Space Article Success Criteria Checklist

Learning Goal: I can write a scientific, non-fiction article about a topic related to space.

Structure

Introduction:

☐ I presented/introduced my topic overall

☐ I gave general information/background information that introduces my reader to the topic and shows why my topic is important/interesting

☐ I grabbed the reader’s attention with a hook (question or interesting fact)

Body of Text:

☐ I followed the following text structure: _________________________

☐ I organized my ideas into logical and related categories (e.g. physical characteristics)

☐ I gave detailed information/description for each category

☐ I used text features to help readers understand my information

End/Final Thought - I have done at least ONE of the following:

☐ I leave the reader with a final thought/ fact about my topic that I want them to remember

☐ I refer to the main purpose/idea of my text (e.g. “We have discovered a lot of interesting facts about Mars, but there is still much to learn”)

☐ I leave the reader with a question to think about

Text Features - I included ALL of the following:

☐ Title: eye catching, bigger text ☐ Author’s Name: “By: first name & last name” ☐ Headings: related to text section ☐ Captions: help understand the photo ☐ Photographs/Illustrations: help understand the info

☐ Bold Print: important/new vocab for reader ☐ Italics: emphasize information ☐ Fact Box: interesting facts, not in a paragraph ☐ Bullet Points: can be in text or in fact box ☐ Footnotes with definitions: mini glossary

I included other text features that support my specific text structure & topic, and help my reader understand the information better:

☐ Timeline

☐ Graph

☐ Table

☐ Chart

☐ Labels

☐ Map

☐ Diagram

Key Words

☐ I used key words/cue words that help the reader determine what text structure I used

(e.g. as a result, because of àcause/effect. on the other hand, both, while à compare/contrast)

Content

☐ I stayed on topic in my whole text and in each paragraph/section

☐ I included enough information/explanations for someone who does not know my topic to be able to understand it

☐ ALL my information is written in my OWN words – I did NOT copy and paste information or rewrite sentences exactly the way I found them because I know that my teachers can tell if it’s not my writing style. Copying is plagiarism.

☐ I translated my article myself, using a dictionary for separate words or google for short phrases. I did NOT use google translate to translate entire sentences/paragraphs because I know it will sound strange to my reader.

Vocabulary

☐ I used scientific vocabulary related to my topic

☐ I only used words that I understand and can explain (I looked up the definition of words that were new to me and only used them in my writing if I understood their meaning)

☐ I gave the definitions of new words my reader might not know (bolded and in footnotes)

Writing Fluency

☐ I read my writing OUT LOUD to edit/check for each criteria separately

☐ I have no homophone mistakes – I checked in a dictionary to make sure that I used the correct spelling to match my intended meaning

☐ I used proper punctuation and a variety of punctuation (periods, commas, semicolons, hyphens/dashes, colons, exclamation points, question marks, apostrophes)

☐  I used transition words/phrases between sentences and between paragraphs

☐ I fixed run-on sentences by creating two separate sentences or using a comma and a conjunction word (FANBOYS) or a semicolon. I did NOT combine ideas with a comma only.

☐  I also used the attached editing checklist to edit my work

Publishing/Media Literacy

☐ I chose a background image/colour that relates to my topic but still allows the reader to see the text clearly

☐ I used different fonts (type, colour, size) for different text features

☐ My main text font is either black on a light background or white on a dark background

☐ My images are relevant and chosen for a reason

☐ My text is easy to follow – the reader knows what to read first

Bibliography

☐ I included a list of my sources that include book titles and websites where I got my info