Persuasive Essay : Position Paper
Teacher Name: N Sledge
Student Name:
________________________________________
243Approaching Sta 1 CATEGORY Above Standards Meets Standards ndards
Below Standards Score
The introductory
The author has an The introductory
The introductory
Attention
paragraph has a
interesting
paragraph has a
paragraph is not
Grabber
hook or attention
introductory
strong hook or
interesting AND is
grabber, but it is
paragraph but the not relevant to the
attention grabber
that is appropriate weak, rambling or connection to the topic.
inappropriate for
topic is not clear.
for the audience.
the audience.
This could be a
strong statement, a
relevant quotation,
statistic, or question
addressed to the
reader.
The thesis
The thesis
The thesis
The thesis
Focus or
statement clearly
statement names statement outlines statement does not
Thesis
names the topic of the topic of the
some or all of the name the topic
Statement
the essay and
essay. The author's main points to be AND does not
outlines the main
position is stated
discussed but does preview what will
points to be
not name the topic. be discussed.
discussed. The
author's position is
strongly and clearly
stated.
Support for Includes 3 or more Includes 3 or more Includes 2 pieces of Includes 1 or fewer
pieces of evidence pieces of evidence evidence (facts,
pieces of evidence
Position
(facts, statistics,
(facts, statistics,
statistics,
(facts, statistics,
examples, real-life examples, real-life examples, real-life examples, real-life
experiences) that
experiences) that experiences) that experiences).
support the position support the position support the position
statement. The
statement.
statement.
writer anticipates the
reader's concerns,
biases or arguments
and has provided at
least 1 counterargument.
At least one of the Evidence and
Evidence and All of the evidence Most of the
and examples are evidence and
pieces of evidence examples are NOT
Examples
specific, relevant
examples are
and examples is
relevant AND/OR
and explanations
specific, relevant
relevant and has an are not explained.
are given that show and explanations explanation that
how each piece of are given that show shows how that
evidence supports how each piece of piece of evidence
the author's position. evidence supports supports the
the author's
author's position.
position.
Sequencing
Arguments and
Arguments and
support are provided support are
in a logical order
provided in a fairly
that makes it easy logical order that
and interesting to
makes it
follow the author's reasonably easy to
train of thought.
follow the author's
train of thought.
Writing
Mechanics
Piece is clearly
written with no
grammar, spelling,
punctuation, or
capitalization errors.
Author paid
attention to writing
conventions; Minor
errors do not
distract from
meaning.
Closing
Paragraph
The conclusion is
strong and leaves
the reader solidly
understanding the
writer's position.
Effective
restatement of the
position statement
begins the closing
paragraph and is
followed by an
effective summary
of the essay body.
The conclusion is
recognizable. The
author's position is
restated within the
first two sentences
of the closing
paragraph and is
followed by a
summary of the
essay body.
Overall Score:________
Comments:
A few of the
Many of the support
support details or details or
arguments are not arguments are not
in an expected or in an expected or
logical order,
logical order,
distracting the
distracting the
reader and making reader and making
the essay seem a the essay seem
little confusing.
very confusing.
Errors may be
Errors make it
present and may
difficult to read
slightly take away and/or understand
from the clarity; yet, the paper.
the writer’s
meaning can be
determined.
The author's
There is no
position is restated conclusion - the
within the closing paper just ends.
paragraph, but not
near the beginning.
The essay body is
not summarized.