301 Editorial Rubric,

By Leslie Bruce

SLO

Absent or Below Basic

Developing

Audience's needs are often not

recognized: terms and ideas
need explanation and
language needs adjustment
for the audience. Purpose (to
argue a position persuasively)
isn't clear or achieved.

Shows some attention to

audience's needs, sometimes
defining necessary terms and
ideas and using audienceappropriate language. Purpose
(to argue a position
persuasively) may be unclear
at times, and it may not be
achieved convincingly.

Usually shows attention to

audience's needs, defining
necessary terms and ideas and
using audience-appropriate
language. Purpose (to argue a
position persuasively) may be
implied, but it's clear and
achieved.

Shows sophisticated attention to

audience's needs, defining
necessary terms and ideas and
using audience-appropriate
language. Purpose (to argue a
position persuasively) is clear and
achieved with style.

Omits or uses incorrectly MLAor APA-style parenthetical

citations, quotation marks,
and works cited list. Drops
quotations and ideas into text
without introducing source.
Frequently uses irrelevant or
unpersuasive sources or relies
exclusively on one source.

A few errors in MLA- or APAstyle parenthetical citations,

quotation marks, and works
cited list. Often includes
sources without introduction in
cases when introduction is
necessary. Sometimes relies
too heavily on a single source
or uses irrelevant or
unpersuasive sources.

Correctly uses MLA- or APA-style

parenthetical citations, quotation
marks, and works cited list.
Usually introduces each source
fully (as necessary)reader knows
who did the research or
communicating, for whom, and
why. Use of sources is usually
diverse, relevant and persuasive.

Correctly uses MLA- or APA-style

parenthetical citations, quotation
marks, and works cited list.
Introduces each source fully (as
necessary)reader knows who did
the research or communicating,
for whom, and why. Use of
sources is always diverse, relevant
and persuasive.

Write for a specific

audience and purpose.

Find, evaluate, select,

synthesize, organize,
ethically cite, and
present information from
a variety of sources
appropriate to their
disciplines.

Proficient

Advanced

Compare, contrast, and

synthesize carefully and
objectively the relative
merits of alternative or
opposing arguments,
assumptions, and
cultural values.

Fails to support claims with

relevant reasoning and/or
specific evidence. Objectivity
and a controlling idea may be
lacking.

Organizational devices
(controlling idea, headings,
subheadings, topic sentences,
transitions) may be absent,
unrelated to the prompt, or
illogically connected. Ps
contain multiple topics or are
Organize ones thoughts disorganized.
and communicate them
4 clearly and persuasively
to address a rhetorical
situation.

Spelling, syntax, diction, or

punctuation errors impede
readability. Lanuage may
reflect a gender or cultural
bias. Design may be
unconventional and
ineffective.
Recognize, evaluate, and
employ the features and
contexts of language
and design that express
5
and influence meaning
and that demonstrate
sensitivity to gender and
cultural differences.

Attempts to support claims with

reasoning and evidence, but
specificity and/or objectivity
may be lacking. A controlling
idea may be missing or implied.

Usually supports the controlling

idea and paragraph claims with
relevant, thorough, and insightful
reasoning and specific evidence.
Usually maintains objectivity.

Supports the controlling idea and

paragraph claims with relevant,
thorough, and insightful reasoning
and specific evidence. Maintains
objectivity.

Organizational devices
(controlling idea, headings,
subheadings, topic sentences,
transitions) fit the prompt, but
may be vague, too broad, or
inconsistenly or illogically
linked. Ps may not be unified.

Clear organizational devices

(controlling idea, headings,
subheadings, topic sentences,
transitions) fit the prompt and tie
ideas and topics together
adequately. Ps are usually unified.

Clear, specific organizational

devices (thesis, topic sentences,
headings, transitions) fit the
prompt and tie ideas and topics
together logically and seamlessly.
Paragraphs are unified.

Spelling, syntax, diction, or

punctuation errors often
impede readability or otherwise
distract from meaning.
Lanuage may occasionally
suggest a gender or cultural
bias. Design may be
inconventional or ineffective.

Spelling, syntax, diction, or

Outstanding control of language,
punctuation errors are few and do including effective diction and
not distract from meaning.
sentence variety. Lanuage
Lanuage respects gender and
respects gender and cultural
cultural differences. Design is
differences. Design is
conventional and effective.
conventional and effective.