TOPIC
SENTENCE
PARAGRAPH
STRUCTURE
EVIDENCE
SELECTION
ANALYSIS OF
EVIDENCE
6
5
clear and insightful
clear and
analysis demonstrates
analytical
an understanding of
introduces
text connects to entire
entire paragraph
paragraph
clearly follows basic clearly follows
structure
basic structure
smooth connections & clear, logical
transitions between
connections
each sentence
between each
sentence clear
thoughtful position position
4
3
introduces with plot rather
mostly clear and analytical than analysis
less clearly connected to rest unfocused and/or unclear
of paragraph
may not connect to the rest
of paragraph
clearly follows basic
structure: topic sentence,
lead in/context, evidence,
increasingly complex
analysis, takes a position
2
1
attempted but unclear
and not analytical
does not connect to the
rest of paragraph
lacking topic
sentence
follows basic structure, but
missing a fundamental
awkward
element of structure
connections/transitions
difficult to follow
missing lead in or position
confusing structure
hinders
understanding
missing more than
one element of
basic structure
no textual evidence
or lists evidence
without analysis
strong evidence
choices that clearly
support topic sentence
all language in the
quotation is analyzed
(no superfluous
sections)
mostly strong some good, some weak
evidence choices evidence choices
that support
some evidence may be
topic most
unnecessary or unrelated
language in
superfluous language in
quotation is
quotation (quotes more
analyzed
words than are analyzed)
insufficient evidence to
support topic sentence
evidence included but
OR evidence chosen to
provides little insight or
retell plot rather than to
support of topic sentence
analyze text unclear or
too much (or not enough)
misleading connection
text included in quotations
between evidence and
topic sentence
careful reading and
perception of text's
nuances sensitivity to
language, diction,
literary devices
strongly argues for
assertion in topic
sentence independent
synthesis of ideas as
well as original
analysis
clearly tied to topic
sentence
some careful
close reading
examines
some close reading
language,
recognizes literary devices
diction, imagery, more paraphrase than
& other literary analysis may contain one
devices
misreading clear
understanding and
argumentation but less
some
thoughtful/original than 5 or
paraphrasing
6 forced connection to topic
analysis
sentence or tacked on
illustrates
connection to
topic sentence
summarizes or
engages (superficially)
summarizes plot
paraphrases rather than
with text
without analysis/
analyzes/interprets
lets evidence speak for
interpretation
evidence undeveloped
itself rather than illustrating
personal opinion
ideas analysis may mix
how it supports argument
rather than analysis
with evaluation
recognizes aspects of basic
questionable
literary techniques
comprehension of
superficial
the text
comprehension of the text
unconnected to
more than one misreading
analysis is weakly linked
topic sentence
strays from topic sentence
to topic sentence
(maybe too
explicitly)
sophisticated, original
language shows
LANGUAGE AND understanding of
connotation varied
SENTENCE
CONSTRUCTION and elegant sentence
structure add meaning
to language
MECHANICS
AND
precise, varied,
unpretentious
vocabulary
varied and
correct sentence
structure
FORMATTING/
IN-TEXT
CITATION
may use overblown,
verbose, unnecessary or
inflated phrasings
nearly free of
no errors in spelling or errors in spelling a few errors in spelling or
usage at grade level
or usage at grade usage at grade level
level
FORMATTING
MLA
adequate vocabulary that
lacks precision
sustained control of
sentence structure
format guidelines and
MLA style followed format
guidelines and
perfectly
MLA style
followed
basic vocabulary that lacks
basic vocabulary that
precision and variety (flat)
lacks precision and
limited vocabulary
correct but little variety in
variety (flat) little control limited control of
sentence structure
of sentence structure
sentence structure
colloquialisms
diction is uneven (shifts
(slang)
diction is too low
between formal and
(informal)
informal)
numerous errors
obscure meaning
some spelling or usage
several significant errors
errors distract the reader
interfere with clarity
uses 1st or 2nd
person shifts out of
present tense
follows format guidelines more than one kind of
and MLA style but contains format or MLA style
one kind of mistake
mistake
several different format
or MLA style errors
incorrect
formatting and
MLA style