English 9
Mrs. Sharp
name:
period:
Macbeth Literary Analysis Essay
Rubric
Criteria
Introduction
Paragraph
Thesis
Statement
Body #1
(Paragraph)
Structure &
Elements
Evidence and
Analysis
Elaboration and
Explanation
Body #2
(Paragraph)
Structure &
Elements
Analysis
Elaboration and
Explanation
Meets/Exceeds Expectations
(5 points)
Begins with a hook to grab the
reader’s attention. Includes a
concise summary of the text.
Author’s name and title are
integrated into summary.
Thesis statement clearly answers
the prompt and provides three
concise examples.
Topic sentence clearly introduces
first main point. Evidence is set
up and integrated successfully.
Transition to next idea is
provided.
Relevant quotation(s) are
detailed and clearly relate to
thesis and main point(s).
Evidence is thoroughly explained
with a thoughtful analysis.
Topic sentence clearly introduces
first main point. Evidence is set
up and integrated successfully.
Transition to next idea is
provided.
Relevant quotation(s) are
detailed and clearly relate to
thesis and main point(s).
Evidence is thoroughly explained
with a thoughtful analysis.
Approaching Expectations
(4 points)
First sentence attempts to utilize
a hook to grab the reader’s
attention. Some summary or
background information is given,
but it is incomplete or vague.
Author’s name and title are
included.
Thesis statement answers the
prompt and three examples are
provided (though they may be
unclear or vague).
Topic sentence contains first
main point. Some background
information is given to set up
quotation. An attempt is made
to integrate quotation. A
transition to the next idea is
attempted.
Quotation evidence is provided,
though it may be vague,
incomplete, or otherwise
ineffective.
Evidence is explained and
connects to main ideas and/or
thesis statement.
Topic sentence contains first
main point. Some background
information is given to set up
quotation. An attempt is made
to integrate quotation. A
transition to the next idea is
attempted.
Quotation evidence is provided,
though it may be vague,
incomplete, or otherwise
ineffective.
Evidence is explained and
connects to main ideas and/or
thesis statement.
Does Not Meet Expectations
(3 points)
No attempt to grab the
reader’s attention with a hook.
No attempt at summarizing the
story or summary is inaccurate
or details are irrelevant. No
attempt to name the author
and/or title.
Thesis statement does not
answer the prompt OR three
examples are not provided.
Thesis is incomplete or
irrelevant.
Topic sentence does not
contain first main point. No
attempt is made to set up
and/or integrate quotation into
text. No attempt is made to
transition to the next idea.
No quotation evidence is
provided OR quotation is
irrelevant or severely lacking in
details. No explanation is given
to connect quotation to thesis
OR explanation is incomplete
or irrelevant.
Topic sentence does not
contain first main point. No
attempt is made to set up
and/or integrate quotation into
text. No attempt is made to
transition to the next idea.
No quotation evidence is
provided OR quotation is
irrelevant or severely lacking in
details. No explanation is given
to connect quotation to thesis
OR explanation is incomplete
or irrelevant.
Criteria
Body #3
(Paragraph)
Structure &
Elements
Meets/Exceeds Expectations
(5 points)
Topic sentence clearly introduces
first main point. Evidence is set
up and integrated successfully.
Transition to next idea is
provided.
Elaboration and
Explanation
Relevant quotation(s) are
detailed and clearly relate to
thesis and main point(s).
Evidence is thoroughly explained
with a thoughtful analysis.
Conclusion
Paragraph
Conclusion effectively “wraps up”
essay. Main points and examples
are concisely summarized.
Reader is left with an interesting
final thought.
Analysis
Conventions
Usage
Conventions
Mechanics
COMMENTS:
Approaching Expectations
(4 points)
Topic sentence contains first
main point. Some background
information is given to set up
quotation. An attempt is made
to integrate quotation. A
transition to the next idea is
attempted.
Quotation evidence is provided,
though it may be vague,
incomplete, or otherwise
ineffective.
Evidence is explained and
connects to main ideas and/or
thesis statement.
Conclusion attempts to “wrap
up” the essay. Main points and
examples are summarized. An
attempt is made to leave reader
with an interesting final thought.
Essay clearly written with few to
no errors in
_____ grammar and/or
_____ sentence structure. Errors
are minor and do not impede
reader’s understanding.
Several errors in
_____ grammar and/or
_____ sentence structure. At
points, errors (begin to) distract
or impair viewer.
Essay clearly written with few to
no errors in
_____punctuation,
_____capitalization, and/or
_____spelling. Errors are minor
and do not impede reader’s
understanding.
Several errors in
_____punctuation,
_____capitalization, and/or
_____spelling. At points, errors
(begin to) distract or impair
viewer.
Does Not Meet Expectations
(3 points)
Topic sentence does not
contain first main point. No
attempt is made to set up
and/or integrate quotation into
text. No attempt is made to
transition to the next idea.
No quotation evidence is
provided OR quotation is
irrelevant or severely lacking in
details. No explanation is given
to connect quotation to thesis
OR explanation is incomplete
or irrelevant.
Conclusion does not succeed in
“wrapping up” essay. No
attempt is made to summarize
main points or summary is
ineffective/incomplete. No
attempt is made to leave
readers with an interesting
final thought.
Frequent errors in
_____ grammar and/or
_____ sentence structure.
Errors distract and impair
viewer. Essay does not appear
to have been proofread or
revised.
Frequent errors in
_____ punctuation,
_____ capitalization, and/or
_____ spelling frequently
distract and impair viewer.
Essay does not appear to have
been proofread or revised.
TOTAL ____________/50