How the Writing WASL is Scored

What do you really need to do to pass the writing portion of the WASL? Here is information that the state released:

Content, Organization, and Style Scoring Guide
Points Description
4 · maintains consistent focus on the topic and has ample supporting details
· has a logical organizational pattern and conveys a sense of completeness and
wholeness
· provides transitions which clearly serve to connect ideas
· uses language effectively by exhibiting word choices that are engaging and
appropriate for intended audience and purpose
· includes sentences, or phrases where appropriate, of varied length and
structure
· allows the reader to sense the person behind the words
3 · maintains adequate focus on the topic and has adequate supporting details
· has a logical organizational pattern and conveys a sense of wholeness and
completeness, although some lapses occur
· provides adequate transitions in an attempt to connect ideas
· uses effective language and appropriate word choices for intended audience
and purpose
· includes sentences, or phrases where appropriate, that are somewhat varied
in length and structure
· provides the reader with some sense of the person behind the words
2 · demonstrates an inconsistent focus and includes some supporting details, but
may include extraneous or loosely related material
· shows an attempt at an organizational pattern, but exhibits little sense of
wholeness and completeness
· provides transitions which are weak or inconsistent
· has a limited predictable vocabulary which may not be appropriate for the
intended audience and purpose
· shows limited variety in sentence length and structure
· attempts somewhat to give the reader a sense of the person behind the
words
1 · demonstrates little or no focus and few supporting details which may be
inconsistent or interfere with the meaning of the test
· has little evidence of an organizational pattern or any sense of wholeness and
completeness
· provides transitions which are poorly utilized, or fails to provide transitions
· has a limited or no variety in sentence length and structure
· provides the reader with little or no sense of the person behind the words
0 · response is “I don’t know”; response is a questions mark (?) response is one
word; response is only the title of the prompt; or the prompt is simply

 

Content, Organization, and Style Scoring Guide
Points Description
4 · maintains consistent focus on the topic and has ample supporting details
· has a logical organizational pattern and conveys a sense of completeness and
wholeness
· provides transitions which clearly serve to connect ideas
· uses language effectively by exhibiting word choices that are engaging and
appropriate for intended audience and purpose
· includes sentences, or phrases where appropriate, of varied length and
structure
· allows the reader to sense the person behind the words
3 · maintains adequate focus on the topic and has adequate supporting details
· has a logical organizational pattern and conveys a sense of wholeness and
completeness, although some lapses occur
· provides adequate transitions in an attempt to connect ideas
· uses effective language and appropriate word choices for intended audience
and purpose
· includes sentences, or phrases where appropriate, that are somewhat varied
in length and structure
· provides the reader with some sense of the person behind the words
2 · demonstrates an inconsistent focus and includes some supporting details, but
may include extraneous or loosely related material
· shows an attempt at an organizational pattern, but exhibits little sense of
wholeness and completeness
· provides transitions which are weak or inconsistent
· has a limited predictable vocabulary which may not be appropriate for the
intended audience and purpose
· shows limited variety in sentence length and structure
· attempts somewhat to give the reader a sense of the person behind the
words
1 · demonstrates little or no focus and few supporting details which may be
inconsistent or interfere with the meaning of the test
· has little evidence of an organizational pattern or any sense of wholeness and
completeness
· provides transitions which are poorly utilized, or fails to provide transitions
· has a limited or no variety in sentence length and structure
· provides the reader with little or no sense of the person behind the words
0 · response is “I don’t know”; response is a questions mark (?) response is one
word; response is only the title of the prompt; or the prompt is simply