Ideas

The Ideas are the heart of the message, the content of the piece, the main theme, together with all the details that enrich and develop that theme. The ideas are strong when the message is clear, not garbled. The writer chooses details that are interesting, important, and informative–often the kinds of details the reader would not normally anticipate or predict. Successful writers do not tell readers things they already know; e.g., "It was a sunny day, and the sky was blue, the clouds were fluffy white …" They notice what others overlook, seek out the extraordinary, the unusual, the bits and pieces of life that others might not see.

Key question: Did the writer stay focused and share original fresh information or perspective on the topic?

Key scoring points:

• Strong writing is clear and focused. It holds the reader's attention. Relevant anecdotes and details enrich the central theme.
• Developing writing begins to define the topic, even though ideas are still basic or general.
• Beginning writing has no clear sense of purpose or central theme. The reader must make inferences based on sketchy or missing details.

Download Ideas Scoring Rubric