Writing Assessment 5 Sentence Fluency

5 The writing has an easy flow, rhythm, and cadence. Sentences are well built, with strong and varied structure that invites expressive oral reading.

A. Sentences are constructed in a way that underscores and enhances the meaning.

B. Sentences vary in length as well as structure. Fragments, if used, add style. Dialogue, if present, sounds natural.

C. Purposeful and varied sentence beginnings add variety and energy.

D. The use of creative and appropriate connectives between sentences and thoughts shows how each relates to, and builds upon, the one before it.

E. The writing has cadence; the writer has thought about the sound of the words as well as the meaning. The first time you read it aloud is a breeze.

 

3 The text hums along with a steady beat, but tends to be more pleasant or businesslike than musical, more mechanical than fluid.

A. Although sentences may not seem artfully crafted or musical, they get the job done in a routine fashion.

B. Sentences are usually constructed correctly; they hang together; they are sound.

C. Sentence beginnings are not ALL alike; some variety is attempted.

D. The reader sometimes has to hunt for clues (e.g., connecting words and phrases like however, therefore, naturally, after a while, on the other hand, to be specific, for example, next, first of all, later, but as it turned out, although, etc.) that show how sentences interrelate.

E. Parts of the text invite expressive oral reading; others may be stiff, awkward, choppy, or gangly.

 

1 The reader has to practice quite a bit in order to give this paper a fair interpretive reading. The writing reflects more than one of the following problems:

A. Sentences are choppy, incomplete, rambling or awkward; they need work. Phrasing does not sound natural. The patterns may create a sing-song rhythm, or a chop-chop cadence that lulls the reader to sleep.

B. There is little to no “sentence sense” present. Even if this piece was flawlessly edited, the sentences would not hang together.

C. Many sentences begin the same way—and may follow the same patterns (e.g., subject-verb-object) in a monotonous pattern.

D. Endless connectives (and, and so, but then, because, and then, etc.) or a complete lack of connectives create a massive jumble of language.

E. The text does not invite expressive oral reading.