GRADING
RUBRIC FOR ESSAYS
Written communication (50 points)
- Organization
- Inadequate (10 points): There
appears to be no organization of the essay’s contents.
- Needs Improvement (15
points): Organization of the essay is difficult to follow, due
to inadequate transitions and/or rambling format.
- Adequate (20 points): The
essay can be easily followed. A combination of the following
is apparent: Basic transitions are used; a structured format
is used.
- Professional quality (25
points): The essay can be easily followed. A
combination of the following is apparent: Effective
transitions are used; a professional format is used.
- Mechanics and grammar
- Inadequate (10 points): Sentences
and paragraphs are difficult to read and understand due to poor grammar
or mechanics
- Needs improvement (15
points): The essay contains numerous grammatical and
mechanical errors.
- Adequate (20 points): The
essay contains minimal grammatical or mechanical errors.
- Professional quality (25
points): The essay is clear and concise and contains no
grammatical or mechanical errors.
Content (50 points)
- Correctness of facts
- Inadequate (10 points): Most
facts are wrong.
- Needs improvement (15
points): Some facts are wrong.
- Adequate (20 points): Technical
details are generally correct.
- Professional quality (25 points): All
facts are correct, and the technical explanation is both concise and
complete.
- Completeness
- Inadequate (10 points): Did
not address some of the questions.
- Needs improvement (15
points): Addressed the questions, but provided few details.
- Adequate (20 points): Address
the questions, but left out some details.
- Professional quality (25
points): Addressed all questions completely.
ESSAY RUBRIC
PERSUASIVE ESSAY WRITING GUIDE
|
COMPONENT
|
6
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
|
Focus
|
Takes a clear
position and
supports it
consistently with
well-chosen
reasons and/or
examples; may use
persuasive strategy
to convey an
argument.
|
Takes a clear
position and
supports it with
relevant reasons
and/or examples
through much of
the essay.
|
Takes a clear
position and
supports it with
some relevant
reasons and/or
examples; there is
some development
of the essay.
|
Takes a position
and provides
uneven support;
may lack
development in
parts or be
repetitive OR essay
is no more than a
well-written
beginning.
|
Takes a position,
but essay is
underdeveloped.
|
Attempts to take a
position (addresses
topic), but position
is very unclear OR
takes a position,
but provides
minimal or no
support; may only
paraphrase the
prompt.
|
|
Organization
|
Is focused and well
organized, with
effective use of
transitions.
|
Is well organized,
but may lack some
transitions.
|
Is generally
organized, but has
few or no
transitions among
sections.
|
Is organized in
parts of the essay;
other parts are
disjointed and/or
lack transitions.
|
Is disorganized or
unfocused in much
of the essay OR is
clear, but too brief.
|
Exhibits little or no
apparent
organization.
|
|
Sentence Fluency and Word Choice
|
Consistently
exhibits variety in
sentence structure
and word choice.
|
Exhibits some
variety in sentence
structure and uses
good word choice;
occasionally, words
may be used
inaccurately.
|
Most sentences are
well constructed
but have similar
structure; word
choice lacks variety
or flair.
|
Sentence structure
may be simple and
unvaried; word
choice is mostly
accurate.
|
Sentences lack
formal structure;
word choice may
often be
inaccurate.
|
Sentences run-on
and appear
incomplete or
rambling; word
choice may be
inaccurate in much
or the entire essay.
|
|
Conventions
|
Errors in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation are
few and do not
interfere with
understanding.
|
Errors in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation do not
interfere with
understanding.
|
More frequent
errors in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation, but
they do not
interfere with
understanding.
|
Errors in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation
sometimes
interfere with
understanding.
|
Errors in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation
interfere with
understanding in
much of the essay.
|
Errors in grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation
prevent reader
from fully
understanding
essay.
|
