iRubric: Journalism Article Rubric

No examples of either Inverted Pyramid or Narrative Journalism style.

Articles are written subjectively.


Articles contain no sources.




Stories are based only on a topic. There is no face.


Articles do not address who, what, when, where, why, or how.

Examples of either Inverted Pyramid or Narrative Journalism style, but not both.

Some articles are written objectively, but some are subjective.

Articles contain some sources.




Some stories have a face.



Articles address who, what, when, where, why, and how, but not all of them.

Examples of both Inverted Pyramid and Narrative Journalism style.

Articles are written objectively.


Articles contain a main source, a secondary source, and an expert source, as needed.

Every story has a face.



Articles address who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Articles lack details.




Articles lack description.


Articles lack observations.

Articles contain details, but they are neither specific nor concrete.

Articles contain some description.


Articles provide observations, but they are not relevant.

Articles contain specific, concrete details.


Articles abound in description that involves all five senses.

Articles provide relevant observations.

Story face is never introduced.


Problem or conflict is not introduced.


Setting is never described.


Tone is not well established.

Story face is introduced, but not in the lead.

Problem or conflict is introduced, but not in the lead.

Setting is described, but not well or in the lead.

Tone is established, but it does not match the story's style.

Story face is introduced in the lead.

Problem or conflict is introduced in the lead.

Setting is well described in the lead.


A tone that matches the story's style is well established in the lead.