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Score	Ideas and Content | Organization | Voice | Word Choice Sentence Fluency | Conventions
4	Words convey the intended message in an interesting, precise, and natural way appropriate to audience and purpose. The writer does most or all of the following: • chooses specific, accurate language which seems natural; uses ordinary words in an unusual way; • chooses fresh, lively, vivid expressions; • includes the purposeful, effective selection of figurative language and/or slang.
3	The variety of words employed is functional and appropriate to audience and purpose. The writer does most or all of the following: • mainly uses familiar words or phrases; may occasionally employ ordinary words in an unusual way; • attempts to use fresh, vivid expressions although they may be ineffective and/or cliched; • attempts to use figurative language which may occasionally seem overdone or ineffective.
2	Language is predictable, ordinary, and/or imprecise, and at times may not be appropriate for intended audience and/or purpose. The writer does most or all of the following: • uses words that are colorless, flat, or imprecise, e.g. fun, thing, a lot, nice; language may be repetitious or misused; • relies on predictable vocabulary; • uses little figurative language; images, if present, are fuzzy.
1	Language is limited, monotonous, and/or misused; only the most general kind of message is communicated. The writer does most or all of the following: • uses an extremely limited range of words; • relies upon words that do not fit the text; they may be imprecise, inadequate, or just plain wrong; • makes no attempt to use figurative language; uses general, vague words that fail to communicate.