SGO CHECKLIST – GRADE 9
STUDENT’S NAME: ___________________________________
NJ Language Arts Common Core Standards:
RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9-10.5, RL.9-10.10, W.9-10.1, W.9-10.4, W.9-10.5, W.9-10.10; L.9-10.1; L.9-10.2, L.9-10.3, L.9-10.4
4
Distinguished
INTRODUCTION:
_____ Title of primary text included
_____ Title of primary text is correctly
formatted
_____ Author of primary text is included
_____ Thesis statement (located at the end of
the paragraph) responds to the essay prompt
_____ Thesis statement has three parts/prongs
that respond to the essay prompt
Student successfully
produces a wellfocused introductory
paragraph that presents
the primary text and
clearly addresses the
writing prompt.
BODY PARAGRAPH #1:
_____ Clearly worded topic sentence relates to
the thesis and responds to the essay prompt
_____ Quote from the primary text is
introduced
_____ Quote from the primary text
exists/supports thesis
_____ Quote from the primary text is fully
explained to connect to the thesis
BODY PARAGRAPH #2:
_____ Clearly worded topic sentence relates to
the thesis and responds to the essay prompt
_____ Quote from the primary text is
introduced
_____ Quote from the primary text
exists/supports thesis
_____ Quote from the primary text is fully
explained to connect to the thesis
BODY PARAGRAPH #3:
_____ Clearly worded topic sentence relates to
the thesis and responds to the essay prompt
_____ Quote from the primary text is
introduced
_____ Quote from the primary text
exists/supports thesis
_____ Quote from the primary text is fully
explained to connect to the thesis
CONCLUSION:
_____ Thesis that responds to essay prompt is
revisited
_____ Revisited thesis uses varied and clear
word choice
_____ Concluding paragraph presents further
points of examination
ENTIRE ESSAY:
_____ Arguments are clearly organized
_____ Comprehension is demonstrated
_____ NO praise/criticism of author or work
_____ NO major errors in
punctuation/capitalization
_____ NO major errors in grammar/usage
OUTSIDE OF DIRECT QUOTES:
_____ NO clichés
_____ NO first person (e.g. I, we, us)
_____ NO second person (e.g. you)
_____ NO use of “thing” words
_____ NO rhetorical questions
TOTAL:
/
24
0-1 Items Missing
3
Proficient
Student responds to the
writing prompt and/or
includes essential
information about the
primary text.
2
Basic
Student partially
fulfills requirements
related to the
introductory
paragraph.
1
Unsatisfactory
Student attempts to
write an introductory
paragraph. However, it
does not address the
writing prompt and
fails to include
essential information
regarding the primary
text.
2-3 Items Missing
4 Items Missing
5 Items Missing
Student successfully
addresses the writing
prompt, providing
relevant, telling,
textual evidence.
Specific details in the
paragraph serve to
substantiate the thesis
statement.
Student responds to the
writing prompt. Details in
the paragraph serve to
substantiate the thesis
statement.
Student partially
responds to the writing
prompt by attempting
to reference textual
evidence or
successfully including
a topic sentence.
Student attempts to
compose body
paragraph #1.
However, the topic
sentence and textual
evidence are absent or
insufficient.
0-1 Items Missing
Student successfully
addresses the writing
prompt, providing
relevant, telling,
textual evidence.
Specific details in the
paragraph serve to
substantiate the thesis
statement.
2 Items Missing
Student responds to the
writing prompt. Details in
the paragraph serve to
substantiate the thesis
statement.
3 Items Missing
Student partially
responds to the writing
prompt by attempting
to reference textual
evidence or
successfully including
a topic sentence.
4 Items Missing
Student attempts to
compose body
paragraph #2.
However, the topic
sentence and textual
evidence are absent or
insufficient.
0-1 Items Missing
Student successfully
addresses the writing
prompt, providing
relevant, telling,
textual evidence.
Specific details in the
paragraph serve to
substantiate the thesis
statement.
2 Items Missing
Student responds to the
writing prompt. Details in
the paragraph serve to
substantiate the thesis
statement.
3 Items Missing
Student partially
responds to the writing
prompt by attempting
to reference textual
evidence or
successfully including
a topic sentence.
4 Items Missing
Student attempts to
compose body
paragraph #3.
However, the topic
sentence and textual
evidence are absent or
insufficient.
3 Items Missing
4 Items Missing
Student composes a
strong and logical
conclusion, effectively
restating the argument.
Fresh language and
meaningful insight
leaves the reader
wanting more.
0-1 Items Missing
Student composes a
logical conclusion that
restates his/her main
argument. He/she shows
sophistication through
word choice and/or
higher level thinking.
Student revisits his/her
thesis statement or
presents further points
of examination.
Student attempts to
compose a conclusion.
However, it is illogical
or needs to be further
developed.
0 Items Missing
Student generally
follows conventions of
formal literary
analysis.
1 Item Missing
Student adequately
follows conventions of
formal literary analysis.
2 Items Missing
Student creates an
essay that is readable.
However, the essay
contains many errors
that go against formal
literary analysis
writing conventions.
3 Items Missing
Student attempts to
create an essay that is
readable. However, the
student fails to apply
most formal literary
analysis writing
conventions.
7-8 Items Missing
9-10 Items Missing
0-3 Items Missing
2 Items Missing
4-6 Items Missing
SCORE: