A (8/9) Direct connection to question-how the author/poet conveys meaning; excellent or interesting thesis supported throughout essay; extensive details; mature vocabulary; critical analysis of author’s/poet’s style (syntax, diction); critical analysis of literary devices; critical analysis of work’s tone; mastery of writing skills-coherent expression of ideas; creative syntax in response; grammatically perfect opening paragraph.
B (6/7) Connection to question- how the author/poet conveys meaning; some details from poem; predictable or average thesis statement supported throughout essay; good vocabulary; some analysis of author’s/poet’s style (syntax, diction); some analysis of literary devices; some analysis of work’s tone; varied syntax in response; reasonable flow of ideas - competence in writing skills; minimal errors in grammar and punctuation (spelling, commas)
C (5) Some connection to question- how the author/poet conveys meaning; few details; weak or unsupported thesis statement; moderately good vocabulary; little analysis of author’s/poet’s style (syntax, diction); little analysis of literary devices; little analysis of work’s tone; awkward phrases, repeated transitions, redundant statement; incomplete sentences or ideas, unsupported positions; some repeated syntax in response; minor incorrect information; some mistakes in grammar and punctuation (preposition misuse, pronoun confusion, possessives, overuse of “it”).
D (3/4) Occasional connection to question- how the author/poet conveys meaning; thesis flawed or unsupported in essay; limited or no details; average vocabulary; limited or no analysis of author’s/poet’s style (syntax, diction); limited analysis of literary devices; limited or no analysis of work’s tone; no coherent flow of ideas; inclusion of incidental information that is off topic; repeated awkward phrases, redundancies; few transitions, incomplete sentences or ideas; incorrect information; no variation in syntax in response; some mistakes in grammar and punctuation (verb tense, incomplete sentences).
NP (1/2) No connection to question; no thesis; no analysis of author’s/poet’s style; no analysis of literary devices; no analysis of work’s tone; substantial errors in writing
(grammar and punctuation) that obscure meaning; disjointed flow of information; relying on incidental information that is off topic; major incorrect interpretation; illegible handwriting.