Missouri's state writing assessment, rubric by rubric
MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) is the state's annual summative assessment system. The grade-level ELA writing scoring guides cover Opinion (Grades 3 to 5), Informational/Explanatory (Grades 3 to 8), Narrative (Grades 3 to 8), and Argumentative (Grades 6 to 8). The End of Course (EOC) English I and English II assessments add a source-based blended writing rubric for high school.
Every MAP grade-level rubric uses a three-trait analytic structure. Organization/Purpose is scored 1 to 4 and covers organizational structure, focus, transitional strategies, and progression of ideas. Evidence/Elaboration (or Development/Elaboration on the Narrative rubric) is scored 1 to 4 and covers integration of source evidence, elaborative techniques, vocabulary, and style. Conventions is scored 0 to 2 holistically across variety, severity, and density of errors.
The EOC English I/II rubric is structurally similar but adds explicit criteria for blending at least two genres (argumentative, expository, and/or narrative) within a single response, plus an explicit citation expectation. The argumentative rubric is the only one to formally introduce counterclaims, which Missouri DESE notes are not taught until 7th grade.
The five Missouri MAP writing rubrics
Each MAP rubric scores writing on Organization/Purpose (1 to 4), Evidence/Elaboration or Development/Elaboration (1 to 4), and Conventions (0 to 2). The EOC English I/II rubric adds a third Organization/Flow trait that evaluates blending of genres across the response.
Source-based opinion writing where students state an opinion and support it with reasons and evidence from provided source materials. Scored on Organization/Purpose (1 to 4), Evidence/Elaboration (1 to 4), and Conventions (0 to 2).
Source-based explanatory writing where students develop a controlling idea using facts and details from provided source materials. Scored on Organization/Purpose (1 to 4), Evidence/Elaboration (1 to 4), and Conventions (0 to 2).
Real or imagined narrative writing with characters, setting, plot, and sequence of events. Scored on Organization/Purpose (1 to 4), Development/Elaboration (1 to 4), and Conventions (0 to 2).
Source-based argumentative writing with a clearly stated claim, evidence from sources, and acknowledgment of opposing arguments (counterclaims introduced in 7th grade). Scored on Organization/Purpose (1 to 4), Evidence/Elaboration (1 to 4), and Conventions (0 to 2).
End of Course high school rubric for source-based writing that blends at least two genres (argumentative, expository, and/or narrative). Scored on Organization and Flow (1 to 4), Content Development/Elaboration (1 to 4), and Conventions (0 to 2).
How MAP scores writing
Every MAP writing rubric scores responses on three analytic traits. Organization/Purpose (1 to 4) measures structural unity, focus, and transitions. Evidence/Elaboration or Development/Elaboration (1 to 4) measures integration of source material, elaborative techniques, and style. Conventions (0 to 2) is a tighter holistic trait that weighs variety, severity, and density of errors.
Scored 1 to 4. Measures whether the response has a clear and effective organizational structure, sustained focus, varied transitional strategies, and a logical progression of ideas with strong connections between and among ideas. On the Argumentative rubric this trait also evaluates whether alternate and opposing arguments are clearly acknowledged or addressed (counterclaims are not taught until 7th grade).
Scored 1 to 4. On Opinion, Informational, and Argumentative rubrics this trait evaluates comprehensive, relevant, and specific evidence from source materials, effective use of elaborative techniques, audience-appropriate vocabulary, and effective style. On the Narrative rubric, the equivalent Development/Elaboration trait evaluates characters, setting, narrative techniques, and sensory or figurative language.
Scored 0 to 2 holistically across three dimensions, variety of error types (formation, punctuation, capitalization, grammar usage, spelling), severity of errors (basic errors are weighted more heavily than higher-level errors), and density (ratio of errors to length and to writing done well). The EOC English I/II rubric is structurally similar to the grade-level rubrics but explicitly evaluates blending of at least two genres (argumentative, expository, narrative) and adds a citation-of-sources expectation.
Common questions about Missouri MAP writing
What is the MAP writing rubric?
How many points is each MAP writing rubric worth?
When does the MAP rubric expect counterclaims or counterarguments?
How is the MAP Narrative rubric different from the other genres?
How is the EOC English I/II rubric different from the grade-level MAP rubrics?
Is this rubric the official version from Missouri DESE?
Where can I find the source documents?
Does EnlightenAI auto-score with these rubrics?
Score Missouri MAP writing in EnlightenAI
Train EnlightenAI on any of the five official MAP writing rubrics and start scoring student writing, with consistent per-trait feedback, in a single class period.