Rubric for the Essay Based upon Walter Williams’ Newspaper Column
SUBMISSION RULES
1. Double spacing
2. An Uploaded
File
3. Submitted
before 8:00
p.m., Nov. 26
Meets Expectations (6)
Late Submission
Did Not Complete the
Assignment (0)
Essay was submitted as
a file before 8:00 p.m.
on Nov. 26 using the
Assignment Button
Essay was submitted
after the due DATE and
TIME. Five point daily
deduction rule applies.
Essay was NOT
submitted.
WRITING MECHANICS
Exceeds Expectations (+)
Meets Expectations (14)
Needs Improvement (131)
Inadequate (0)
Spelling
The essay does not
contain any spelling
errors.
Correct agreement
exists between all verbs
and subjects in the
essay.
The verb tense is
appropriate throughout
the essay.
The essay contains only
one spelling error.
The essay contains two
to three spelling errors.
The essay contains four
or more spelling errors.
The essay contains one
instance of verb/subject
disagreement.
The essay contains two
to three instances of
verb/subject
disagreement.
Two to three instances
of inappropriate verb
tense change is in the
essay.
Two to three instances
of noun/pronoun
disagreement are in the
essay.
The essay contains four
or more instances of
verb/subject
disagreement.
The essay contains four
or more instances of
inappropriate verb
tense change.
The essay contains four
or more instances of
noun/pronoun
disagreement in the
essay.
Verb/Subject
Agreement
Verb Tense
Noun/Pronoun
Agreement
There are no instances
of noun/pronoun
disagreement in the
essay.
Only one instance of an
inappropriately used
verb tense is in the
essay.
Only one instance of
noun/pronoun
disagreement is in the
essay.
Sentences
Punctuation
Plurals
Uses a variety of
sentence structures to
clearly address all of the
assignment criteria.
Demonstrates a
complete understanding
of the assignment
criteria.
Throughout the essay,
commas are used
correctly; semicolons
are used to join
independent clauses;
colons are used before a
list, and apostrophes are
used to indicate
possession.
The correct form of
plurals is found in the
essay for the following:
Nouns ending in y that
use ies to form their
plural (city; cities),
nouns that have
different singular and
plural forms (tooth;
teeth), nouns that have
the same singular and
plural form (sheep;
sheep), and nouns that
use s or es to form their
Each sentence has a
subject and a verb.
Complex sentences are
used. The sentences are
easy to understand.
One or more instances
of sentence fragments
appear in the essay.
The essay contains two
or more sentence
fragments.
There is no more than
one instance in the
essay of commas,
semicolons and
apostrophes used
improperly in the essay.
There are two to three
instances in the essay of
commas, semicolons
and apostrophes used
improperly in the essay.
There are four or more
instances in the essay of
commas, semicolons
and apostrophes used
improperly in the essay.
The correct plural form
of nouns is used
throughout the essay.
Two to three instances
of incorrectly formed
plurals found in the
essay.
Four or more instances
of incorrectly formed
plurals found in the
essay.
plurals (hat; hats)
PARAGRAPH ONE


Describe Dr.
Williams’
educational
philosophy as
one of the
philosophies
discussed in the
textbook.
Describe how
you determined
his educational
philosophy.
PARAGRAPH TWO (can be
more than one paragraph)


The paragraph(s)
contains 3
paraphrased
statement from
the column or a
direct quote
from the column.
A statement or
agreement or
Exceeds Expectations (+)
Meets Expectations (2015)
Needs Improvement (1411)
Inadequate (10-0)
All paragraphs have one
focus; a logical flow
connects the paragraphs;
each paragraph is relevant
to the theme/topic of the
assignment; appropriate
examples provided to
support a point of view. All
paragraphs address some
aspect of the assignment
topic.
The process is clearly
detailed by which the
educational philosophy
was determined.
One of the criteria for
this paragraph is
missing.
Or, the identified
philosophy is not one
discussed in the
textbook.
The process used to
determine the
educational philosophy
is not given or flawed.
Exceeds Expectations (+)
Meets Expectations (3025)
3 statements are
addressed.
Needs Improvement (2411)
Inadequate (10-0)
One or more of the
following is missing:
Information presented
does not connect clearly
to the assigned topic
Accurate interpretation of
information from the
textbook
3 statements
accurate interpretation
of information;
Ideas are clearly presented
and are relevant to the
topic.
Uses original wording to
demonstrate a
comprehension of the
facts and the
connections between
facts and parts of an
author’s thesis.
A personal response to the
statement is given.
a personal response;

disagreement
with each
statement is in
the paragraph.
Information from
the textbook is
used to support
the student’s
opinion of the
statement made
by Dr. Walter
Williams
PARAGRAPH THREE (or
later paragraph)


State whether or
not his
description of
education majors
is accurate.
Second, you will
support your
statement with a
fact from the
textbook or other
sources. In all
instances, provide
specific details.
Overall Score
Feedback:
Facts from the textbook
Identifies a writer’s
are presented to support
point of view
the student’s response.
(philosophical leaning);
recognizes similarities or
differences between
theories or writers’
points of view.
facts from the textbook
or other sources
Exceeds Expectation +
Needs Improvement (142)
Uses personal values only
as a basis for accepting or
rejecting the ideas
expressed by Dr. Walter
Williams.
Presents information from
the textbook and other
respected sources to
refute and/or support
theoretical concepts or
ideas presented by an
author;
Meets Expectations (2015)
Presents information from
the textbook or other
sources to refute and/or
support theoretical
concepts or ideas
presented by the author.
Specifically identifies
pages in the textbook.
Appropriate pages from
the textbook are not
specified.
Inadequate (1-0)
Information presented
does not connect clearly
to the assigned topic
Indicates acceptance of
theories or writers’ ideas
without any question as to
their merit or agreement
with personal belief
systems.