Rubric for Their Eyes Were Watching God Essay
______ A (93-100)
- superior thesis; superior evidence, examples, or proof; excellent organization; sound
mechanics; strong transitions and connections of thought; effective imagination or
sophisticated reasoning; excellent diction and vocabulary; excellent quote blending with a
superior style; pauses to fully analyze the quotes and provides a superior examination of
Hurston’s stylistic devices that emerge from the quotes; a convincing, thoroughly
detailed, specific, superior answer to the topic that displays Level 2 and 3 thinking with
insight, accuracy, precision, and clarity;
______ A-/B+ (92 – 87)
- intelligent, yet less concise and less complete thesis; excellent evidence, examples, or
proof but infrequently could be less thorough; excellent organization; a few mechanical
flaws but overall sound; mostly strong transitions and connections of thought; less
effective imagination or sophisticated reasoning; a few lapses in diction and less
sophisticated vocabulary; strong quote blending and analysis of the quotes; a convincing,
thoroughly detailed, specific, superior answer to the topic that displays Level 2 and 3
thinking; slightly “safe” paper that is well done and convincing;
_____ B (86-80)
- good, safe thesis; completely adequate in every way; good evidence, examples or proof; a
beginning, middle, and an end – organization is good but could be much more clear;
significantly fewer and less effective transitions and connections of thought; a good
answer but only cursory in its examination of topic; decent quote blending with a couple
errors; sometimes but not always pauses to fully analyze the quotes; displays Level 2 and
Level 3 thinking.
_____ C (79-74)
- vague or unwieldy thesis; not enough examples; general analysis; may have a couple
great moments, but overall, plot summary is evident; struggles with organization in terms
of strong topic and concluding sentences and an overall layout that flows well with
transitions; definite mechanical flaws and carelessness, weak diction, few transitions; not
enough attention to detail; opens the door but doesn’t go in; doesn’t do much quality
Level 2 or Level 3 thinking; struggles with correct quote blending (leaves quotes standing
alone and doesn’t cite quotes correctly; might also use huge blocks of quotes; doesn’t
pause to fully analyze the quotes
_____ D (73-70)
- poorly constructed or nonexistent thesis; rambling generalizations which do not even
address question or topic; immature syntax and/or vocabulary; unconnected observations
and conclusions; consistently poor mechanics; No Level 2 or Level 3 thinking; all or
many quotes are just standing alone
_____ F (below 70)
- lack of effort; passing reference to topic; no examples or inappropriate ones; usually too
brief and undeveloped; misguided, empty observations and conclusions; syntax
meltdown; no level 2 or 3 thinking; no direct evidence