GENERAL RUBRIC FOR GRADING ESSAYS – RXRS-201
Evaluation Criteria
Element Evaluated
Excellent
5 points
Strong and specific
argument easily
identifiable
Argument or Thesis
Major points and research
reinforce the argument
throughout
Clear presentation of
critical thinking related to
Critical Thinking or
the issues, substance,
Analysis
points raised, and
arguments
Ideas are fully developed
Development of Ideas
Thought-provoking
Good Below Standards Failure
4-3 points 2 - 1 points 0 points
A solid argument Generalized or vague
No identifiable argument
identifiable argument not clear
Some points reinforce the
Most points reinforce the argument, but most Lack of cohesion and failure to express a
argument throughout statements fail to reinforce uniform idea
the argument
Shows some critical
Demonstrates critical
thinking, but overall
thinking well, but could
shallow analysis of topic – Fails to demonstrate critical thinking,
develop some points or
must delve deeper into shallow discussion of subject
explore others in further
subject or explore subject
detail
in depth
Most ideas are fully Ideas listed or briefly
Little or no development of ideas
developed explained
Information left out leaves Missing information causes gaps that
Some ideas are thoughtful
minor gaps between ideas prevent understanding
 GENERAL RUBRIC FOR GRADING ESSAYS – RXRS-201
Evaluation Criteria
Element Evaluated
Excellent Good Below Standards Failure
5 points 4-3 points 2 - 1 points 0 points

Flow of thoughts is logical Thoughts are mostly

Not always logical Not logical
and easy to follow logical and easy to follow

Ideas do not appear to be

Transitions are meaningful
Organization and Good use of transitions linked – need for Transitions absent or incorrectly used
and effective
Structure transitions

Overall structure is strong Overall structure is

and contributes to Overall structure is sound disjointed and distracts Random, no organization or structure
understanding of meaning from meaning

Strong command of Good command of Limited command of

Poor command of conventions
conventions conventions conventions

Errors do not cause the

Few if any grammatical Severe and / or frequent errors cause
Minor errors cause few writing to be unclear, but
Grammar and Academic errors, and those errors do writing to be unclear and difficult to
disruptions in meaning weaken the effectiveness of
Conventions not detract from meaning read
the communication

All research is properly

cited in-line within the text Research is properly cited Research is inconsistently
Research is not cited at all
and bibliography / works most of the time cited
cited