Criteria

% Value

1: Unsatisfactory

2: Less Than Satisfactory

3: Satisfactory

4: Good

5: Excellent

% Scaling

0%

65%

75%

85%

100%

Content & Ideas – 40%

Proposal

Content and Ideas Should:

Include an effective title.

Use a thesis that centers on a proposal argument.

Give a problem presence.

Develop the proposal argument by using claim-type strategies that support proposals (categorical, ethical, and/or cause and effect claims).

Present specific evidence to supplement supporting arguments.

40%

Does not have title, and has missing or indiscernible thesis statement and minimal evidence to support main ideas. The writer gives the problem no presence. Argument includes elements of a proposal, but the argument does not center on the proposal. The writer does not use strategies that support proposal arguments.

Title may not suggest subject and does not spark interest. Thesis statement and/or the controlling idea are not clearly stated. The writer gives the problem little presence. Argument includes elements of proposals, but the argument does not center on a proposal and/or the writer does not use strategies that support proposal arguments very well. Ideas are underdeveloped and clichéd. They do not support the thesis. Evidence from outside sources can be irrelevant.

Title suggests subject but does not spark interest. Thesis statement identifies the main point the author is trying to make. The writer gives the problem some presence, though the problem could be explained more forcefully. Most of content relates to thesis statement, but lacks sufficient support through appropriate strategies for making proposal arguments (categorical, ethical, and/or cause and effect claims). Argument may not center specifically on a proposal. Cited evidence sometimes does not justify ideas.

Title suggests subject but does not necessarily spark interest. Thesis statement clearly identifies the main point the author is trying to make. The writer gives the problem presence. Argument centers specifically on a proposal and uses strategies that support it (categorical, ethical, and/or cause and effect claims). Most of the content supports thesis, and cited evidence usually justifies ideas.

Title suggests subject and sparks interest. With a clear, controlling idea, thesis statement effectively identifies the main proposal the student is trying to make. The student gives the problem full presence. Content supports thesis well by effectively using strategies that support proposals as necessary (categorical, ethical, and/or cause and effect claims). Specific, cited evidence justifies ideas and enriches the essay.

Organization – 12%

Organization

12%

No apparent organization present. The piece does not explain that a problem exists, provide a solution, and/or justify the solution. Ineffective introduction does not invite readers or explain the subject. The reader cannot find the thesis statement. Underdeveloped paragraphs lack focus and topic sentences. No conclusion present.

No apparent organization present. The piece might explain that a problem exists, offer a solution, and justify the solution, but may do so only minimally. Introduction explains subject, but does not engage readers. Thesis is difficult to find. Underdeveloped paragraphs lack focus and topic sentences. Weak conclusion offered.

Organization is clear, but with minor errors. The piece might explain that a problem exists, offer a solution, and justify the solution without doing all three convincingly. Introduction explains subject, but does not adequately engage readers. Thesis may be misplaced. Paragraphs are not developed around topic sentences, and may not always advance essay’s ideas. Conclusion summarizes but does not conclude.

Organization aids readers in understanding content. The writing somewhat persuades readers that a problem exists and is important, provide details about the solution, and justify the solution. Introduction explains subject, but may not engage readers. Thesis statement is placed appropriately, according to the genre of writing set forth in the assignment description in the syllabus. Well-ordered paragraphs are developed around topic sentences, and advance essay’s ideas. Conclusion may be more of a summary.

Logically organized to help readers understand content. The writing persuades readers that a problem exists and is important, provide appropriately specific details about the solution, and justify the solution. Introduction explains subject and engages readers. Thesis statement is placed appropriately, according to the genre set forth in the assignment description in the syllabus. Well-ordered paragraphs are developed around topic sentences, and advance essay’s ideas. Conclusion provides strong, satisfying ending, not a mere summary of the essay.

Format – 16%

Paper Format

16%

Layout: Essay lacks more than THREE of the following: double-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman font, 1″ margins, heading (with name, course, date, and instructor), assignment title, and page numbers using appropriate header function. Not all information, paraphrases, quotations, and borrowed ideas are cited on the page they appear; little or no in-text citations and/or entries on reference page used; major documentation oversights noted; major format errors and omissions noted; inappropriate number of required sources used.

Layout: Essay lacks THREE of the following: double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1″ margins, heading (with name, course, date, and instructor), assignment title, and page numbers using appropriate header function. Not all information, paraphrases, quotations, and borrowed ideas are cited on the page they appear; missing more than one citation and/or reference entry; significant documentation oversights noted; significant format errors or omissions noted; inappropriate number of required sources used.

Layout: Essay lacks TWO of the following: double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1″ margins, heading (with name, course, date, and instructor), assignment title, and page numbers using appropriate header function. Not all information, paraphrases, quotations, and borrowed ideas are cited on the page they appear; missing one in-text citation and/or reference entry; minor documentation oversights noted; minor formatting errors or omissions noted; appropriate number of required sources are used.

Essay lacks ONE of the following: double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1″ margins, heading (with name, course, date, and instructor), assignment title, and page numbers using appropriate header function. All information, paraphrases, quotations, and borrowed ideas are cited on the page that they appear and are listed on the references page (APA format); some minor errors or omissions in format noted; appropriate number of required sources is used.

Layout: Essay is double-spaced with 12 pt. Times New Roman font, 1″ margins, heading (with name, course, date, and instructor), assignment title, and page numbers using appropriate header function. All information, paraphrases, quotations, and borrowed ideas are cited in parenthetical APA format; all sources are listed on the references page (APA format); all citations and reference entries are complete and in alphabetical order; appropriate number of required sources is used.

Language & Style – 16%

Language & Style

16%

Voice & tone are inappropriate and ineffective in creating appropriate mood. Inappropriate word choice used. Sentence structure includes ungrammatical structures and no variety. Writing is wordy.

Voice & tone are inappropriate and ineffective in creating appropriate mood. Word choice fails in use of appropriate, precise language and strong verbs. Includes too many “to be” verbs. No attempt to vary sentence structure noted. Writing is wordy.

Voice & tone usually do not characterize ideas appropriately or effectively create appropriate mood. Word choice includes nonstandard outdated usage, too many “to be” verbs, is not precise, and is occasionally incorrect. Some slang or jargon exists in the paper. Inadequate variety in sentence structure noted. Writing is wordy.

Voice & tone usually characterize ideas effectively create appropriate mood. Word choice usually includes current standard usage, active verbs, concrete nouns, and precise words. Some slang or jargon exists in the paper. Some variety of sentence structures strengthens the ideas, creates vitality, and avoids choppiness in the writing. Writing is mostly concisely written.

Voice & tone characterize ideas and effectively create appropriate mood. Word choice includes current standard usage, active verbs, concrete nouns, and precise words. Sentence structures strengthen the ideas, create vitality, and avoid choppiness in the writing. Writing is concise.

Grammar & Mechanics – 16%

Grammar & Mechanics

16%

Demonstrates no control of grammar, spelling, & punctuation conventions.

Many errors, such as:

Apostrophe use

Capitalization

Commas misplaced or missing

Parallelism

Faulty point of view shifts

Pronoun agreement

Quotation errors

Semicolons misused

Run-ons & fragments

Spelling errors

Subject-verb agreement

Tense shifts

Demonstrates minimal control of grammar, spelling, & punctuation conventions. Several errors, such as:

Apostrophe use

Capitalization

Commas misplaced or missing

Parallelism

Faulty point of view shifts

Pronoun agreement

Quotation errors

Semicolons misused

Run-ons & fragments

Spelling errors

Subject-verb agreement

Tense shifts

Demonstrates reasonable control of grammar, spelling, & punctuation conventions.

Some errors, such as:

Apostrophe use

Capitalization

Commas misplaced or missing

Parallelism

Faulty point of view shifts

Pronoun agreement

Quotation errors

Semicolons misused

Run-ons & fragments

Spelling errors

Subject-verb agreement

Tense shifts

Demonstrates high control of grammar, spelling, & punctuation conventions. Few errors, such as:

Apostrophe use

Capitalization

Commas misplaced or missing

Parallelism

Faulty point of view shifts

Pronoun agreement

Quotation errors

Semicolons misused

Run-ons & fragments

Spelling errors

Subject-verb agreement

Tense shifts

Demonstrates outstanding control of grammar, spelling, & punctuation conventions.

No errors, such as:

Apostrophe use

Capitalization

Commas misplaced or missing

Parallelism

Faulty point of view shifts

Pronoun agreement

Quotation errors

Semicolons misused

Run-ons & fragments

Spelling errors

Subject-verb agreement

Tense shifts