PENNSYLVANIA WRITING ASSESSMENT DOMAIN SCORING GUIDE

Advanced Proficient Basic Below Basic

FOCUS The single controlling point made with an awareness of task (mode) about a specific topic.	Sharp, distinct controlling point made about a single topic with evident awareness of task (mode).	Apparent point made about a single topic with sufficient awareness of task (mode).	No apparent point but evidence of a specific topic.	Minimal evidence of a topic.
CONTENT The presence of ideas developed through facts, examples, anecdotes, details, opinions, statistics, reasons and/or explanations.	Substantial, specific and/or illustrative content demonstrating strong development and sophisticated ideas.	Sufficiently developed content with adequate elaborations or explanation.	Limited content with inadequate elaboration or explanation.	Superficial and/or minimal content.
ORGANIZATION The order developed and sustained within and across paragraphs using transitional devices and including introduction and conclusion.	Sophisticated arrangement of content with evident and/or subtle transitions.	Functional arrangement of content that sustains a logical order with some evidence of transitions.	Confused or inconsistent arrangement of content with or without attempts at transition.	Minimal control of content arrangement.
STYLE The choice, use and arrangement of words and sentence structure that create tone and voice.	Precise, illustrative use of a variety of words and sentence structures to create consistent writer’s voice and tone appropriate to audience.	Generic use of a variety of words and sentence structures that may or may not create writer’s voice and tone appropriate to audience.	Limited word choice and control of sentence structures that inhibit voice and tone.	Minimal variety in word choice and minimal control of sentence structures.
CONVENTIONS Grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation.	Evident control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation.	Sufficient control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation.	Limited control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation.	Minimal control of grammar, mechanics, spelling, usage and sentence formation.

NON-SCOREABLE	OFF-PROMPT
· Is illegible; i.e., includes so many indecipherable words that no sense can be made of the response. · Is incoherent; i.e., words are legible but syntax is so garbled that response makes no sense. · Is insufficient; i.e., does not include enough to assess domains adequately. · Is a blank paper.	· Is readable but did not respond to prompt.