NCO Leadership Center of Excellence and U. S. Army Sergeants Major Academy

BASIC LEADER COURSE

Form 1009W (SPECIAL) Writing Assessment STUDENT’S NAME:

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: Informative Essay DATE:

FACILITATOR’S NAME:

RATING: 5-ADVANCED 4-PROFICIENT 3-COMPETENT 2-DEVELOPING 1-LEARNING 0-NONPERFORMER

RANGE:

EARNED:

REQUIRED WRITING STANDARDS

PURPOSE: The specific reason explaining why the document, correspondence, or report is necessary.

ANALYSIS: Breaking down a situation, concept, or argument into its individual parts to examine how they relate to

one another.

SYNTAX: Clear sentence structure using all parts of speech, especially the use of active voice constructions

instead of passive voice.

CONCISION: The ability to infuse the greatest amount of information into the least amount of words.

ACCURACY: Using flawless spelling, punctuation, grammar, and mechanics. Also, fairly representing credible

sources (citations) using course requirements.

WRITING ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION:

Facilitator’s Comments:

Facilitator’s Signature:

Student’s Comments:

Student’s Signature:

Writing Standards – Assignment Scoring Sheet

Required U.S. Army Standards and Techniques 5 4 3 2 1 0

Advanced Proficient Competent Developing Learning Nonperformer

Purpose: The specific reason explaining why the document,

correspondence, or report is necessary.

Analysis: Breaking down a situation, concept, or argument into its

individual parts to examine how they relate to one another.

Syntax: Clear sentence structure using all parts of speech, especially

the use of active voice constructions instead of passive voice.

Concision: The ability to infuse the greatest amount of information

into the least amount of words.

Accuracy: 1) Using flawless spelling, punctuation, grammar, and

mechanics; 2) fairly representing credible sources using course

requirements.

Total:

Average:

Facilitator Comments:

If similarity reports indicate 50 percent or more, the facilitator will review the assessment for possible plagiarism.

1 Frontloading prioritizes information based on importance. For Army writing, the main point should appear as close to the front as conventions allow. Bottom Line up Front (BLUF) 2 Developing writers typically draw conclusions near the end of a section, paragraph, bullet point, or list. Learning writers tend to reach the main point in the middle of the document. 3 Analysis values based on AR 25-50 correspondence requirements; values may need adjusting for assignment specifics (content) 4 The logical times to use passive voice are when the subject (doer) is unknown, the receiver of action takes priority, or when using a commonly passive phrase (e.g. “I was