The analytical scale for rating composition tasks (Brown & Bailey, 1984, pp.

39-41)
20-18 17-15 14-12 11-6 5-1
I. Organization: Appropriate title, Adequate title, Mediocre or scant Shaky or minimally Absence of
Introduction, effective introductory introduction, and introduction or recognizable introduction or
Body, and paragraph, topic is conclusion; body of conclusion; problems introduction; conclusion; no
Conclusion stated, leads to body; essay is acceptable, with the order of organization can apparent organization
transitional but some evidence ideas in body; the barely be seen; of body; severe lack
expressions used; may be lacking, some generalizations may severe problems with of supporting
arrangement of ideas aren’t fully not be fully ordering of ideas; evidence; writer has
material shows plan developed; sequence supported by the lack of supporting not made any effort
(could be outlined by is logical but evidence given; evidence; conclusion to organize the
reader); supporting transitional problems of weak or illogical; composition (could
evidence given for expressions may be organization interfere inadequate effort at not be outlined by
generalizations; absent or misused. organization reader)
conclusion logical
and complete

II. Logical Essay addresses the Essay addresses Development of ideas Ideas incomplete; Essay is completely
development assigned topic; the issues but misses not complete or essay essay does not reflect inadequate and does
of ideas; ideas are concrete some points; ideas is somewhat off the careful thinking or not reflect college-
Content and thoroughly could be more fully topic; paragraphs was hurriedly level work; no
developed; no developed; some aren’t divided exactly written; inadequate apparent effort to
extraneous material; extraneous material tight effort in area of consider the topic
essay reflects thought present content carefully
III. Grammar Native-like fluency in Advanced Ideas are getting Numerous serious Severe grammar
English grammar; proficiency in through to the reader, grammar problems problems interfere
correct use of relative English grammar; but grammar interferer with greatly with the
clauses, prepositions, some grammar problems are communication of message; reader can’t
modals, articles, verb problems don’t apparent and have a writer’s ideas; understand what the

1
 forms, and tense influence negative effect on grammar review of writer was trying to
sequencing; no communication, communication; run- some areas clearly say; unintelligible
fragments or run-on although the reader is on sentences or needed; difficult to sentence structure
sentences aware of them; no fragments present read sentences
fragments or run-on
sentences
IV. Punctuation, Correct use of Some problems with Uses general writing Serious problems Complete disregard
spelling, and English writing writing conventions conventions but has with format of paper; for English writing
mechanics conventions; left and or punctuation; errors; spelling parts of essay not conventions; paper
right margins all occasional spelling problems distract legible; errors in illegible; obvious
needed capitals, errors; left margin reader; punctuation sentence punctuation capitals missing; no
paragraphs indented correct; paper is neat errors interfere with and final punctuation; margins, severe
and spelling; very and legible ideas unacceptable to spelling problems
neat educated readers
V. Style and Precise vocabulary Attempts variety; Some vocabulary Poor expression of Inappropriate use of
quality of usage; use of parallel good vocabulary; not misused; lacks ideas; problems in vocabulary; no
expression structures; concise; wordy; register OK; awareness of registry; vocabulary; lacks concept of registry or
register good style fairly concise may be too wordy variety of structure sentence variety