Writing Assessment 4 Word Choice

5 Words convey the intended message in a precise, interesting, and natural way. The words are powerful and engaging.

A. Words are specific and accurate. It is easy to understand just what the writer means.

B. Striking words and phrases often catch the reader's eye and linger in the reader's mind.

C. Language and phrasing are natural, effective, and appropriate for the audience.

D. Lively verbs add energy while specific nouns and modifiers add depth.

E. Choices in language enhance the meaning and clarify understanding.

F. Precision is obvious. The writer has taken care to put just the right word or phrase in just the right spot.

 

3 The language is functional, even if it lacks much energy. It is easy to figure out the writer's meaning on a general level.

A. Words are adequate and correct in a general sense, and they support the meaning by not getting in the way.

B. Familiar words and phrases communicate but rarely capture the reader's imagination.

C. Attempts at colorful language show a willingness to stretch and grow but sometimes reach beyond the audience (thesaurus overload!).

D. Despite a few successes, the writing is marked by passive verbs, everyday nouns, and mundane modifiers.

E. The words and phrases are functional with only one or two fine moments.

F. The words may be refined in a couple of places, but the language looks more like the first thing that popped into the writer’s mind.

 

1 The writer demonstrates a limited vocabulary or has not searched for words to convey specific meaning.

A. Words are so nonspecific and distracting that only a very limited meaning comes through.

B. Problems with language leave the reader wondering. Many of the words just don’t work in this piece.

C. Audience has not been considered. Language is used incorrectly making the message secondary to the misfires with the words.

D. Limited vocabulary and/or misused parts of speech seriously impair understanding.

E. Words and phrases are so unimaginative and lifeless that they detract from the meaning.

F. Jargon or clichés distract or mislead. Redundancy may distract the reader.

Writing Assessment 3 Voice

5 The writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is individual, compelling, and engaging. The writer crafts the writing with an awareness and respect for the audience and the purpose for writing.

A. The writer connects strongly with the audience through the intriguing focus of the topic, selection of relevant details, and the use of natural, engaging language.

B. The purpose of the writing is accurately reflected in the writer’s choice of individual and compelling content, and the arrangement of ideas.

C. The writer takes a risk by the inclusion of personal details that reveal the person behind the words.

D. Expository or persuasive writing reflects a strong commitment to the topic by the careful selection of ideas that show why the reader needs to know this.

E. Narrative writing is personal and engaging, and makes you think about the author’s ideas or point of view.

3 The writer seems sincere, but not fully engaged or involved. The writing has discernable purpose, but is not compelling.

A. The writing attempts to connect with the audience in an earnest, pleasing, but impersonal manner

B. The writer seems aware of a purpose, and attempts to select content and structures that reflect it.

C. The writer occasionally reveals personal details, but primarily avoids risk.

D. Expository or persuasive writing lacks consistent engagement with the topic, and fails to use ideas to build credibility.

E. Narrative writing is sincere, but does not reflect a unique or individual perspective on the topic.

1 The writer seems indifferent to the topic and the content. The writing lacks purpose and audience engagement.

A. The writer’s ideas and language fail to connect with the audience.

B. The writer has no clear purpose, and the chosen style does not match the content or ideas.

C. The writing is risk free, and reveals nothing about the author.

D. Expository or persuasive writing is lifeless and mechanical, or lacks accurate information.

E. Narrative: The development of the topic is so limited that no point of view is discernable.

Writing Assessment 2 Organization

5 The organization enhances and showcases the central idea or theme. The order, structure, or presentation of information is compelling and moves the reader through the text.

A. An inviting introduction draws the reader in; a satisfying conclusion leaves the reader with a sense of closure and resolution.

B. Thoughtful transitions clearly show how ideas connect.

C. Details seem to fit where they're placed; sequencing is logical and effective.

D. Pacing is well controlled; the writer knows when to slow down and elaborate, and when to pick up the pace and move on.

E. The title, if desired, is original and captures the central theme of the piece.

F. The choice of structure matches the purpose and audience, with effective paragraph breaks.

3 The organizational structure is strong enough to move the reader through the text without too much confusion.

A. The paper has a recognizable introduction and conclusion. The introduction may not create a strong sense of anticipation; the conclusion may not tie-up all loose ends.

B. Transitions sometimes work; at other times, connections between ideas are unclear.

C. Sequencing shows some logic, but not under control enough that it consistently supports the development of ideas. The structure may be predictable and taking attention away from the content.

D. Pacing is fairly well controlled, though the writer sometimes lunges ahead too quickly or spends too much time on details that do not matter.

E. A title (if desired) is present, although it may be uninspired or an obvious restatement of the prompt or topic.

F. The organization sometimes supports the main point or story line, with an attempt at paragraphing.

1 The writing lacks a clear sense of direction. Ideas, details, or events seem strung together in a loose or random fashion; there is no identifiable internal structure. The writing reflects more than one of these problems:

A. There is no real lead to set-up what follows, no real conclusion to wrap things up.

B. Connections between ideas are confusing or absent.

C. Sequencing is random and needs lots of work.

D. Pacing feels awkward; the writer slows to a crawl when the reader wants to move on, and vice versa.

E. No title is present (if requested) or, if present, does not reflect the content.

F. Problems with organization make it hard for the reader to understand the main point or story line, with little or no attempt at paragraph breaks.

Writing Assessment 1 Ideas

5 This paper is clear and focused. It holds the reader's attention. Relevant anecdotes and details enrich the central theme.

A. The topic is narrow and manageable.

B. Relevant, telling, quality details give the reader important information that goes beyond the obvious or predictable.

C. Reasonably accurate details are present to support the main ideas.

D. The writer seems to be writing from knowledge or experience; the ideas are fresh and original.

E. The reader’s questions are anticipated and answered.

F. Insight—an understanding of life and a knack for picking out what is significant—is an indicator of high level performance, though not required.

3 The writer is beginning to define the topic, even though development is still basic or general.

A. The topic is fairly broad; however, you can see where the writer is headed.

B. Support is attempted, but doesn't go far enough yet in fleshing out the key issues or story line.

C. Ideas are reasonably clear, though they may not be detailed, personalized, accurate, or expanded enough to show in-depth understanding or a strong sense of purpose.

D. The writer seems to be drawing on knowledge or experience, but has difficulty going from general observations to specifics.

E. The reader is left with questions. More information is needed to "fill in the blanks."

F. The writer generally stays on the topic but does not develop a clear theme. The writer has not yet focused the topic past the obvious.

1 As yet, the paper has no clear sense of purpose or central theme. To extract meaning from the text, the reader must make inferences based on sketchy or missing details. The writing reflects more than one of these problems:

A. The writer is still in search of a topic, brainstorming, or has not yet decided what the main idea of the piece will be.

B. Information is limited or unclear or the length is not adequate for development.

C. The idea is a simple restatement of the topic or an answer to the question with little or no attention to detail.

D. The writer has not begun to define the topic in a meaningful, personal way.

E. Everything seems as important as everything else; the reader has a hard time sifting out what is important.

F. The text may be repetitious, or may read like a collection of disconnected, random thoughts with no discernable point.

Giant flowers

The titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) has the largest unbranched inflorescence, which can be over 3 meters high. The titan arum is indigenous to the equatorial rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. To attract pollinators, it gives off a fragrance that smells like a decomposing mammal. Each titan arum has a single gigantic leaf that can be 6 meters tall and 5 meters across. 

Rafflesia arnoldii produces the largest individual flower on earth. This species occurs only in Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia. The flower of R. arnoldii can be 1 meter across and weigh 11 kilograms. R. arnoldii shares the nickname "corpse flower" with the titan arum. Lacking any observable leaves, stems or even roots, R. arnoldii lives as a parasite. Similar to fungi, Rafflesia individuals grow as thread-like strands of tissue completely embedded within and in intimate contact with surrounding host cells from which nutrients and water are obtained.   

These two plants have impressively massive reproductive organs. The largest reproductive organ of all, however, belongs to the Tailpot palm (Corypha umbraculifera) of South Asia. This large palm bears a 6-8 m long branched inflorescence consisting of up to several million flowers. C. umbraculifera flowers only once. The plant dies after fruiting. 

Diatoms

Diatoms, mighty microscopic algae, have profound influence on climate, producing 20 percent of the oxygen we breathe by capturing atmospheric carbon and in so doing, countering the greenhouse effect. Since their evolutionary origins these photosynthetic wonders have come to acquire advantageous genes from bacterial, animal and plant ancestors enabling them to thrive in today's oceans.

These organisms represent a veritable melting pot of traits—a hybrid of genetic mechanisms contributed by ancestral lineages of plants, animals, and bacteria, and optimized over the relatively short evolutionary timeframe of 180 million years since they first appeared. Gene transfer between diatoms and other organisms has been extremely common, making diatoms 'transgenic by nature'.

From plants, the diatom inherited photosynthesis, and from animals the production of urea. It is speculated that the diatom uses urea to store nitrogen, not to eliminate it like animals do, because nitrogen is a precious nutrient in the ocean. What's more, the tiny alga draws the best of both worlds—it can convert fat into sugar, as well as sugar into fat—extremely useful in times of nutrient shortage.

The lifestyle of diatoms can be characterized as "bloom or bust." When light and nutrient conditions in the upper reaches of the ocean are favorable, particularly at the onset of spring, diatoms gain an edge and tend to dominate their phytoplankton brethren. When food is scarce, they die and sink, carrying their complement of carbon dioxide to the deeper recesses.