Newspaper Article Rubric
Headline
Article has a headline that captures the reader's attention and accurately describes the content. 4
Article has a headline that accurately describes the content. 3
Article has a headline that does not describe the content. 2
Article is missing headline. 1
Supporting Details
The details in the article are clear and supportive of the topic. 4
The details in the article are clear but need to be developed more. Some details may not fit in with the topic. 3
Most details in the article are clear. Article does not focus on the topic well. 2
The details article are neither clear nor related to the topic. 1
Who, What, When, Where & How
Article adequately addresses the 5 W's (who, what, when, where and how). 4
The article is missing one of the 5 W's. 3
The article is missing 2 of the 5 W's. 2
The article is missing 3 or more of the 5 W's. 1
Lead Sentence
Lead sentence grabs the reader's attention and focuses the reader on the topic. 4
Lead sentence tells most important details. 3
Lead sentence is not clearly connected to the article. 2
There is no clear lead sentence in the article. 1
Spelling and Grammar
No spelling or grammar errors. 4
No more than a couple of spelling or grammar errors. 3
No more than 3 spelling or grammar errors. 2
Several spelling or grammar errors. 1
Headline
Article has a headline that captures the reader's attention and accurately describes the content. 4
Article has a headline that accurately describes the content. 3
Article has a headline that does not describe the content. 2
Article is missing headline. 1
Supporting Details
The details in the article are clear and supportive of the topic. 4
The details in the article are clear but need to be developed more. Some details may not fit in with the topic. 3
Most details in the article are clear. Article does not focus on the topic well. 2
The details article are neither clear nor related to the topic. 1
Who, What, When, Where & How
Article adequately addresses the 5 W's (who, what, when, where and how). 4
The article is missing one of the 5 W's. 3
The article is missing 2 of the 5 W's. 2
The article is missing 3 or more of the 5 W's. 1
Lead Sentence
Lead sentence grabs the reader's attention and focuses the reader on the topic. 4
Lead sentence tells most important details. 3
Lead sentence is not clearly connected to the article. 2
There is no clear lead sentence in the article. 1
Spelling and Grammar
No spelling or grammar errors. 4
No more than a couple of spelling or grammar errors. 3
No more than 3 spelling or grammar errors. 2
Several spelling or grammar errors. 1