Chicken Tenders Compare and Contrast 5-Paragraph Essay Rubric
Category
Title
INTRODUCTION
STEP 1: Hook
(x2)
*Explanation IF
necessary
STEP 2: Present
2 products
STEP 3: Thesis
Statement (x2)
1 Below Proficient
2 Standard
3 Proficient
Present but not clear,
creative, or effective; several
errors in mechanics
Hook attempt is present but
lacks excitement and
relevance; confusing; no
explanation
Somewhat lacking in clarity,
creativity, or effectiveness; some
errors in mechanics
Hook attempt only somewhat
interesting but may lack excitement
or relevance to subject; needed
explanation that was not given
Clear, creative, and well
presented; capitalization and
spelling is mostly accurate
Mostly striking hook attempts to
grab reader’s attention and
previews the essay subject;
explains if necessary
Extremely clear, creative, and presented
accurately and effectively; capitalization is
correct
Extremely striking hook attempts to grab
reader’s attention and previews the essay
subject; explains if necessary
Two products not introduced
Two products introduced very clearly in a
sophisticated, well-written sentence
Attempts to effectively previews essay; 1
sentence begins w/subordinate
conjunction and Product A or comparison;
effectively presents Product B and 3 strong
topics clearly; all mechanics correct; strong,
solid action verbs uses throughout thesis
Matches thesis topic #2 in order and
vocabulary; is a brief, clear, accurate
statement about topic and products that
effectively previews ¶; avoids using a
transition; avoids extra text or ideas
Sub-topics #1-2 are specific, relevant ideas
about the topic; clearly & effectively
presented
Topic #1:
Body ¶ Topic
Sentence
Topic hard to find in sentence
that barely previews what’s to
come in rest of paragraph
Two products introduced
awkwardly or unclearly
Thesis attempt is somewhat
effective; organization, topics,
punctuation or clarity of thesis may
be weak; thesis may be unclear or
poorly punctuated; may contain
errors; uses helping verbs instead
of stronger action verbs
Probably does not match correct
order in thesis; may be overly
wordy or unclear/hard to follow
Topic #1:
Sub-topics #1-2
Sub-topics are missing
altogether; launches into
detailed support without ST’s
Support is present but vague
or inconsistent; explanation
vague or missing in places
Missing or fails to revisit
current topic
One sub-topic is present but
ineffective because it’s vague or
off-topic
Support present but lacks in
detail/could be improved;
explanation missing
Hard to follow/unclear in manner in
which reviews current topic
Two products introduced clearly
in a simple sentence
Thesis attempt is mostly
effective; organization, topics,
punctuation or clarity of thesis
may be slightly weak; may have
one mechanical error; uses
action verbs but word choice
could be stronger
May match correct order of topic
#1 in thesis; attempts a clear
about topic #1 and two products
that it previews ¶
Sub-topics #1-2 are present but
unclear; sub-topic may be too
vague or under-developed
Sub-topic support is detailed and
relevant; most details followed
by fairly effective explanation
Revisits current topic but may not
have transition
Does not effectively preview
paragraph; sentence may be
overly long or missing topic;
includes a transition and/or
extra text
One sub-topic is present but
ineffective because it’s vague
or off-topic
May match thesis topic #2 in order
or vocabulary; makes a somewhat
effective statement about topic and
products that previews ¶; may
include a transition or extra text
Sub-topics #1-2 are present but
unclear; sub-topic may be too
vague or under-developed
Matches thesis topic #2 in order
or vocabulary; makes a brief,
clear statement about topic and
products that previews ¶; may
include a transition or extra text
Sub-topics #1-2 are present and
fairly clear; mostly specific,
relevant ideas
Topic #1:
Detailed Support
and Explanation
Topic #1:
Closing Sentence
*BONUS for
trans. statemt*
Topic #2:
Body ¶ Topic
Sentence
Topic #2:
Sub-topics #1-2
Thesis attempt is present but
ineffective; does not follow
format studied in class or
make ideas clear to the
reader; contains errors; uses
helping verbs like “is” or “has”
4 Advanced
Matches correct order of topic #1 in thesis;
attempts a brief, clear statement about
topic #1 and two products that it effectively
previews ¶
Sub-topics #1-2 are present and mostly
clear; mostly specific, relevant ideas
All sub-topic support is specific, relevant
and accurate; all details followed by clear,
effective explanation
Effectively revisits current topic w/a
transition at start
Topic #2:
Detailed Support
and Explanation
Topic #2:
Closing Sentence
Topic #3:
Body ¶ Topic
Sentence (TS)
Topic #3:
Sub-topics #1-2
Topic #3:
Detailed Support
and Explanation
Topic #3:
Closing Sentence
CONCLUSION
STEP 1: Topic Sn.
*Step 2 BONUS*
Step 2: Zinger
X2
Organization
Sentence Variety
Transitions in
Body Paragraph
Sentences
Conventions
Pre-writing and
Revisions
SCORE
#/104
Support is present but vague
or inconsistent; explanation
vague or missing in places
Present but fails to revisit
current topic or preview next
Does not effectively preview
paragraph; sentence may be
overly long or missing topic;
includes a transition and/or
extra text
One sub-topic is present but
ineffective because it’s vague
or off-topic
Support is present but vague
or inconsistent; explanation
vague or missing in places
Ineffectively revisits topic
(may repeat); no transition
Does not attempt to revisit
subject or contain transition
Support present but somewhat
lacking in detail; explanation is
present but could be improved
Revisits current topic and but does
not preview next
May match thesis topic #3 in order
or vocabulary; makes a somewhat
effective statement about topic and
products that previews ¶; may
include a transition or extra text
Sub-topics #1-2 are present but
unclear; sub-topic may be too
vague or under-developed
Support present but somewhat
lacking in detail; explanation is
present but could be improved
Revisits current topic somewhat
effectively; no to poor transition
May contain transition; attempts to
evisits subject but may repeat
thesis
Sub-topic support is detailed and
relevant; details followed by
fairly effective explanation
Revisits current topic and
previews next; contains transition
Matches thesis topic #3 in order
or vocabulary; makes a brief,
clear statement about topic and
products that previews ¶; may
include a transition or extra text
Sub-topics #1-2 are present and
fairly clear; mostly specific,
relevant ideas
Sub-topic support is detailed and
relevant; details followed by
fairly effective explanation
Revisits current topic mostly
effectively; contains transition
Contains transition; attempts to
evisits subject; may also include
topics
All sub-topic support is highly specific,
relevant and accurate; all details followed
by clear, effective explanation
Effectively revisits current topic and
previews next; contains transition
Matches thesis topic #3 in order and
vocabulary; a brief, clear, accurate
statement about topic and products that
effectively previews ¶; no transition
Zinger is present but lacks a
clear, compelling quote or
comparison; may have
sweeping generalization
Zinger is present but could be more
clear, relevant, or effective; quote
or comparison is ineffective and not
explained
Attempts to effectively reveals subject’s
importance; zinger (quote or comparison)
is set up, delivered, & explained; avoids
sweeping generalizations
Ideas disorganized; missing
key essay or paragraph pieces
Minimal sentence variation;
structures repeat; little flow
Uses few transitions; writing
does not flow
Thesis and topic sentences match a
bit; components somewhat in order
Varies simple and expanded
sentences somewhat; some flow
Uses a couple but nearly enough
transitions throughout
Attempts to reveal subject’s
importance through comparison
or quote; contains a fairly strong
idea and explanation of zinger’s
main idea
Thesis and topic sentences
mostly match; mostly in order
Varies simple and expanded
sentences; writing mostly flows
Uses some transitions, may be
missing a couple
Writing contains 12+ errors
Final packet missing three or
more of the required pieces
Writing contains 7-11 errors
Final packet missing two of the
required pieces
Writing contains 6-10 errors
Final packet may be missing one
of the required pieces
Sub-topics #1-2 are specific, relevant ideas
about the topic; clearly & effectively
presented
All sub-topic support is highly specific,
relevant and accurate; all details followed
by clear, effective explanation
Effectively & creatively revisits current
topic; contains effective transition
Contains strong transition; attempts to
revisit subject clearly, briefly, and
effectively
Thesis and topic sentences match; most
essay & paragraph pieces present/ in order
Varies simple and expanded sentences
effectively; writing flowed well
Uses right amount of transitions (and
avoids overuse; writing flows in body
sentences of topic/body paragraphs
without
Writing contains 1-5 errors
Final packet includes outline + rubric
stapled to it, rough draft + peer edit, final
draft rubric, final copy