COMPARATIVE ESSAY RUBRIC
Name: ______________________________
Criteria
BELOW LEVEL 1
0-49%
LEVEL 1
50-59%
LEVEL 2
60-69%
LEVEL 3
70-79%
LEVEL 4
80-100%
Knowledge/Understanding
Thesis Statement
Thesis has no focus
Thesis has limited focus
Thesis has some focus on what
subjects will be compared
Thesis provides considerable
focus on which two subjects
will be compared
Supporting
Arguments
Arguments do not support
thesis—no details offered
to show comparison
Arguments offer limited
support of thesis with
limited details for each side
of comparison
Arguments offer some support
of thesis and provide some
details for each side of
comparison
Arguments offer considerable
support of the thesis and
provide details for each side of
comparison
Level of Detail
No detail provides/general
statements
Little detail/general
statements
Some detail/general
statements
Considerable detail/specific
statements
Thesis offers a clear focus
on the two subjects to be
compared and purpose for
their consideration
Arguments offer a high
degree of support and
understanding of thesis and
provide considerable details
for each side of comparison
Points are highly detailed&
specific
Language Use
Inappropriate use of
diction, tone and language
level
Frequent lapses in
appropriateness of diction,
tone and language level
Some lapses of
appropriateness of diction,
tone and language level
Few lapses in appropriateness
of diction, tone and language
level (consistent use of 3rd
person)
Diction, tone and level of
language are appropriate
throughout (formal use of
3rd person)
Organization
Demonstrates little to no
organization of sentences
and paragraphs; meaning is
not properly conveyed
Demonstrates limited
organization of sentences
and paragraphs to convey
meaning
Demonstrates some
organization of sentences and
paragraphs to convey meaning
Demonstrates considerable
organization of sentences and
paragraphs to convey meaning
Demonstrates a high degree
of organization of sentences
and paragraphs to convey
meaning
Conclusion
Conclusion is general and
does not summarize thesis.
Conclusion offers a general
summary of most important
similarities or differences.
Conclusion somewhat of a
summary of important
similarities or differences
Conclusion summarizes thesis
considerably with a summary
of important similarities or
differences
Conclusion sgives a
thorough to complete
summary of all important
similarities or differences.
Communication
Thinking/Inquiry
Use of Textual
References
Includes little to no
information & embedded
quotations from text
Includes limited information
& embedded quotations
from text to support main
ideas/interpretations
Includes some information &
embedded quotations from
text to support main
ideas/interpretations
Includes specific information &
embedded quotations from
text to support key
ideas/interpretations
Includes rich and
information & embedded
quotations from text to
support all
ideas/interpretations
Depth of Analysis
Little to no analyzing,
synthesizing or
commentary
Has difficulty analyzing and
synthesizing and
communicating ideas and
information from the text
Analyzes and communicates
in simple ways the ideas and
information from the text
Analyzes ideas and
information from the text,
synthesizes and communicates
them
Analyzes ideas and info.
from the text in insightful
ways, synthesizes and
communicates them
skilfully
Spelling
Several major spelling
mistakes that hinder essay
comprehension
Several major grammar
errors that hinder essay
readability
Essay shows no use of
references or
documentation
(plagiarized)
A few major spelling
mistakes that hinder
comprehension
A few major grammar errors
that hinder essay readability
Minor spelling mistakes that
hinder comprehension
Minor spelling mistakes, no
effect on comprehension
Insignificant to no spelling
mistakes found
Minor grammar errors that
hinder essay readability
Minor grammar errors, no
effect on readability
Insignificant to no grammar
errors found
Reference material is not
properly used and
documentation is flawed.
Most reference material is
properly used but
documentation is flawed
Reference material is properly
used but documentation is
flawed
Reference material is
properly used and
documentation flawless
Application
Grammar and
Style
Proper use of
Sources/Works
Cited list
TOTAL
NOTES:
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