Mountains Beyond Mountains Contemporary Issues Essay Rubric
Exceeds Expectations
Context, Frame, 
&
Rhetorical

Question/Thesis

Focus


Body




Conclusion




Grammar


Grade: _________ / 100
Name:
Meet expectations
Presents a well rounded
context that fully
supports the thesis
Presents a frame that
roots the text in a clear
and meaningful analogy
Focuses on a convincing
rhetorical
question/thesis
Always focused on the
thesis/rhetorical
question
Argument ties in the
frame and contemporary
examples to illuminate
main text meaningfully

Has two or more specific,
relevant examples from
contemporary culture
Consistently refers to the
theme
Contains a clear
antithesis that clearly
responds to the main
argument
All paragraphs unify and
contain only relevant
information

Presents a strong
concluding statement
Wraps up and stays
focused on the argument
in the previous
paragraphs
Shows an interesting tie
back to the
frame/context/thesis
present in the
introduction
Does not introduce new
material
Zero to minimal spelling
& grammar mistakes
Uses exceptional/
sophisticated vocabulary













Presents a well rounded
context that supports the
thesis
Presents a frame that roots
the text in a clear analogy
Focuses on a rhetorical
question/thesis
Below Expectations



Mostly focused on the

thesis/rhetorical question
Argument ties in the frame
and contemporary examples 
Has at least one specific,
relevant examples from
contemporary culture
Refers to the theme
Contains an antithesis that
responds to the main
argument
All paragraphs mostly unify
and rarely contain
irrelevant information

Presents a concluding
statement but only wraps
up the essay without
compelling the reader
Mostly stays focused on the
argument in the previous
paragraphs
Shows suitable tie back to
the frame/context/thesis
present in the introduction
Does not introduce new
material

More than a few spelling &
grammar mistakes
Attempts to use
exceptional/
sophisticated vocabulary








Attempts context that
supports the thesis but
fails to introduce the ideas
in the paper
Attempts a frame
Attempts a thesis but does
not raise a clear argument
or no thesis present
Only occasionally or fails to
focus on the
thesis/rhetorical question
Argument ties in the frame
and contemporary
examples to illuminate
main text
Has no examples from
contemporary culture
Hardly or never refers to
the theme
Attempts to or fails to
include antithesis
Only one or no paragraphs
unify and may contain
irrelevant information
Attempts a strong
concluding statement but
does not wrap up the essay
Barely wraps up the
argument in the previous
paragraphs
Does not effective tie back
to the
frame/context/thesis
present in the introduction
May introduce new
material
More than a few spelling &
grammar mistakes
Attempts to use
exceptional/
sophisticated vocabulary