Freshman Rubric

Inadequate Command Score: 1 Limited Command 2 Partial Command 3 Adequate Command 4 Strong Command Superior Command 5 Opening and closing 6 Opening and closing

Generally has May lack opening May lack opening May lack opening opening and/or and/ or closing and/ or closing and/ or closing closing

Content and Organization

Develops no ideas on the issue and provides little or no evidence to support its position

develops an idea on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, demonstrating weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position

Develops an idea on the issue, And demonstrates some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other evidence to support its position

effectively develops ideas on develops idea on the issue and the issue and demonstrates demonstrates strong critical competent critical thinking, thinking, generally using using appropriate adequate examples, examples, reasons, reasons, and other evidence to support its and other position evidence to support its position

effectively and insightfully develops ideas on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other evidence to support its position

Note: Support and Evidence Provided

Displays very little facility in the use of language, using very limited vocabulary or incorrect word choice Demonstrates frequent problems in sentence structure Displays developing facility in the use of language, but sometimes uses weak vocabulary or inappropriate word choice Lacks variety or demonstrates problems in sentence structure Exhibits adequate but inconsistent facility in the use of language, using generally appropriate vocabulary Demonstrates some variety in sentence structure
No consistent pattern of errors Mechanics Errors so severe they detract from meaning Numerous serious Patterns of errors errors evident Few errors Some errors that do not interfere with meaning Very few, if any, errors

Usage

Displays fundamental errors in vocabulary

Exhibits facility in the use of language, using appropriate vocabulary

Exhibits skillful use of language, using a varied, accurate, and apt vocabulary

Sentence Construction

Demonstrates severe flaws in sentence structure

Demonstrates Demonstrates variety in meaningful variety sentence structure in sentence structure