Rubric for the assessment of argumentative essays

CONTENT & LANGUAGE USAGE STRUCTURE & COMMUNICATIVE

ARGUMENTATION & STYLE ORGANISATION ACHIEVEMENT
Well-developed essay Uses a range of Essay is well- The essay format is used
with clear and vocabulary and organised, coherent effectively to hold the
convincing arguments. grammatical whole. reader’s attention with
structures effectively. ease and covey complex
All content is relevant Intro. (which includes ideas.
to the task. Uses a range of a thesis statement)
3
cohesive devices and and con. (without Good explanation and
Target reader is fully organisational patterns new elements) are justification.
informed. (conjunctions) clear.

Writer is focused on Style is academic and All 3 body par. are

reader. language is (nearly) relevant (2 pros + a
perfect. con + a refutation)
Little depth. There are some There is an Sufficient explanation
connectives and introduction and a and justification.
Minor irrelevances. transitional signals. conclusion, but these
fail to indicate the Communicates
Some arguments are There are some content/argument of straightforward ideas.
vague. mistakes in language, the essay.
2
but these do not Fulfils communicative
Target reader is, on impede Thesis statement is purpose(s).
the whole, informed. understanding. unclear, not concise
or missing.
Overall adequate in
expressing ideas Refutation paragraph
clearly. is missing and/or
vague.
Vague content. Language usage Intro and con. Carries out the task with
impedes unclear, almost no focus on the target
Superficial arguments. understanding. irrelevant. Essay has reader.
no clear direction.
Essay is rather A lot of language Poor communication of
descriptive. mistakes (15-20). arguments.
1 Refutation missing.
Style is informal.
Some paragraphs do
not contribute to the
There are no, or very argument.
few, connectives.
Content is totally The use of language Structure greatly Communicative
irrelevant, redundant, greatly impedes impedes performance below
or off-topic. understanding. understanding. level.

0 No counter-argument More than 20 Paragraphing is poor.

or refutation. language mistakes.

Target reader is not

informed.

Conversion table argumentative essay VWO (0,6)

Aantal punten Cijfer

0 1,0

1 1,4

2 2,1

3 2,9

4 3,6

5 4,4

6 5,1

7 5,9

8 6,6

9 7,4

10 8,1

11 8,9

12 10,0