A.

Rubric for the Essay (Individual Submission)

CRITERIA Exceeds Meets Needs Inadequate (10

Expectations Expectations Improvement points)
(25 points) (20 points) (15 points)
Structure/ • Paper is It has a clear There is some There is no
Organization logically organizational level of apparent
- Flow of organized structure with organization organization to
thought/ • Easily some though the paper. •
Transitions followed digressions, digressions, Difficult to follow
-free format • Effective, ambiguities, or ambiguities, • No or poor
smooth, and irrelevances irrelevances transitions
logical • Easily are too many •
transitions followed Difficult to
• Basic follow
transitions • Ineffective
transitions
Grammar • Manipulates Uses complex Uses Uses simple
sentence complex sentences compound sentences
structure sentences for • Few sentences *No punctuation
punctuation effect/impact punctuation • Too many
• correct punctuation
punctuation
Language • Vocabulary is Vocabulary is Vocabulary is Vocabulary is
Vocabulary sophisticated varied, specific used properly unsophisticated,
- use of and correct as and appropriate though not used
vocabulary are sentences Frequently sentences may properly in very
Tone which vary in uses subject be simple simple
structure and specific Infrequently sentences. Uses
length Uses vocabulary uses subject subject specific
and correctly specific vocabulary too
manipulates Writer’s tone vocabulary sparingly
subject emerges and is correctly
specific generally
vocabulary for appropriate to Writer’s tone
effect Writer’s audience. exhibits some
tone is clear, level of
consistent, and audience
appropriate for sensitivity
intended
audience
Content Central idea is Central idea The central Central idea and
Clarity of well and clarity of idea is clarity of purpose
purpose developed, purpose are expressed are absent or
Critical and and clarity of generally though it may incompletely
origin thought purpose is evident be vague or expressed and
Use of exhibited throughout the too broad; maintained
examples throughout the essay Some sense of Little or no
paper Evidence of purpose is evidence of
Abundance of critical, careful maintained critical, careful
evidence of thought and throughout the thought or
critical, careful analysis and/or enemy. analysis and/or
thought and insight Some insight
analysis and/or There are evidence of There are too
insight good, relevant critic careful few, no
Evidence and supporting thought and examples and
examples are examples and analysis and/or evidence or they
vivid and evidence insight are mostly
specific, while There are irrelevant
focus remains some
tight examples and
evidence,
through
general