Informative Writing Rubric | ELA Essay Rubric Research-Based Writing

Make grading research-based informative writing easier, faster, and more consistent with this clear, student-friendly rubric! Perfect for upper elementary or middle school ELA.

I hope this takes away from of the headache of teaching longer-form writing by have a ready-to-use rubric.

What’s Included:

• Printable Research-Based Writing Rubric (PDF format)

• Five key grading categories:

  1. Conventions (C.O.P.S.) – spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and paragraph structure

  2. Organization – clear main ideas, engaging hook, strong thesis, and effective conclusion

  3. Quality of Information – relevant details, accuracy, and topic focus

  4. Citing Reliable Sources – paraphrasing, credibility, and correct citations

  5. Research Process/Notes – note-taking organization and completeness

• 4-point scale (6, 4, 2, 0) for each category, with clear criteria so students understand expectations

• Total score out of 30 points for easy grading

You'll love this because:

• Saves hours of grading time with ready-to-use criteria

• Helps students self-assess and improve their writing before turning it in

• Works for essays, reports, and other research-based writing assignments

• Supports writing standards for research and informative text in grades 4–8

• Encourages academic honesty by emphasizing paraphrasing and reliable sources

Great for research essay units, informative writing assignments, history or science reports, and cross-curricular projects.

No prep at all! Use it as a teaching tool before writing begins, so students know exactly how to succeed.

Enjoy!

Stephanie