CRITERIA

Performance
Criteria and
Range of
Scores

0 1 3 4
Question
Focus and
Completion

The writer wrote
about the wrong
question and/or
the answer is not 2
paragraphs long.
The writer mentions the
prompt but DOES NOT
maintain a focus on
assigned question
throughout their answer
and/or did not address all
aspects of the question. The
answer is at least 2
paragraphs long.
The writer MAINTAINS A
FOCUS on the assigned
question for the majority of
their answer and addressed
all aspects of the question.
The answer is at least 2
paragraphs long.
The writer MAINTAINS A
CLEAR FOCUS on the
assigned question
throughout the ENTIRE
answer and addressed all
aspects of the question. The
answer is at least 2
paragraphs long.
Complexity
of Response


The essay does
NOT SHOW ANY
understanding of
the complexity of
the issues related
to the question by
not examining
different
perspectives, or
evaluating
implications or
complications of
the issue even
once in their
answer
Their answer SOMETIMES
shows understanding of the
complexity of the issues
related to question by
examining different
perspectives, or evaluating
implications or
complications of the issue,
at least 3-4 times in their
answer.
The essay shows
CONSISTENT
understanding of the
complexity of the issues
related to the question by
examining different
perspectives, or evaluating
implications or
complications of the issue
4-6 times in their answer.
The essay shows
CONSISTENT and
EXCEPTIONAL
understanding of the
complexity of the issues
related to the question by
examining different
perspectives, or evaluating
implications or
complications of the issue
more then 6 times in their
answer.
Use of
Evidence
and
Citations

The writer DOES
NOT use evidence
in their answer to
prove their point.
The essay SOMEWHAT
develops ideas by using
evidence and/or does not
correctly cite sources.

The answer develops ideas
by using evidence and
consistently cites sources in
AT LEAST 1 TIMES IN
EVERY paragraph of their
answer correctly.
The essay develops ideas by
using evidence and
consistently cites sources in
2 OR MORE TIMES IN
EVERY body paragraph of
their answer correctly.
Language
Convention
s
How well does
the writer use
proper spelling,
grammar and
language
structure?

More than 1/2 of
their answer
makes LITTLE TO
NO SENSE the way
it is currently
written.
Their answer DOES NOT
show effective use of
language by correctly
employing most
conventions of standard
English grammar, usage,
and mechanics, with
constant errors. These
errors impede
understanding.
Their answer shows
EFFECTIVE USE of language
by
-correctly employing most
conventions of standard
English grammar, usage,
and mechanics, with some
errors;
-using precise and varied
vocabulary;
-using some varied
sentence structure; and
-avoiding the first person.
Their answer shows
MASTERY of language by
-correctly employing most
conventions of standard
English grammar, usage,
and mechanics, with just a
few, if any, errors;
-using precise and varied
vocabulary;
-using a variety of sentence
structures to vary pace and
support meaning; and
-avoiding the first person.