Short Story Rubric

Dystopian Short Story Rubric

Name_________________­­­­­­_{____________}__Block_____Title of Short Story___________________________________________

CRITERIA	Developing Areas That Need Attention	Meets Standard Standards for Mastery Level for this Performance	ADVANCED Evidence of Insightful/exceptional/going Beyond what is Expected Performance
	1-3	4-5	6-7
Engaging and Orienting the Reader		Consistently engages the reader by ·       writing an amazing, attention grabbing hook, ·       creating characters that the reader is emotionally connected, ·       describing a dystopian setting that is vivid with details.
Creating a Narrative		Consistently moves the story forward by ·       using all the elements of the dramatic arc as an organizing pattern, ·       writing essential dialogue, ·       clearly establishing dynamic (those who grow/change) and static (perhaps important, but do not change) characters through the events in the story, ·       using detailed language to describe characters and setting – and/or to evoke the senses in the reader (painting them a picture with words).
Use of Dystopian Language and Controls		Clearly creates a dystopian world by ·       Creating a distinct dystopian control (bureaucratic, technological, corporate, philosophical) ·       Explicitly letting the reader know the utopian ideal (individuality, freedom, safety, equality) being forfeited by the society, ·       Employing dystopian vocabulary ·       Giving specific traits common to dystopian protagonists. *
Writing a Satisfying Resolution that also Reveals a THEME		Clearly concludes the story by ·       wrapping up all the conflicts, ·       taking the dynamic character on a journey that changes him/her, ·       leaving the reader with the ability to answer the question, “WHAT UNIVERSAL MESSAGE WILL THE READER WALK AWAY WITH AFTER READING THE STORY?”.
English Language Usage (spelling, punctuation, capitalization)		Clearly and Consistently applies the rules of proper conventions by ·       Correct spelling ·       Use of punctuation including commas, end marks, conjunctions (colons; semicolons) ·       Appropriate capitalization of titles and proper nouns.

* Traits of a Dystopian Protagonist: 1) often feels trapped and is struggling to escape, 2) questions the existing social and political systems, 3) believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives, 4) helps the audience recognizes the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.