Excellent
Research
Assignment

30%



Content &
Thesis
30%
Organization


25%


Introduction
effectively
forecasts paper.
Essay provides
clear analysis and
doesn’t stray into
lengthy summary.
Text to be
analyzed is
introduced and
cited sufficiently.
Thesis statement is
complex,
engaging, and
concisely written.
Controlling idea is
fully developed
throughout the
essay with
concrete and vivid
detail.
Essay is ordered in
necessary steps
revealing a sense
of symmetry and
emphasis.
Paragraphs are
unified& coherent.
Transitions reveal
the progress of the
argument.
Writing 102: Literary/Interpretive Analysis Rubric
Good
Adequate
Poor
Failing

Essay meets
most of the
major
requirements
of the
assignment.

Essay meets
some of the
major
requirements
of the
assignment.

Essay is
missing key
elements of the
assignment.

Essay doesn’t fulfill a
minimum amount of
requirements of the
assignment.

Thesis
statement is
clear and
insightful.
Controlling
idea is
developed
with
consistent
detail.
Essay
ordered in
necessary
steps.
Paragraphs
are unified &
coherent.
Transitions
aid the
reader.

Thesis
statement is
clear.
Controlling
idea is
apparent and
supported
with relevant
detail.

Thesis
statement is too
general, vague,
or confused.
Controlling
idea is not
supported with
specific details.

There is no discernible idea
controlling random details.
Order of essay
is apparent.
Paragraphs
are unified
and for the
most part
coherent.
Transitions
are functional.

Order of essay
is ineffective.
Paragraphs are
jumbled or
underdevelope
d.
Transitions are
unclear,
mechanical, or
tedious.

Order and emphasis of essay
indiscernible.
Paragraphing is lacking or
wholly arbitrary.
Essay lacks transitions.













Expression
Mechanics &
Usage
15%





Sentences are
varied and
forceful.
Diction is fresh,
precise, and
idiomatic.
Tone
complements the
subject,
distinguishes the
writer, and defines
the audience.
Essay is written in
accordance with
standard usage.
Essay has clearly
been proofread.




Sentences are
correct and
varied.
Diction is
clear and
idiomatic.
Tone fits the
subject,
persona and
audience.
There are no
serious
deviations
from
standard
usage.




Sentences are
correct but
ordinary.
Diction is
generally
correct and
idiomatic.
Tone is
acceptable for
the subject.
There are few
deviations
from standard
usage,
punctuation
and spelling.




Sentences are
immature or
tediously
patterned.
Diction is
vague or not
idiomatic.
Tone is
inconsistent.
Essay
demonstrates
difficulty with
fragments or
comma splices,
agreement or
other
distracting
features in
usage,
punctuation or
spelling.




Sentences are incoherent;
Diction is nonstandard.
Tone is indiscernible.
Essay demonstrates serious
problems with fragments,
comma splices, or other
distracting features in usage,
punctuation and spelling.