Grading Rubric – Document Based Question Name:___________________________
Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 0
Exceeds Standard Meets Standard Approaches Standard Below Standard
-Thoroughly answers the -Answers the question -Does not quite answer the -Does not fully -Fails to
Understands question question understand the answer the
and answers -Uses a clear thesis -Thesis is mostly clear -Attempts a thesis but may question question or
the question be unclear or unfocused -Thesis missing or is unrelated
off-topic to the topic
-Consistently uses accurate -Generally uses -Makes limited use of the -Fails to use the Uses no
data from at least three accurate data from documents; may only documents or accurate
Uses
documents some of the restate the contents of the makes vague or data
evidence
-May misinterpret one documents documents unclear references
from
document -May misinterpret one -May include to the documents
documents document unconnected or
inaccurate information
-Uses appropriate supporting -Uses some supporting -Uses few or weak -May use Is illegible no
Development explanations to analyze explanation and supporting explanations or information that is sense can
of ideas evidence analysis analysis not relevant or be made
accurate
-Logical plan of organization -Uses a general plan -Organization is weak; -Lacks a plan of Is
of organization; may may list examples without organization incoherent,
use a list style format tying them together no sense
-Includes an introduction, -May lack an -May lack an introduction can be
Organization body, and conclusion introduction and/or a and/or a conclusion made
-Uses appropriate transitions conclusion
-Essay remains focused on -Essay remains mostly -Essay may be unfocused -Essay is unfocused
supporting the thesis focused on supporting or go off-topic at points and goes off-topic
throughout the thesis throughout
-Consistently expresses ideas -Generally expresses -Expresses ideas but does -Does not express Is a blank
clearly ideas clearly not do so fully and clearly ideas clearly paper
Clarity/
-Few or no grammar, -Some grammar, -Some grammar, -Many grammar,
Mechanics
punctuation, or spelling punctuation, or punctuation, or spelling punctuation, or
errors spelling errors errors spelling errors
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