1
1. Thesis
Dimension
Excellent (A)
Very Good (B)
Satisfactory (C)
Formulate a
thesis statement.
Well-developed
thesis directly
addressing topic.
Thesis is
interesting and
substantive.
Thesis is
appropriate to
assignment in
terms of subject
matter and length.
Thesis is
reasonably
presented and
defended.
Thesis is mostly
interesting and
substantive.
Thesis may
have minor
problem in
terms of
appropriateness,
and subject
matter.
May have
multiple thesis
statements.
Thesis is not
clearly presented
or consistently
defended. Thesis
may lack
substance. Thesis
is not interesting
enough to
completely
sustain paper;
may not be
suitable for
assignment.
May have
multiple thesis
statements.
Unsatisfactory
(D)
Thesis is vague
and not defended.
Failing (F)
Thesis may be off
topic or too
insubstantial for
assignment.
No discernible
thesis or thesis is
too unclear or
poorly developed.
2. Use of evidence
Dimension
Footnote/endnote
citations.
Excellent
Footnotes or
endnotes are
complete and
follow proper
format.
Bibliography
citations.
Bibliography is
complete and
follows proper
format.
Use of citation
within text.
All evidence
correctly cited
in text.
Very Good
Footnotes or
endnotes are
generally
complete and
mostly follow
proper format.
Bibliography
is mostly
complete and
generally
follows proper
format.
Citations are
mostly
correct.
Satisfactory (C)
Some problems with
footnotes/endnotes
Unsatisfactory (D)
More substantial
problems with
footnotes/endnotes.
Incomplete or
incorrect formatting.
Some problems with
completeness or
format of some
citations.
Bibliography is
incomplete and/or
uses incorrect
format.
Some problems with
citations
Major problems
with citations. Could
be problems with
plagiarism.
Failing (F)
Little or no
attempt is made
to complete
footnotes or
endnotes in
correct format.
Little or no
attempt is made
to complete
bibliography in
correct format.
Little or no use
of citations.
Might be
plagiarism in
text.
3. Critical Reading and Thinking
Dimension
Demonstrates
critical
reading and
thinking skills
Excellent
Excellent
understanding
of text(s) under
discussion.
4. Justification and Argument
[Type here]
Very Good
Very good
understanding
of texts
Satisfactory (C)
Unsatisfactory (D)
Some
More major
misrepresentations
misrepresentations
of texts. Mostly
competent
understating of texts
under discussion.
Failing (F)
Fails to address
texts/authors/views
under discussion
2
Dimension
Student can
construct
arguments and
justify thesis.
Excellent
Student adduces
relevant and
cogent
argumentation in
defense of
position. Shows
some originality,
insight and
creativity.
Very Good
Author
adduces
relevant and
cogent
argumentation
in defense of
position.
Shows some
originality and
insight.
Satisfactory (C)
Author adduces
some relevant and
cogent
argumentation in
defense of
position. Shows
little originality
and insight. .
Unsatisfactory (D)
Author adduces
little relevant and
cogent
argumentation in
defense of
position. Shows
little or no
originality and
insight.
Failing (F)
Author adduces
little or no
argumentation.
Very Good
Satisfactory (C)
Unsatisfact. (D)
Failing (F)
Very good
explanations
that are mostly
accurate and
fair. Views of
others are
usually
correctly
quoted,
Paraphrased&
cited.
Explanation
displays
noteworthy
inaccuracies or
unfairness. Some
lapses in how
views of others are
quoted,
paraphrased, and
cited.
Explanation
displays many
significant
inaccuracies or
unfairness. Many
lapses in how
views of others are
quoted,
paraphrased, and
cited.
Little or no explanation
given, or if given, contains
serious misrepresentations
and/or many lapses in how
views of others
are quoted, paraphrased,
and cited.
Satisfactory (C)
Unsatisfactory
(D)
The paper lacks
sufficient
originality
and creativity.
Paper does not
put ideas/
materials/
argument
together
in a new way.
5. Explanation and Exposition
Dimension
Excellent
Student can
provide
explanations and
exposition of
readings/authors/v
iews under
discussion.
6.
Explanation is
accurate and fair.
Most important
views of others
are represented.
Views of others
are correctly
quoted,
paraphrased, and
well-integrated
Student shows
excellent
understanding of
content under
discussion and
uses sufficient
scholarship.
Creativity and Originality
Dimension
Very Good
(B)
Student develops
The paper
Paper
original insights
discusses many
discusses
and demonstrates
issues, passages, some issues,
creativity in
material not
passages,
written work.
discussed in class concepts not
and readings.
discussed in
Presents material class/rdgs.
in a unique way
Some material
and includes
used in a
several original
unique way,
examples. Puts
includes some
together
original exs
materials in a
Very good
new way.
originality.
7. Organization and Logic
[Type here]
Excellent (A)
The paper does
not
display sufficient
originality and
creativity.
The paper uses
very few original
examples and does
not usually put
together
ideas/materials
in a new way.
Failing (F)
The paper repeats material
from readings in a
predictable and pedestrian
manner. The paper does
not include original
examples and does not
demonstrate originality or
creativity.
3
Dimension
Excellent
Very Good
Satisfactory (C)
Student can
develop an
organized and
logical paper
The paper has
a clear and
coherent
organization;
Paper is
intelligently
ordered and
easy to
follow.
The paper’s
organization
relates most
ideas
together;
mostly
polished and
revised.
The paper’s
organization
does not relate
most ideas
together; paper
has only been
superficially
revised.
Unsatisfact.
(D)
The paper’s
organization
is uneven or
ineffective;
only traces of
revision.
Failing (F)
The paper has little
or no discernible
organization; paper
has no revision or
polish.
8. Writing Process/Mechanics
Dimension
Excellent
Very Good
Satisfactory (C)
Student
demonstrates
understanding of
writing
mechanics.
Nearly flawless
grammar, spelling, and
word choice;
Sentences read
smoothly and are
clear.
Excessive wordiness is
avoided where
appropriate.
Very good
grammar,
spelling,
word choice.
Sentences are
generally
clear with
very good
transitions.
Some problems
with grammar,
spelling, word
choice.
Problems with
sentence clarity,
transitions.
Some
wordiness in
paper, but
generally
very good.
Unsatisfactory
(D)
Serious
problems with
mechanics,
writing
process, and
grammar.
Failing (F)
Very serious
problems with
writing mechanics,
writing process
and grammar.
Wordiness and
some inattention
to word choice.
9. Expression
Dimension
Excellent
Expression
Control of
language and
superior facility
with the
conventions of
standard written
English.
Very Good
Satisfactory (C)
Unsatisfactory
(D)
Major errors in
standard written
English
impeding
understanding.
Failing (F)
Generally
Intermittent
Poor control of
effective control control of
language;
of language, and language; minor
frequent errors in
competence with errors in standard
standard written
the conventions
written English.
English
of standard
impeding
written English.
understanding.
Note: In interpreting the grading rubrics that follow, “+” or “–” added to a letter grade represent a score falling on the
high or low end of the letter grade respectively. The highest grade you may earn is an A.
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