Name:
Human Forces Essay: Grading Rubric
Period:
Introduction and
Thesis
(5 points possible)
Quality of
Research
(15 points possible)
Organization and Transitions
(5 points possible)
Closing
Paragraph
(5 points possible)
Exceeds the Standard
Introduction paragraph begins with a lead to grab the reader’s attention, connects to the thesis by providing background to the topic, states the thesis in arguable terms, and ends with an outline of the main points to come.
At least two of the main body paragraphs contain 3 or more strong details to support the main idea. Supporting details show accurate research and are clearly explained.
Main body paragraphs appear in the order outlined in intro paragraph, begin with clearly stated topic sentences, and end with closing sentences that sum up the main idea of the paragraph.
The topic/closing sentences do not sound too similar, and smoothly transition the reader from one main idea to the next.
Closing paragraph restates the thesis without sounding too similar, sums up the essay’s three main arguments, and successfully leaves the reader with a “big,” interesting, or general thought.
Writing
Conventions
(5 points possible)
Essay contains 0 to 2 errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation that distract the reader from the writing.
Meets the Standard
Introduction paragraph begins with a general statement, provides background to the topic, states the thesis in arguable terms, and ends with an outline of the main points to come.
Each main body paragraph contains at least 2 strong details to support the main idea. Supporting details show accurate research and are clearly explained.
Main body paragraphs appear in the order outlined in intro paragraph, begin with clearly stated topic sentences, and end with closing sentences that sum up the main idea of the paragraph. Some of the topic/closing sentences may sound too much alike, though.
Below Standard
Introduction paragraph is missing one or more of the following:
 a general statement to lead into the essay
 background to the topic
 a thesis stated in arguable terms
 an outline of the main points to come
One or more main body paragraphs contain fewer than 2 strong details to support the main idea; or the details featured are factually inaccurate or confusing.
Main body paragraphs do one or more of the following:
 are out of order
 are missing topic and/or closing sentences
Self-Assessment
Closing paragraph restates the thesis without sounding too similar, sums up the essay’s three main arguments, and attempts to leave the reader with a “big,” interesting, or general thought.
Essay contains 3 to 5 errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation that distract the reader from the writing.
Closing paragraph does one or more of the following:
 restates the thesis but sounds too similar to the intro
 does not sum up the essay’s 3 main arguments
 just ends, without attempting to leave the reader with a “big,” interesting, or general thought
Essay contains 6 or more errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation that distract the reader from the writing.

Name:
Remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. For example, if you are writing a paper for a class on fitness, you might be asked to choose a popular weight-loss product to evaluate. Here are two thesis statements:
There are some negative and positive aspects to the Banana Herb Tea
Supplement.
This is a weak thesis statement. First, it fails to take a stand. Second, the phrase negative and positive aspects is vague.
Because Banana Herb Tea Supplement promotes rapid weight loss that results in the loss of muscle and lean body mass, it poses a potential danger to customers.
This is a strong thesis because it takes a stand, and because it's specific.
Your thesis should indicate the point of the discussion. If your assignment is to write a paper on kinship systems, using your own family as an example, you might come up with either of these two thesis statements:
My family is an extended family.
This is a weak thesis because it merely states an observation. Your reader won’t be able to tell the point of the statement, and will probably stop reading.
While most American families would view consanguineal marriage as a threat to the nuclear family structure, many Iranian families, like my own, believe that these marriages help reinforce kinship ties in an extended family.
A good strategy for creating a strong thesis is to show that the topic is controversial.
Readers will be interested in reading the rest of the essay to see how you support your point.
Period:
Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper. For example:
Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and Web pages can provide both advertising and customer support.
This is a weak thesis statement because the reader can’t decide whether the paper is about marketing on the Internet or Web pages. To revise the thesis, the relationship between the two ideas needs to become more clear. One way to revise the thesis would be to write:
Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using Web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.
This is a strong thesis because it shows that the two ideas are related. Hint: a great many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because , since , so , although , unless , and however .
A thesis statement should show exactly what your paper will be about, and will help you keep your paper to a manageable topic. For example, if you're writing a seven-toten page paper on hunger, you might say:
World hunger has many causes and effects.
This is a weak thesis statement for two major reasons. First, world hunger can’t be discussed thoroughly in seven to ten pages. Second, many causes and effects is vague. You should be able to identify specific causes and effects. A revised thesis might look like this:
Hunger persists in Glandelinia because jobs are scarce and farming in the infertile soil is rarely profitable.
This is a strong thesis statement because it narrows the subject to a more specific and manageable topic, and it also identifies the specific causes for the existence of hunger.
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Name:
Writing a Strong Thesis Statement
Every thesis statement is an argument to be proved and supported by the body of the essay. Remember, if your essay doesn’t support your thesis statement, you have two choices: change your essay or change your thesis statement.
WEAK THESIS: I learned that if I procrastinate, my essays will not come out as good.
STRONG THESIS:
Say why:
For many student writers, procrastination is based on fear; this fear keeps students from improving their writing because they do not take the time to fully develop their ideas.
Say why we should care:
Students should understand that worrying about grammar and spelling too early in the writing process will actually lead to a less analytical essay.
Say how:
English teachers often overwhelm students by giving them too many things to think about when writing essays: thesis statements, grammar, spelling, organization, audience, etc.
Make specific comparisons:
The key difference between writing in high school and writing in college is that your ideas become more important than your form.
Therefore, college freshman have to learn a new way to write.
Make an evaluation:
My high school teacher’s insistence on teaching me the 5-paragraph essay has actually hurt my writing skills.
Period:
Consider the consequences:
If students do not find ways to ignore their audience at first and write
“shitty first drafts,” they will never learn to fully develop their ideas.
Apply previous/other knowledge:
Knowing your audience is important; nevertheless, after realizing how much easier it is to write for a friend rather than a teacher, I am convinced that students should ignore their audience when writing a first draft.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
 Have I said something specific and meaningful? Have I used specific names, examples, dates, facts, etc., and said something about them?
 Have I said something arguable? What’s the point if everyone will agree with you or if everyone already knows this?
 Can I support my thesis? Can I think of specific examples and evidence? Does every point I bring up support my thesis or do I
 need to revise my thesis statement?
Is it specific enough to write about in the required number of pages? Or would someone have to write a book (or a set of

 encyclopedias) to fully support my thesis?
Is my thesis relevant to the assignment? Does it do what my teacher asks (i.e. argue, summarize, compare/contrast)?
Does it show my ability to think critically about the subject? Does it answer one or more of the 5 Ws?
 Can I combine any of the above strategies to make my thesis even stronger and still answer “yes” to the above questions?