Essay Writing Rubric
Essay Writing Rubric
Essay Writing Rubric
Description: This rubric will help you know exactly what I am expecting to find in an essay.
3-4 / NEEDS
9-10 / EXCELLENT 7-8 / VERY GOOD 5-6 / AVERAGE 1-2 / UNACCEPTABLE
IMPROVEMENT
This paper is clear and focused. It This paper is mostly focused, and The writer is beginning to define the Topic is not well-defined and/or As yet, the paper has no clear
holds the reader's attention. has some good details and quotes. topic, even though development is still there are too many topics. sense of purpose or central
Relevant details and quotes basic or general. theme. To extract meaning
enrich the central theme. from the text, the reader must
make inferences based on
sketchy or missing details.
IDEAS &
FLUENCY
The writing has an easy flow, The writing mostly flows, and The text hums along with a steady beat, The text seems choppy and is not The reader has to practice
rhythm, and cadence. Sentences usually invites oral reading. but tends to be more businesslike than easy to read orally. quite a bit in order to give this
are well built, with strong and musical, more mechanical than fluid. paper a fair interpretive
varied structure that invites reading.
expressive oral reading.
The organization enhances and Paper (and paragraphs) are mostly The organizational structure is strong Sentences within paragraphs The writing lacks a clear sense
showcases the central idea or organized, in order, and makes enough to move the reader through the make sense, but the order of of direction. Ideas, details, or
theme. The order, structure of sense to the reader. text without too much confusion. paragraphs does not. events seem strung together in
ORGANIZATION information is compelling and a loose or random fashion;
moves the reader through the there is no identifiable internal
text. structure.
The writer demonstrates a good The write understands good writing The writer shows reasonable control The writer seems to have made Errors in spelling, punctuation,
grasp of standard writing conventions and usually uses them over a limited range of standard writing little effort to use conventions: capitalization, usage, and
conventions (e.g., spelling, correctly. Paper is easily read and conventions. Conventions are spelling, punctuation, grammar and/or paragraphing
punctuation, capitalization, errors are rare; minor touch-ups sometimes handled well and enhance capitalization, usage, grammar repeatedly distract the reader
grammar, usage, paragraphing) would get this piece ready to readability; at other times, errors are and/or paragraphing have multiple and make the text difficult to
and uses conventions effectively publish. distracting and impair readability. errors. read.
CONVENTIONS
to enhance readability.
&
PRESENTATION
The form and presentation of the The format only has a few mistakes The writer's message is understandable The writer's message is only The reader receives a garbled
text enhances the ability for the and is generally easy to read and in this format. understandable occasionally, and message due to problems
reader to understand and connect pleasing to the eye. paper is messily written relating to the presentation of
with the message. It is pleasing to the text, and is not typed.
the eye.