6 This response demonstrates advanced success with the biographical narrative. The essay:

• focuses consistently on a clear controlling idea
• shows effective organization throughout, with smooth transitions
• offers a thoughtful, creative approach to the narrative
• develops the narrative thoroughly, using incidents, details, and explanation
• exhibits mature control of written language

5 This response demonstrates proficient success with the biographical narrative. For the most part, the essay:

• focuses on a clear controlling idea
• shows effective organization, with transitions
• offers a thoughtful approach to the narrative
• develops the narrative competently, using incidents, details, and explanation
• exhibits sufficient control of written language

4 This response demonstrates competent success with the biographical narrative. For the most part, the essay:

• focuses on a clear controlling idea, with minor distractions
• shows effective organization, with minor lapses
• offers a mostly thoughtful approach to the narrative
• develops the narrative adequately, using some incidents, details, and explanation
• exhibits general control of written language

3 This response demonstrates limited success with the biographical narrative. The essay may:

• include some loosely related ideas that distract from the controlling idea
• show some organization, with noticeable gaps in the logical flow of ideas
• offer a routine, predictable approach to the narrative
• develop the narrative with uneven use of incidents, details, and explanation
• exhibit limited control of written language

2 This response demonstrates basic success with the biographical narrative. For the most part, the essay:

• includes loosely related ideas that seriously distract from the writer’s controlling idea
• shows minimal organization, with major gaps in the logical flow of ideas
• offers a narrative that merely skims the surface
• develops the narrative with inadequate use of incidents, details, and explanation
• exhibits significant problems with control of written language

1 This response demonstrates emerging effort with the biographical narrative. For the most part, the essay:

• shows little awareness of the topic and purpose for writing
• lacks organization
• offers an unclear and confusing narrative
• develops the narrative in only a minimal way, if at all
• exhibits major problems with control of written language

Unscorable This response is unscorable for one or more of the following reasons. The paper may be:

• so unusual that it cannot be scored by the computer
• off-topic
• a paraphrase of the prompt
• written in a foreign language
• incomprehensible
• too brief to determine whether the student has responded to the task
• a written refusal to write

Because your essay cannot be scored by our system, it is not possible to provide more detailed feedback. For ideas that can help you improve your writing, click on Writing Activities.