DEFINITION ESSAY SCORING RUBRIC
NAME _________________
SUPERIOR
CONTENT
/25
ORGANIZATION
/15
STYLE
/20
VISUAL/PICTURE
/10
GRAMMAR/MECHANICS
/10
CITATION FORMAT
/10
WORKS CITED
/10
GOOD
INCONSISTENT
INADEQUATE
___Strong topic with great depth
___Meets all prompt requirements
___Good topic
___Meets most prompt
requirements
___Superficial topic
___Meets some prompt
requirements
___Weak Topic
___Meets few prompt requirements
___Strong introduction which is inviting
and highly interesting
___Provides reasons, elaborated
details/facts beyond the obvious
___Uses varied or subtle transitions
between ideas/paragraphs
___Uses effective examples, explanation
or elaboration
___Uses logical arrangement of ideas
___Includes a strong conclusion;
readdresses topic in interesting way
___Recognizable introduction
___Reasons, details/facts are
general/obvious
___Uses good transitions
___Uses good examples or
explanations
___Ideas may wander
___Includes a solid conclusion
___Attempts an introduction
___Reasons, details, facts are brief
and not explained
___Uses ineffective or ordinary
transitions
___Uses few weak examples and
very little explanation
___Arrangement of ideas is stilted
or random
___Weak conclusion which merely
restates topic
___Abrupt beginning w/o introduction
___Reasons, details/facts are unclear
or unrelated
___Rarely connects ideas
___Uses inaccurate, confusing or no
examples/explanation
___Little or no attempt to establish
order
___Ends abruptly with incomplete
conclusion
___Is engaging
___Uses accurate, precise vocabulary
appropriate for audience/purpose
___Uses active and precise verbs
___Uses figurative language, imagery,
and/or striking language
___Is fluent, easy to read, using an
effective variety of sentence beginnings,
structures and length
___Uses and IDENTIFIES one cumulative
sentence with 20 words
___Uses and IDENTIFIES one periodic
sentence with 30 words
___Is occasionally engaging
___Uses accurate but general
word choice
___Uses a mix of active and
general word choice
___Uses a mix of active and
general verbs
___Uses familiar words and some
striking language
___Is generally fluent with
occasional choppiness and
awkward construction
___Uses a cumulative sentence
with 15-20 words
___Uses a periodic sentence with
20-30 words
___Is somewhat bland
___Word choice may include
errors in word usage
___Most verbs are imprecise and
colorless
___Uses basic words and phrases
___Uses mostly simple sentences
that begin and end the same way;
may have many choppy or
rambling sentences
___Uses a cumulative sentence
with 5-15 words
___Uses a periodic sentence with
5-20 words
___Is bland
___Inaccurate or repetitive or
inappropriate word choice
___Uses passive, imprecise colorless
verbs
___Uses vague/limited language or
frequent clichés
___Repetitive sentence structure; uses
many fragments, run-ons
___No apparent cumulative sentence
___No apparent periodic sentence
___Uses an image that helps define the
term.
___Image is relevant and effective
___Is correct
___Is usually correct
___Uses an image but seems
somewhat irrelevant
___Image isn’t really effective in
the definition
___Some evidence of
proofreading
___Is occasionally correct
___No image apparent
___Is nearly error free
___Uses an image that
superficially defines the term
___Image is connected and
somewhat effective
___Has few errors
___Is correct
___Has few errors
___Inconsistent
___Inadequate/unacceptable
___Inadequate proofreading
___Is rarely correct
DEFINITION ESSAY SCORING RUBRIC
NAME _________________