Writing Workshop 1 Rubric

Scoring Exemplary (25 points) Proficient (20 points) Emerging (18.75 points) Incomplete (16.25
Criteria points)

Ideas The essay The essay The essay The essay

● asserts an original ● presents a clear ● presents a limited ● lacks a clear claim
focus on an idea or focus on an idea or and/or unfocused or focus
concept to be concept for concept or central ● ideas are not
developed development that idea developed or
● Develops specific reflects depth of ● presents vague or supported with
ideas skillfully and thought incomplete ideas with relevant or
fully using examples, ● develops ideas few examples, details, clarifying
specific details, and/ clearly and/or evidence and examples, details,
or evidence and ● using examples, commentary and/or evidence
commentary specific details,
and/or evidence
and commentary

Structure The essay The essay The essay The essay

● leads with a ● presents a clear ● contains an ● contains a
convincing and and focused underdeveloped minimal or
engaging introduction introduction and/or unfocused incomplete
● logically organizes ● orders evidence in introduction introduction
and effectively a way that supports ● does not present ● uses a confusing
sequences ideas understanding ideas in a logical or indiscernible
appropriate to ● provides a order organization
purpose, audience, conclusion that ● contains an ● provides minimal
topic, and context connects the larger underdeveloped or concluding
● provides a thoughtful ideas presented unfocused conclusion material or none
conclusion that and is appropriate that does not address at all so audience
extends thinking to purpose, purpose, audience, and purpose are
audience, topic, and topic, and context inadequately
context addressed

Transitions ● develops coherence ● uses transitions to ● makes limited use of ● lacks coherence
through meaningful develop coherence transitional devices so and uses few or
transitional devices to coherence is not fully no meaningful
guide understanding developed transitions
of the relationship
among ideas

Use of The essay The essay The essay The essay

Language ● uses a variety of ● uses a variety of ● shows little or no ● shows no variety
sentence structures sentence structures variety in sentence in sentence
for effectiveness for effectiveness structure structure
● uses diction and ● uses diction and ● uses inappropriate ● uses little or no
syntax that is syntax that is diction for the topic, purposeful diction
deliberately chosen appropriate to the audience, and or syntax
for the topic, topic, audience, and purpose ● does not use
audience, and purpose ● uses few or no rhetorical devices
purpose ● incorporates rhetorical devices in ● demonstrates
● incorporates rhetorical devices the text poor command of
rhetorical devices effectively ● demonstrates limited standard English
skillfully to advance ● demonstrates command of standard conventions;
ideas presented general command English conventions; multiple, serious
● demonstrates of standard English errors interfere with errors interfere
technical command of conventions; minor meaning with meaning
conventions of errors do not
standard English interfere with
meaning