South Carolina's state writing assessment, rubric by rubric
SC READY (South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessments) is the state's annual summative assessment in English Language Arts and Mathematics for students in Grades 3 through 8. The ELA test includes a Text-Dependent Writing (TDW) item where students read one or more source texts and produce a written response in a specific mode.
Every SC READY TDW response is scored holistically across three domains, Structure, Development, and Language. Each domain is scored on a 1 to 4 scale, for a total of 12 possible points per rubric. The scoring rule is that scores within each domain are earned by demonstrating most of the descriptors within a score point, not all of them.
There are four TDW rubrics tied to the grade band and the mode of writing. Grades 3-4 produce a narrative (To Convey an Experience). Grades 5-6 produce an argument (To Persuade). Grades 7-8 produce both an informative response (To Inform) and an argument (To Persuade) depending on the prompt. Mode-specific descriptors call out distinctive features, dialogue at Grade 4, alternative perspectives at Grade 6, and counterclaim treatment at Grades 7 and 8.
The four South Carolina SC READY writing rubrics
Each SC READY TDW rubric scores responses holistically across three domains, Structure, Development, and Language, each on a 1 to 4 scale. The TDW prompt is text-dependent, meaning students read one or more source texts and produce a written response in a specific mode. Scores within each domain are earned by demonstrating most of the descriptors within a score point.
Students read a source text and produce a narrative that develops a real or imagined experience based on the text. Scored holistically across Structure (1 to 4), Development (1 to 4), and Language (1 to 4).
Students read source texts and produce an argument that supports a claim with text-based evidence. Grade 6 responses are also expected to acknowledge an alternative perspective. Scored across Structure, Development, and Language.
Students read source texts and produce an informative response that examines a topic and conveys ideas and information clearly. Scored holistically across Structure, Development, and Language.
Students read source texts and produce an argument with claims, reasons, evidence, and counterclaim treatment. Grade 7 acknowledges a counterclaim, Grade 8 acknowledges and refutes a counterclaim. Scored across Structure, Development, and Language.
How SC READY scores writing
Every SC READY TDW rubric scores responses holistically across three domains, each on a 1 to 4 scale. Structure captures the response's introduction, organization, transitions, and conclusion. Development captures how thoroughly the response builds out the topic, claim, or narrative with evidence, elaboration, and original thinking. Language captures vocabulary, sentence variety, and control of usage and conventions. The three scores combine for a total out of 12.
Scored 1 to 4. Covers the response's introduction (of a setting and characters in narrative, of a claim in argument, of a topic in informative), organizational structure, transitional words and phrases, and conclusion or concluding statement. Mode-specific features include logical plot structure (narrative) and effective relationships between claim, counterclaim, reasons, and evidence (argument).
Scored 1 to 4. Covers how thoroughly the response builds out the topic or claim using ideas, details, evidence, and elaboration from the text. Top scores require integration of original student thinking with summary, paraphrasing, and text evidence. Mode-specific features include dialogue (Grade 4 narrative), alternative perspectives (Grade 6 argument), and counterclaim treatment (Grades 7 and 8 argument).
Scored 1 to 4. Covers vocabulary and word choice, sentence variety, and errors in grammar usage and conventions. Top scores require precise language, varied sentence types, and very few or no errors. Tone and voice appear in the descriptor at higher score points and at higher grade bands.
Common questions about South Carolina SC READY writing
What is the SC READY writing rubric?
How many points is each SC READY TDW rubric worth?
What does "scored holistically by domain" mean on the SC READY rubric?
When does the SC READY rubric expect counterarguments?
Are these the official current rubrics from SCDE?
Where can I find the source documents?
Does EnlightenAI auto-score with these rubrics?
Score South Carolina SC READY writing in EnlightenAI
Train EnlightenAI on any of the four official SC READY TDW rubrics and start scoring student writing, with consistent per-domain feedback, in a single class period.