College Composition II
Assessment Rubric for UNIT 1, rhetorical analysis
Excellent
Good
Introduction projects clear, Introduction projects clear
insightful understanding of understanding of rhetoric and
rhetoric and masterfully
captures the value of
captures the value of
engaging in rhetorical
engaging in rhetorical
analysis of the specific text;
analysis of the specific text; Good thesis that invites the
Superior thesis compels reader to consider thoughtful
reader to engage in insightful exposition of rhetorical
and investigative dialogue strategies; thesis promises to
into rhetorical strategies;
show reader how rhetoric
provocative thesis promises
works
to awaken reader to how
rhetoric works
Excellent
Illuminates the controversy
(the network of controlling
values present in the text)
with clarity and intellect
(what the text is about—the
issue); Understanding of
rhetoric clearly and
powerfully grounded in
specific examples from text;
Excellent use of rhetorical
and film concepts and
appeals incorporated
seamlessly into argument
Excellent
Excellent topic sentences that
powerfully connect claim of
thesis to specific aspects of
text; text correctly cited and
formatted; varied use of
signal phrases; evidence
clearly and effectively
supports content;
explanations smoothly
complement and support
writer’s points and
illuminates evidence
Good
Explains the controversy
covered in the text with
clear language and obvious
understanding;
Understanding of rhetoric
grounded in examples from
text; Good integration of
rhetorical and film concepts
and appeals into discussion
Student:____________________________ 1
Intro and Thesis (30 points)*
Adequate
Poor
Failing
Introduction projects
Introduction demonstrates Discussion of rhetoric absent
understanding of rhetoric little understanding of rhetoric or completely confused;
and demonstrates the value and the value of engaging in Arguing for or against issue
of engaging in rhetorical
rhetorical analysis;
in text; Thesis missing
analysis of the specific text;
Incomplete thesis fails to
Thesis invites the reader to connect rhetoric to text and/or
engage in exposition of
is focused toward textual
rhetoric and how it works analysis rather than rhetorical
analysis, or takes up a position
for or against the argument of
the text
Content (30 points)
Adequate
Describes the controversy
present in the analyzed text;
Understanding of rhetoric
grounded in examples from
text; Adequate discussion of
rhetorical and film concepts
and appeals, though somewhat
mechanical and clumsy
Poor
Mentions or gives a partial
discussion of the controversy
covered in the text analyzed,
does not explain it;
Understanding of rhetoric, if
present, lacks sufficient
grounds from textual
examples; Misuse or
inappropriate use of
rhetorical concepts and
appeals in discussion
Failing
Fails to mentions or even
give a partial discussion of
the controversy covered in
the text analyzed; No
understanding of rhetoric;
misguided use of text;
Absent, incomplete, and/or
total misapplication of
rhetorical concepts and
appeals
Point, Illustration, Explanation (30 points)
Good
Adequate
Poor
Failing
Strong topic sentences
Adequate topic sentences,
Poor topic sentences;
Topic sentences lacking;
clearly connect claim to
though somewhat
incorrect citation and format; inaccurate evidence or no
specific aspects of the text; mechanical; text correctly
lack of support from text;
textual evidence used; no
text correctly cited and
cited and formatted, though using summary instead of connection between content
formatted; consistent use of with some inconsistency;
explanation; explanation
and text; one dimension
signal phrases; evidence
evidence supports content, confined to one dimension;
represented; cliches and
clearly supports content;
though perhaps relying too
evidence does not
generalizations strung
explanations complement
much on summary;
complement writer’s ideas
together; explanations, if
and support writer’s points
explanations adequately
present, stridently fail to
support writer’s ideas;
complement and support
delivery lacks smooth
actual text or any point about
incorporation
the text
Organization (30 points)
Excellent
Good
Adequate
Poor
Failing
Subtly planned; Essay
Essay ordered in necessary
Order of essay apparent;
Order or emphasis of essay Order and emphasis of essay
ordered in necessary steps steps; Paragraphs unified and paragraphs unified and for inappropriate; Paragraphs
indiscernible; Paragraphs
that reveal a sense of
coherent; Transitions, though
the most part coherent;
jumbled or underdeveloped; lacking or wholly arbitrary;
symmetry and emphasis; functional, fail to consistently Inconsistent transitions that
Transitions unclear,
Transitions lacking
Paragraphs unified and
reveal progress of the
are merely functional
mechanical, or tedious
coherent; Transitions
argument
consistently reveal progress
of the argument
*
The analysis of your selected text will require you to summarize the argument of the text (the controlling value—
context and purpose) as well as how all three aspects of a rhetorical strategy (or strategies) work together to effect,
or fail to effect, persuasion concerning a particular audience.
College Composition II
Assessment Rubric for UNIT 1, rhetorical analysis
Excellent
Sentences that are varied and
forceful; diction that is fresh,
precise, and idiomatic; Tone
that complements the subject,
distinguishes the writer, and
defines the audience
Student:____________________________ 2
Expression and Clarity (20 points)
Good
Adequate
Poor
Failing
Sentences that are correct Sentences that are correct for
Sentences that lack
Sentences that are
and varied; diction that is the most part, but ordinary; necessary subordination, are incoherent; diction that is
clear and idiomatic; Tone
Diction that is generally
tedious patterns, or
nonstandard; Tone
that fits the subject, persona, correct and idiomatic; Tone
immature; Diction that is
indiscernible
and audience
that is acceptable for the
vague or unidiomatic; tone
subject
inconsistent or inappropriate
for audience; Paper written
for instructor as audience
Effort (40 points)†
Excellent
Good
Adequate
Revision process indicates Revision process indicates
Revision process indicates
clear development;
significant development; development; participation in
supportive participation in
effective participation in peer work-shopping; all essay
peer work-shopping; all
peer work-shopping; all
requirements met;
essay requirements
essay requirements met; full participation in all aspects of
successfully met with
participation in all aspects of
process
excellence apparent; full
process
participation in all aspects of
process and clear benefit for
other students during process
Excellent
In accord with standard
usage and MLA format
Total:
†
Poor
Failing
Little development evident;
Revision process not
partial participation in peer
followed; peer workwork-shopping; Some essay shopping incomplete; essay
requirements met;
requirements not met; all
participation in some aspects
aspects of process not
of process
participated in
Usage, Mechanics, and MLA format (20 points)‡
Good
Adequate
Poor
Failing
No serious deviations from Few deviations from standard Difficulty with fragments,
Serious problems with
standard usage and MLA
usage, word choice,
run-on sentences, comma fragments, run-on sentences,
format
punctuation, spelling, and
splices, agreement, or other comma splices, agreement, or
MLA format
distracting features in usage, other distracting features in
word choice, punctuation,
usage, word choice,
spelling, and MLA format
punctuation, spelling and
MLA format (or the lack
thereof)
/200
Effort is a measure of your demonstration of having developed the draft through having responded to written and
verbal comments from me and from your peers. Perhaps more importantly, your development of the draft is a
reflection of the written and verbal comments you have given to your peers. Participation in the process requires you
to be present in class for workshops and that you have provided apt commentary on your peers’ work.
‡
You must include a Works Cited at the end of the paper in order to cite the work analyzed in your paper. You do
not need a separate sheet of paper to do so; simply place it at the very end of your paper. See A Short Guide to
Writing About Film.