6 This response demonstrates advanced success with the how-to writing task. The essay:

• focuses consistently on a process appropriate to the prompt
• shows effective, step-by-step organization throughout, with smooth transitions
• offers a thoughtful, creative explanation of the process
• explains each step of the assigned process thoroughly, using examples and specific, detailed instructions
• exhibits mature control of written language

5 This response demonstrates proficient success with the how-to writing task. For the most part, the essay:

• focuses on a process appropriate to the prompt
• shows effective, step-by-step organization, with transitions
• offers a thoughtful explanation of the process
• explains the steps of the process competently, using examples and specific instructions
• exhibits sufficient control of written language

4 This response demonstrates competent success with the how-to writing task. For the most part, the essay:

• focuses on an appropriate process, with minor distractions
• shows effective, step-by-step organization, with minor lapses
• offers a mostly thoughtful explanation of the process
• explains the process adequately, with a mixture of general and specific instructions
• exhibits general control of written language

3 This response demonstrates limited success with the how-to writing task. The essay may:

• include some loosely related material that distracts from the writer’s how-to focus
• show some organization, with noticeable gaps in the step-by-step presentation of the process
• offer a routine, predictable explanation of the process
• explain the process with uneven elaboration
• exhibit limited control of written language

2 This response demonstrates basic success with how-to writing. For the most part, the essay:

• includes loosely related material that seriously distract from the writer’s how-to focus
• shows minimal organization, with major gaps in the step-by-step presentation of the process
• offers explanation that merely skims the surface
• explains the process with inadequate detail
• exhibits significant problems with control of written language

1 This response demonstrates emerging effort with how-to writing. For the most part, the essay:

• shows little awareness of the topic and purpose for writing
• lacks organization
• offers unclear and confusing explanation
• develops the explanation 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.