English II Rubric: What is Rhetoric? Culminating Writing Task
ORGANIZATION
USE OF THE PASSAGE
AND DEVELOPMENT
CENTRAL IDEA
CONTENT: Central Idea, Development, and Organization
Key Questions: Does the writer stay focused and share insightful information related to the given task? Does the writer’s use of the text show an understanding of the passage
and the writing task? Does the organizational structure enhance the writer’s ideas and make the essay easier to understand?
Score Point
4 Consistent, though not
3 Reasonable control of the
2 Inconsistent control of the
1 Little or no control of the
necessarily perfect, control of the traits’ features; the essay has
traits’ features; the weaknesses traits’ features; a minimal
traits’ features; many strengths
some strengths and some
outweigh the strengths.
attempt is made to develop an
are present.
weaknesses.
essay.
An essay without evidence from the passage cannot receive a score higher than a 1 in Content.
• The central idea is clear and
• The central idea is generally
• The central idea is vague.
• The central idea is unclear.
Does the essay
sharply focused
focused.
evaluate the texts
and determine
which uses rhetoric
most effectively?
Does the essay
make a claim about
why the text was
chosen?
• Ample, well-chosen evidence
• Sufficient and appropriate
• There is some evidence from
• There is no evidence from the
Does the essay
from the passage is used to
evidence from the passage is
the passage. Summary and/or
passage. Portions of text may
analyze how the
used to support the central idea
quotations may be present but
be copied without purpose. •
author achieves his support the central idea and
and includes some analysis.
often without explanation. •
Details included are irrelevant
purpose? Are there includes thoughtful analysis.
• Supporting ideas are developed Supporting ideas are not
and/or show an erroneous
quotes/paraphrases • Supporting ideas are developed
thoroughly with details that are
adequately, though perhaps
developed (list-like), are
interpretation of the passage. •
from the text to
specific, relevant, and show a
unevenly; the details are
superficial, or show gaps in
Essay is too brief to provide an
support the claim?
solid interpretation of the
relevant and show a valid
thinking. Some details may be
adequate sample of writing:
Are these
passage.
interpretation of the passage.
irrelevant, and interpretation of minimal attempt.
documented?
the passage may not be
supported.
• The organizational strategy
• The organizational strategy is
• There is an attempt at
• The essay lacks an
Do paragraphs
demonstrates evidence of
apparent with a progression of
organization, but there may be
identifiable organizational
transition from
ideas that allows the reader to
digressions, repetition, or
strategy (random order). • The
author’s purpose to planning and a logical
progression of ideas.
move through the text without
contradictory information.
lack of an introduction,
the specific
• There is an effective
confusion.
• The introduction and
conclusion, and/or progression
rhetorical devices
introduction and conclusion and
• The introduction, conclusion,
conclusion are weak or may be of ideas makes it difficult for
he uses to achieve
the reader to move through the
that purpose? Does thoughtful transitions that convey and transitions often work well. missing; there is an occasional
a sense of wholeness.
progression of ideas.
text (confusing).
the essay stay on
the task of showing
and proving
analysis of the text?
English II Rubric: What is Rhetoric? Culminating Writing Task
VOICE
SENTENCE FLUENCY
WORD CHOICE
STYLE: Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Voice
Key Questions: Would you keep reading this essay if it were longer? Do the words, phrases, and sentences enrich the content and allow the reader to move through the writing
with ease?
4 Consistent, though not
3 Reasonable control of the
2 Inconsistent control of the
1 Little or no control of the
SCORE
necessarily perfect, control of the traits’ features; the essay has
traits’ features; the weaknesses traits’ features; a minimal
POINT
traits’ features; many strengths
some strengths and some
outweigh the strengths.
attempt is made to develop an
are present.
weaknesses.
essay
Does the essay use
correct rhetorical
terminology: word
choice, tone,
theme, point of
view, ethos, pathos,
logos, speech,
rhetoric, etc.?
Are sentences
varied, showing an
understanding of
different sentences
from the exemplar?
Is fluency
consistent? Does
sentence variety
make the essay
easier to
understand?
Does the essay use
a formal tone much
like the exemplar
texts? Is the voice
consistent
throughout the
essay?
• Word choice is precise,
effective, and includes some
vivid words and phrases as
appropriate to the task.
• Word choice is appropriate to
the task and includes some
interesting words and phrases.
• Word choice is limited,
generic, and repetitive; verbs
are generally weak.
• Words and phrasing may be
inappropriate to the task (too
informal).
• Words and phrases are
functional and simple and/or
may be inappropriate to the
task.
• Essay is too brief to provide
an adequate sample of writing:
minimal attempt.
• Sentences are fluent and vary in
length, structure, and beginnings.
• Sentences are generally varied
in length and structure, and most
sentences have varied
beginnings.
• Sentences show little or no
variety in length and structure,
and some may be awkward or
lack fluency. Many sentences
have the same beginning.
• The sentences may be simple
and lack variety, and their
construction makes the essay
difficult to read.
• The writer’s voice (individual
personality) is compelling and
engaging.
• The writer’s voice is present
but may not be particularly
compelling.
• The writer’s voice is weak.
• Voice is not evident.