Essay: The Ongoing Debate of Calculators in the Classroom
10 - Above Standards
8 - Meets Standards
5Approaching Standards
2Below Standards Score
Attention Grabber
The introductory paragraph has a
strong hook or attention grabber
that is appropriate for the
audience.
The introductory paragraph has
a hook or attention grabber, but
it is weak, rambling or
inappropriate for the audience.
The author has an interesting
introductory paragraph but the
connection to the topic is not
clear.
The introductory
paragraph is not
interesting AND is not
relevant to the topic.
Focus or Thesis
Statement
The thesis statement names the
The thesis statement names the The thesis statement outlines
topic of the essay and outlines the topic of the essay.
some or all of the main points to
main points to be discussed.
be discussed but does not name
the topic.
The thesis statement
does not name the
topic AND does not
preview what will be
discussed.
Position Statement
The position statement provides a The position statement provides A position statement is present,
clear, strong statement of the
a clear statement of the author's but does not make the the
author's position on the topic.
position on the topic.
author's position clear.
There is no position
statement.
CATEGORY
Support for Position Includes 3 or more pieces of
evidence that support the position
statement. The writer anticipates
the reader's concerns, biases or
arguments and has provided at
least 1 counter-argument.
Includes 3 or more pieces of
evidence (facts, statistics,
examples, real-life experiences)
that support the position
statement.
Includes 2 pieces of evidence
(facts, statistics, examples, reallife experiences) that support the
position statement.
Transitions show how ideas are
connected, but there is little
variety
Some transitions work well, but
The transitions
some connections between ideas between ideas are
are fuzzy.
unclear.
Transitions
A variety of thoughtful transitions
are used. They clearly show how
ideas are connected
Sentence Structure
All sentences are well-constructed Most sentences are wellMost sentences are well
with varied structure.
constructed and there is some
constructed, but there is no
sentence structure in the essay. variation is structure.
Grammar & Spelling Author makes no errors in
grammar or spelling that distract
the reader from the content.
Author makes 1-2 errors in
Author makes 3-4 errors in
grammar or spelling that distract grammar or spelling that distract
the reader from the content.
the reader from the content.
Capitalization &
Punctuation
Author makes no errors in
Author makes 1-2 errors in
capitalization or punctuation, so
capitalization or punctuation, but
the essay is exceptionally easy to the essay is still easy to read.
read.
Author makes a few errors in
capitalization and/or punctuation
that catch the reader's attention
and interrupt the flow.
Closing paragraph
The conclusion is strong and
leaves the reader solidly
understanding the writer's
position. Effective restatement of
the position statement begins the
closing paragraph.
The conclusion is recognizable. The author's position is restated
The author's position is restated within the closing paragraph, but
within the first two sentences of not near the beginning.
the closing paragraph.
Completed Essay
Essay is completed and turned in
at all 3 deadlines on time.
Essay is completed and turned
in at all 2 deadlines on time.
Includes 1 or fewer
pieces of evidence
(facts, statistics,
examples, real-life
experiences).
Most sentences are not
well-constructed or
varied.
Author makes 4+ errors
in grammar or spelling
that distract the reader
from the content.
Author makes several
errors that catch the
reader's attention and
interrupt the flow.
There is no conclusion
- the paper just ends.
Essay is completed and turned in Essay is not complete,
at all 1 deadlines on time.
but something was
turned in at the final
completion deadline.