| Category | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Your Score |
| Evidence of Daily Writing | Many entries are entirely absent from notebook | Some entries are missing from notebook | All entries are present, but some reflect partial, haphazard engagement | All entries are carefully constructed and presented in their entirety | 1 2 3 4 |
| Organization | Pages are out of order and/or physically detached from notebook | Pages are dated and easily navigable | Pages are dated, well-ordered, and titled accordingly | Journal is navigable according to subject, topic, title, and date so thoroughly that no clarification by the author is necessary. | 1 2 3 4 |
| Presentation | Illegible or messy | Legibly written and presented | Clear, uncluttered, and attractive | Evidence of pride and care for the journal’s daily use and its potential to springboard future writing ideas | 1 2 3 4 |
| Topical Relevance | Entries have no relation to subject of focus | Entries are related to subject of focus and include extraneous, unrelated content | Entries are related to subject of focus, and include supporting or related content | Entries display full, in-depth engagement with relevant topics and draw personal connections | 1 2 3 4 |