News Article Rubric for Middle or High School Students

Show students how to write an article. When they forget, remind them how to write an article again with a well organized news article rubric.

• COMPONENTS: The article contains six components of a news story (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
• ORGANIZATION: The article is written with the most important information first.
• STYLE: The story contains an interesting lead which hooks the reader.
• LANGUAGE: All sentences are clear, concise, and well written. Many details are included. Many active words are used.
• PARAGRAPHS: The article contains short paragraphs that flow together. The last paragraph ends with a quote or catchy phrase.

• COMPONENTS: The article contains five components of a news story (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
• ORGANIZATION: The article is written with the most important information contained within the article.
• STYLE: The story contains an interesting lead which hooks the reader but dies not capture the true meaning of the article.
• LANGUAGE: Most sentences are clear, concise, and well written. Many details are included. Many active words are used.
• PARAGRAPHS: The article mostly contains short paragraphs that flow together. The last paragraph ends with a quote or catchy phrase but does not capture the true meaning of the article.

• COMPONENTS: The article contains three or four components of a news story (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
• ORGANIZATION: The information makes sense but the organization is somewhat confusing.
• STYLE: The lead does not hook the reader nor does it convey the true meaning of the article.
• LANGUAGE: Many of the sentences are too long, run-ons, or fragments. Very few details are included. Very few active words are used.
• PARAGRAPHS: The article contains paragraphs which are mostly too long and do not lead to the next paragraph. The last paragraph ends with a quote or catchy phrase that does not capture the true meaning of the article.

• COMPONENTS: The article contains one or two components of a news story (who, what, when, where, why, and how).
• ORGANIZATION: The article is written in no logical order.
• STYLE: There is no lead to the story.
• LANGUAGE: Most of the sentences are too long, run-ons, or fragments. Very few details are included. Very few active words are used.
• PARAGRAPHS: The article contains no paragraphs or paragraphs which are mostly too long and do not lead to the next paragraph. The last paragraph does not end with a quote or catchy phrase that does not capture the true meaning of the article.