Argument Clinic Essay Rubric
Name
Part I: Formatting & Procedure (20 points)
Final Grades
_____ Correct MLA Heading, Header, & Format
Word Count (included, 600-800 words)
_____ Timely Submitted by the first 10 minutes
of class on Friday, November 20.
I. ________
(w/ process)
_____ Footnotes included (if needed for
outside evidence)
_____ Full draft ready for Peer Edit / Participation
II. ________
(holistic)
Part II: Quality of Argument (80 points)
9 Essays earning a score of 9 meet the criteria for the score of 8 and, in addition, are especially sophisticated in their
argument, thorough in their development, or particularly impressive in their control of language. (80 points)
8 – (Effective) Essays earning a score of 8 effectively develop a position on the extent to which the assertion holds true for
contemporary American society. The evidence* and explanations used are appropriate and convincing, and the argument is
especially coherent and well developed. The writing is highly personal, detailed, and specific. Precise diction, purposeful
syntax, and imagery engage the reader and help to create a unique voice and tone. The conventions of the English language
are handled masterfully. (78 points)
7 Essays earning a score of 7 meet the criteria for the score of 6 but provide a more complete explanation, more thorough
development, or a more mature prose style. (75 points)
6 – (Adequate) Essays earning a score of 6 adequately develop a position on the extent to which the assertion holds true for
contemporary American society. The evidence* and explanations used are appropriate and sufficient, and the argument is
coherent and adequately developed. Less attention has been paid perhaps to organization, voice, diction, and syntax. There
may be some errors in the conventions of the English language, but the prose is generally clear. (70 points)
5 Essays earning a score of 5 develop a position on the extent to which the assertion holds true for contemporary American
society. The evidence or explanations used may be uneven, inconsistent, or limited. The writer’s unique perspective may be
less apparent, diction and syntax may not reveal especially careful selection and composition, or adequate attention may not
have been paid to the conventions of the English language. The writer may rely to some extent on abstractions and
indefinite pronouns, but the reader is engaged and interested for the most part. (66 points)
4 – (Insufficient) Essays earning a score of 4 inadequately develop a position on the extent to which the assertion holds true for
contemporary American society. The evidence* or explanations used may be inappropriate, insufficient, or unconvincing.
The argument may have lapses in coherence or be inadequately developed. The writer may not provide sufficient specific
details or may rely too heavily on abstractions, indefinite pronouns, and clichés. The writing may contain lapses in diction
or syntax, but it usually conveys the writer’s ideas. (63 points)
3 Essays earning a score of 3 meet the criteria for the score of 4 but demonstrate less success in developing a position on the
extent to which the assertion holds true for contemporary American society. The essay may suggest immature control of
writing. (58 points)
2 – (Little Success) Essays earning a score of 2 demonstrate little success in developing a position on the extent to which the
assertion holds true for contemporary American society. These essays may misunderstand the prompt, or substitute a
simpler task by responding to the prompt tangentially with unrelated, inaccurate, or inappropriate explanation. The prose
often demonstrates consistent weaknesses in writing, such as grammatical problems, a lack of development or organization,
or a lack of coherence and control. (53 points)
1 Essays earning a score of 1 meet the criteria for the score of 2 but are undeveloped, especially simplistic in their explanation
and argument, weak in their control of language, or especially lacking in coherence. (45 points)
*Evidence must include personal anecdote and may include evidence from reading or observation. An
essay without personal anecdote will not be considered for a score higher than 4.