Student Name:
CATEGORY
Introduction &
Thesis
(0-20 points)
Evidence &
Examples
(0-25 points)
Sequencing
(0-25 points)
Mechanics
(0-15 points)
Conclusion
(0-15 points)
Student Grade:
Above Standards
The introduction has a strong
and relevant attention
grabber; the thesis statement
states an interesting and
original arguable position
and details the main points
to be discussed.
All of the evidence and
examples are specific,
relevant and explanations
are given that show how
each piece of evidence
supports the author's
position; quotes are
effectively integrated.
Meets Standards
The introduction is relevant to
the topic; the thesis statement
states an arguable position,
but it is too obvious and/or it
does not clearly identify its
points of support.
Approaching Standards
The introduction's relevance
to the topic at hand is not
entirely clear; thesis
statement outlines some or
all of the points to be
discussed but does not state
an arguable position.
At least one of the pieces of
evidence is relevant and has
an explanation that shows
how that piece of evidence
supports the author's
position; quotes are "floating"
rather than integrated.
Below Standards
The introductory
paragraph is not
interesting AND/OR is not
relevant to the topic,
AND/OR lacks a thesis
statement.
Arguments and support are
provided in a logical order
that makes it easy and
interesting to follow the
author's train of thought.
Arguments and support are
provided in a fairly logical
order that makes it reasonably
easy to follow the author's
train of thought.
A few of the support details
or arguments are not in an
expected or logical order,
distracting the reader and
making the essay seem a
little confusing.
Author makes no errors in
grammar, spelling,
punctuation, or sentence
structure that distract the
reader from the content.
Author makes a few errors in
grammar, spelling,
punctuation, or sentence
structure that distract the
reader from the content.
Author makes several errors
in grammar, spelling,
punctuation, or sentence
structure that distract the
reader from the content.
Many of the support
details or arguments are
not in an expected or
logical order, distracting
the reader and making
the essay seem very
confusing.
Author makes more than
many errors in grammar,
spelling, punctuation, or
sentence structure that
distract the reader from
the content.
The conclusion is strong and
engaging and leaves the
reader solidly understanding
the significance of the
writer’s position.
The conclusion is
recognizable, and the writer
makes an attempt to bring
closure to his/her discussion
without merely summarizing.
The writer merely restates
his/her major points of
discussion and/or the
concluding paragraph is
underdeveloped.
Most of the evidence and
examples are specific,
relevant and explanations are
given that show how each
piece of evidence supports the
author's position; quotes are
integrated rather than
"floating".
Evidence and examples
are NOT relevant
AND/OR are not
explained, AND/OR are
insufficient to support or
develop points.
There is no conclusion –
the paper just ends
and/or goes off on a
tangent.
Score