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Using Rubrics

The original Star Wars movies were terrific! Some of the prequels and sequels were less so. Writers and directors thought special effects were the key. They forgot about having characters that people cared about, stuck in situations over their heads, doing their best to save the day, heroically (and humorously) struggling against the Dark Side. If writers and directors had focused on those traits as well as special effects, they would have made stronger follow-on movies. They needed a Star Wars rubric.

Luckily as a writer, you have rubrics to help you focus your efforts. On a single sheet of paper, you can see all the traits of an effective assignment. Write on Course contains trait-based rubrics for narrative, explanatory, and persuasive (argument) writing as well as for responding to literature. You can use these rubrics from start to finish as you develop your writing.