Biography Essay Rubric
As an assessment for this unit, you will write a researched biography over a specific person using your
choice autobiography/memoir selection and annotated bibliography. This is a formal research paper that will
need to be typed in MLA formatting and printed. Your finished product is due on May 22, 2015.
MLA Formatting
of Essay
In-Text Citations
Body Paragraphs
Works Cited Page
Grammar
ELACC9-10W1: Write
arguments to support
claims in an analysis of
substantive topics or
texts, using valid
reasoning and relevant
and sufficient evidence
ELACC9-10W4: Produce
clear and coherent
writing in which the
development,
organization, and style
are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
ELACC9-10W9: Draw
evidence from literary or
informational texts to
support analysis,
reflection, and research.
ELACC9-10L1:
Demonstrate command of
the conventions of
standard English
grammar and usage when
writing or speaking.
MLA heading and
header has correct
formatting.
There are at least
three correct in-text
citations for entire
biography.
Student wrote wellwritten, detailed
body paragraphs
with introductions,
explanations, and
conclusions.
Works cited page is
perfectly formatted
to MLA guidelines.
Student made no
grammatical errors.
(10 points)
MLA heading and
header has one or
two errors.
(10 points)
There are three intext citations, but
there are errors.
(10 points)
Student wrote body
paragraphs with
introductions,
explanations, and
conclusions, but
could have used
more details.
(10 points)
Works cited page
has one or two
errors.
(10 points)
Student made
between one and
three grammatical
errors.
(8 points)
Student wrote decent
body paragraphs, but
could have used
more structure and
details.
(8 points)
Works cited page
has three to four
errors.
(8 points)
Student made
between four and six
grammatical errors.
(6 points)
Body paragraphs
lacked detail, but
were well-formatted.
(6 points)
Works cited page
has five to seven
errors.
ELACC9-10L3: Write
and edit work so that it
conforms to the
guidelines in a style
manual (e.g., MLA
Handbook) appropriate
for the discipline and
writing type.
(8 points)
(8 points)
MLA heading is
correct, but header is
missing or there are
more than two
errors.
There are two
correct in-text
citation per body
paragraph.
(6 points)
(6 points)
MLA header is
correct, heading is
missing.
(6 points)
There is one in-text
citation per body
paragraph with
errors.
(4 points)
No MLA heading or
header.
(4 points)
There is an
inconsistent attempt
made to cite
evidence.
Paragraphs were
inconsistent and
lacking in detail.
(2 points)
(2 points)
(2 points)
Student made
between seven and
nine grammatical
errors.
(4 points)
Comments:
(4 points)
Works cited page is
a hot mess.
(4 points)
Student made more
than nine
grammatical errors.
(2 points)
(2 points)
Total Score:
/50 PTS