

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➡️ You may also like our other Interactive Notebook Organization Resources

• SCIENCE Interactive Notebook Cover, Grading Rubric, and Table of Contents
• MATH Interactive Notebook Cover, Grading Rubric, and Table of Contents
• U.S./American History Interactive Notebook Cover, Rubric, Table of Contents
• Ancient/World History Interactive Notebook Cover, Rubric, Table of Contents

➡️ You may also like our Back to School Resources

• Find Someone Who... Back to School Get to Know You Activity Grade 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
• Classroom Library Signs & Labels for Book Bins and Books BRIGHTS
• Classroom Library Signs & Labels for Book Bins and Books PRIMARY
• The Ultimate EDITABLE Teacher Planner, Binder, Organizer, & Calendar
• EDITABLE Substitute Teacher Binder / Notebook Resources
• The Ultimate EDITABLE Teacher Planner Binder Calendar (Pink, Gray, Gold)

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Terms of Use

Copyright © Amy Pinkerton at Teaching Works. All rights reserved by the author. This product is to be used by the original purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this PDF are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license. Intended for classroom and personal use ONLY.

This rubric looks at 7 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a graphic novel. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: parts of a graphic novel, graphic novel cover page details, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, visuals, and special lettering/speech balloons. This rubric scores writing a graphic novel out of 21 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

You may also be interested in the following:

Graphic Novel Graphic Organizer and Template

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Graphic-Novel-Example-Graphic-Organizer-and-Template-11022175

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction

• differentiating instruction

• on level learners

• ESL/ENL/ELL

• Deaf Education

• Homework

• Classwork

• Homeschooling

• Bell Work

• Virtual Instruction

• Remote Instruction

• Struggling Readers

• Struggling Writers

This rubric looks at 6 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a personal narrative. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: the order of events when writing a personal narrative, grabbing the reader's attention in the beginning of the narrative, the ending, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the personal narrative writing assignment out of 18 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• ESL/ENL/ELL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction
• Struggling Readers
• Struggling Writers

This rubric looks at 6 different areas when students are being assessed on writing step-by-step directions. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: making sure the directions are in sequential order, including a topic, supporting sentences, exact details, and a closing sentence, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the step-by-step writing assignment out of 18 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction

• differentiating instruction

• on level learners

• ESL/ENL/ELL

• Deaf Education

• Homework

• Classwork

• Homeschooling

• Bell Work

• Virtual Instruction

• Remote Instruction

• Struggling Readers

• Struggling Writers

This rubric looks at 5 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a play. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: the topic and meaning/purpose relate, what's included in the play - characters, props, scenes, stage, directions, dialogue, and scenes, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the play writing assignment out of 15 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

You may like this product as well:

Writing a Play

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Play-Graphic-Organizer-Example-Template-8205396

If you like this product, please leave a positive review. :)

This rubric looks at 5 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a research report. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: Choosing someone to write about, grammar/punctuation/spelling, final draft includes details of person's life, staying on task, and sharing the biography with peers. This rubric scores writing a biography out of 10 possible points. The rating scale use is a 2, 1, & 0.

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• ESL/ENL/ELL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction
• Struggling Readers
• Struggling Writers

This rubric looks at 6 different areas when students are being assessed on writing instructions. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: instructions are in order, steps, details, and materials are included in the instructions, the instructions relate with the topic, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the writing instructions assignment out of 18 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

You may like this product as well:
Writing Instructions

https://www.TeachShare.com/itemsDigital/editNext/8362531

If you like this product, please leave a positive review. :)

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction
• differentiating instruction
• on level learners
• ESL/ENL/ELL
• Deaf Education
• Homework
• Classwork
• Homeschooling
• Bell Work
• Virtual Instruction
• Remote Instruction
• Struggling Readers
• Struggling Writers

This rubric looks at 5 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a friendly letter. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: writing a friendly letter and including a heading, greeting, closing, and signature, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the friendly letter writing assignment out of 15 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

You may also be interested in the following:

Writing a Friendly Letter Example and Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Friendly-Letter-Example-and-Template-9453760

This rubric looks at 6 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a research report. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: research report topic and flow - opening and closing relate with one another, using quotations throughout from any sources used, research materials used relate to topic researched, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores research report writing assignment out of 18 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.

You may also be interested in the following:

Research Project Template

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Research-Project-Template-12181496

Writing a Biography Rubric:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Biography-Rubric-9709166

Writing a Fable Example, Graphic Organizer, and Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Fable-Example-Graphic-Organizer-and-Template-9925372

Writing a Friendly Letter Example and Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Friendly-Letter-Example-and-Template-9453760

Writing a Magazine Article Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Magazine-Article-Template-9212729

Writing a Book Report:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Book-Report-Template-9161788

Writing a Pirate Adventure Story:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Pirate-Adventure-Story-Graphic-Organizer-Example-Template-8196649

Writing a Story:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Story-Graphic-Organizer-Example-and-Template-8197750

Writing Instructions:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-Instructions-Example-and-Template-8362531

Writing an Opinion Paragraph:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-an-Opinion-Paragraph-Example-Template-8315312

Writing to Solve a Problem

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-to-Solve-a-Problem-Example-Template-8319585

Learning and Writing my Address – Examples and Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Learning-and-Writing-My-Address-Example-Template-8218625

Writing a Narrative Story – Example, Graphic Organizer, and Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Narrative-Story-Graphic-Organizer-Example-and-Template-8197782

Writing a Summary Template

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Summary-Template-8197872

Writing a Play – Example, Graphic Organizer, and Template:

https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Writing-a-Play-Graphic-Organizer-Example-and-Template-8205396

This product is made for:

• adapting instruction

• differentiating instruction

• on level learners

• ESL/ENL/ELL

• Deaf Education

• Homework

• Classwork

• Homeschooling

• Bell Work

• Virtual Instruction

• Remote Instruction

• Struggling Readers

• Struggling Writers

This rubric looks at 5 different areas when students are being assessed on writing a story. The areas that are reviewed on the rubric are as follows: the story outline relates with the graphic organizer, all parts of the story are written in sequential order, staying on task, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and working with others. This rubric scores the story writing assignment out of 15 possible points. The rating scale use is a 3, 2, 1, & 0.