rubric

CATEGORY	4 = Exceeds the Standard	3 = Meets the Standard	2 = Partially Meets the Standard	1 = Does not Meet the Standard	Score
Title	Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the story and topic.	Title is related to the story and topic.	Title is present, but does not appear to be related to the story and topic.	No title.
Characters	The main characters are named and clearly described in text as well as pictures. Most readers could describe the characters accurately.	The main characters are named and described. Most readers would have some idea of what the characters looked like.	The main characters are named. The reader knows very little about the characters.	It is hard to tell who the main characters are.
Setting	Many vivid, descriptive words are used to tell when and where the story took place.	Some vivid, descriptive words are used to tell the audience when and where the story took place.	The reader can figure out when and where the story took place, but the author didn't supply much detail.	The reader has trouble figuring out when and where the story took place.
Problem/ Conflict	It is very easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face and why it is a problem.	It is fairly easy for the reader to understand the problem the main characters face but it is not clear why it is a problem.	It is not clear what problem the main characters face.
Action	Several action verbs (active voice) are used to describe what is happening in the story. The story seems exciting!	Several action verbs are used to describe what is happening in the story, but the word choice doesn't make the story as exciting as it could be.	A variety of verbs (passive voice) are used and describe the action accurately but not in a very exciting way.	Little variety seen in the verbs that are used. The story seems a little boring.
Solution/ Resolution	The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is logical. There are no loose ends.	The solution to the character's problem is easy to understand, and is somewhat logical.	The solution to the character's problem is a little hard to understand.	No solution is attempted or it is impossible to understand.
Creativity	The story contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his imagination.	The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his imagination.	The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story. The author has tried to use his imagination.	There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.
Illustrations	Illustrations are detailed, attractive, creative and relate to the text on the page.	Illustrations are somewhat detailed, attractive, and relate to the text on the page.	Illustrations relate to the text on the page.	Illustrations are not present OR they are not relevant
MUGS	Mechanics, words usage, grammar and spelling are correctly applied with no errors.	No more than three errors in mechanics, word usage, grammar and spelling	The story is readable, but contains 4-5 errors in mechanics, word usage, grammar or sentence structure.	The story is unreadable because of errors in mechanics, word usage, grammar, or spelling