Essay Rubric
Directions: Write an essay describing a place that special or well-known to you. Use figurative language, sensory
details, and appropriate vocabulary to set the tone and reveal to your audience the way you feel about the place.
Use the following rubric to self-assess as you write. Your teacher will use this rubric to grade your essay.
A 90-100
Introductory Paragraph
 Hook
 Claim
Two or Three Body Paragraphs
 Topic sentence
 Evidence
 Details
 Transitions
Conclusion Paragraph
 Restate the claim
 Application to the
future
Sensory details – At least one
specific detail for four out of the
five senses in each of the body
paragraphs.
B 80-89
One element from
first column missing.
C 70-79
Two elements
from first
column missing.
D 60-69
Three elements
from first
column missing.
F 0-59
No
attempt
Sensory details – At
least one specific
detail for three out of
the five senses in
each of the body
paragraphs.
Sensory details –
At least one
specific detail for
two out of the
five senses in
each of the body
paragraphs.
No
attempt
Language
Figurative Language – At least
three different types of
figurative language throughout
the essay and three examples of
figurative language in each body
paragraph.
Figurative Language
– At least two
different types of
figurative language
throughout the essay
and two examples of
figurative language in
each body
paragraph.
Conventions
Few or no errors in spelling,
capitalization, punctuation, and
grammar.
Some errors in
spelling,
capitalization,
punctuation, and
grammar, but still
able to comprehend.
Figurative
Language – At
least one type of
figurative
language
throughout the
essay and one
example of
figurative
language in each
body paragraph.
Many errors in
spelling,
capitalization,
punctuation, and
grammar, but
still
understandable.
Sensory details
– At least one
specific detail
for one out of
the five senses
in each of the
body
paragraphs.
No
attempt
Errors make
comprehension
very difficult or
impossible.
No
attempt
Organization
Details
No
attempt