Most elements of the question are answered. Only one element of the question is addressed. Answer does not address elements of the question. Answer is logical, with no contradictions. Diagrams may be incomplete or lacking labels.
Answer lacks logic or intelligibility.
Answer is not supported. This is not a scoring rubric for any specific item, but a set of general criteria to be applied to many pieces of writing students do in science, including constructed response items on the HSPT and MEAP's. Its four categories are few enough so that students may learn to keep them in their heads as they write in their journals, or on their homework, or on unit tests. The focus is always on learning the science better, and expressing clearly what one has learned. Still, the picture of students' writing abilities is not that bad.