New York State Grade 7-8 Expository Writing Evaluation Rubric
SCORE
CRITERIA
CONTENT AND
ANALYSIS:
how well your essay
conveys complex ideas
clearly and accurately;
how well your essay
supports claims and
analyzes topics/texts
COMMAND OF
EVIDENCE:
how well your essay
presents evidence from
the provided texts to
show analysis and
reflection
COHERENCE,
ORGANIZATION, AND
STYLE:
CCLS
W.2
R.1–9

W.9
R.1–9
how well your essay
demonstrates
command of the
conventions of
standard English
grammar, usage,
capitalization,
punctuation, and
spelling


W.2
L.3
L.6


how well your essay
logically organizes
ideas and information
using formal style and
precise language
CONTROL OF
CONVENTIONS:




W.2
L.1
L.2

4 (100%)
clear compelling introduction that
follows logically from the task and
purpose
demonstrates insightful analysis of
the text(s)
3 (85%)
 clear introduction that
follows from the task
and purpose
 demonstrates gradeappropriate analysis of
the text(s)
2 (70%)
 introduction follows
generally from the task
and purpose
 demonstrates a literal
comprehension of the
text(s)
1 (55%)
 introduction does
not logically follow
from the task and
purpose
 demonstrates little
understanding of the
text(s)
0 (40%)
 demonstrates a
lack of
comprehension
of the text(s) or
task
develops the topic with relevant,
well-chosen facts, details,
quotations, or other examples from
the text(s)
sustains the use of varied, relevant
evidence
 develops the topic with
relevant facts, details,
or other examples from
the text(s)
 sustains the use of
relevant evidence, with
some lack of variety
 partially develops the
topic of the essay with
the use of some textual
evidence, some of
which may be irrelevant
 uses relevant evidence
inconsistently
 provides no
evidence or
provide
evidence that is
completely
irrelevant
exhibits clear organization, with the
skillful use of appropriate and
varied transitions to create a
unified whole and enhance meaning
establishes and maintains a formal
style
uses grade-appropriate,
sophisticated language
notable sense of voice
conclusion is compelling and
follows clearly from the topic and
information presented
demonstrates grade-appropriate
command of conventions, with few
errors
 exhibits clear
organization, with the
use of appropriate
transitions to create a
unified whole
 establishes and
maintain a formal style
 uses precise language
 conclusion follows
from the topic and
information presented
 exhibits some attempt
at organization, with
inconsistent use of
transitions
 establishes but fail to
maintain a formal style,
with inconsistent use of
language
 conclusion follows
generally from the topic
and information
presented
 demonstrates emerging
command of
conventions, with some
errors that may hinder
comprehension
 demonstrates an
attempt to use
evidence, but only
develop ideas with
minimal, occasional
evidence which is
generally invalid or
irrelevant
 exhibits little
attempt at
organization
 lacks a formal style
 uses language that is
imprecise or
inappropriate for the
text(s) and task
 conclusion is illogical
or unrelated to the
topic and information
presented
 demonstrates a lack
of command of
conventions, with
frequent errors that
hinder
comprehension
 demonstrates gradeappropriate
conventions, with
occasional errors that
do not hinder
comprehension
 exhibits no
organization
 uses language
that is
predominantly
incoherent or
copied directly
from the text(s)
 no conclusion
 minimal,
making
assessment of
conventions
unreliable