Rubric for Argumentative Essay
Student’s Name:
Quality
FOCUS/ UNITY
Strongest: 5

Paper is focused and
doesn’t go off on
tangents

Makes a point
DEVELOPMENT/
INFORMATION




COHERENCE/
ORDER


DEPTH



AUDIENCE/VOICE





WORD CHOICE
PARAGRAPHS
Follows through on
thesis
The reader does not
get confused
Displays insight
Demonstrates
significant reflection &
awareness
Establishes significant
connection to wider
world
Character of writer is
consistently conveyed
Tone fits narrative
Anticipates & answers
readers’ questions
Engages readers’
interest
Active voice
Weakest: 1

Paper is not focused
and goes off on
tangents

Point uncertain

Character of writer
varies
Tone strays from
narrative
Leaves some
unanswered questions
Invites some interest
Moderate use of the
passive voice


Some imprecision
Some clichés
Some repetition of
words
Some verb tense or
sentence agreement
problems











Precise terms
Avoids clichés
Varied words
No verb tense or
sentence agreement
problems




Paragraphs have a
main idea and a topic
sentence
Paragraphs have
limited scope
Paragraphs have
examples
0-1 errors in grammar
per page
Varies sentence form
0-1 errors in spelling
per page
Clean, clear
Businesslike
APA/MLA format



SENTENCES

SPELLING


PRESENTATION
Includes rich
supporting details
Avoids redundancy
Addresses the best
arguments of the
opposition
Includes good quotes
from packet texts and
writer’s research
Adequate: 3

Paper is mostly
focused and does not
go off on tangents

Attempts to make a
point

Some supporting
details

Some repetition of
story components

Addresses some of
the best arguments of
the opposition

Includes some good
quotes from packet
texts and writer’s
research

Mainly follows through
on the thesis

The reader
occasionally gets
confused

Surface
understanding

Some reflection &
awareness

Some reference to
wider world









2 or 3 parts
2 errors per page
Repeats sentence
form
2 errors per page
Not APA/MLA format
Readable














Score
Few or irrelevant
supporting details
Redundancy
Addresses few or
none of the best
arguments of the
opposition
Includes some quotes
from packet texts and
writer’s research
Does not follow
through on the thesis
The reader is
generally confused
Minimal or no
reflection or insight
Limited connection
wider world
No character of writer
Few connections
between narrative and
tone.
Does not answer
readers' questions
Invites little reader
interest
Overuse of the
passive voice
Imprecise language
Many clichés
Much repetition of
words
Repetitive
Many verb tense and
sentence agreement
problems
0-1 of 3 parts


3+ errors per page
Boring sentence form

3+ errors per page


Unattractive
Unreadable
Total Points
Comments:
Percentage
Grade