RUBRICS (Writing a Paragraph using the Patterns of Development)

Needs
Excellent (10
Criteria Good (8 points) Fair (7 points) Improvement (5
points)
point)
* Clear thesis * Clear thesis * Thesis statement is * Weak or missing
statement that statement, but may present but may be thesis statement. *
directly addresses need slight unclear or not fully Insufficient or
the prompt. * Strong refinement. * relevant to the irrelevant
supporting evidence Adequate supporting prompt. * Limited supporting evidence.
(facts, statistics, evidence, but could supporting evidence, * Unclear or illogical
examples) that benefit from or evidence may not organization. * Lack
effectively support additional details or fully support the of analysis. *
the thesis. * Logical examples. * thesis. * Frequent irrelevant
Content organization with Generally logical Organization is details or factual
clear transitions organization, but somewhat unclear errors.
between ideas. * In- transitions may be or illogical. * Limited
depth analysis and weak in some areas. analysis, or analysis
insightful * Analysis is may be superficial. *
interpretation of the present, but may Some irrelevant
evidence. * No lack depth or details or factual
irrelevant insight. * Few errors.
information or irrelevant details or
factual errors. factual errors.
* Clear and concise * Mostly clear * Writing may be * Writing is unclear
writing with varied writing with some unclear or difficult and difficult to
sentence pattern/ awkward sentence to follow due to follow. * Extremely
structures. * Strong structures. * Mostly complex sentence limited vocabulary,
vocabulary appropriate structures. * Limited may be
appropriate for the vocabulary, but may vocabulary, may inappropriate or
audience and lack variety or lack precision or be incorrect. *
purpose. * sophistication. * informal. * Inconsistent or
Appropriate tone Generally consistent Inconsistent tone or inappropriate tone. *
Writing
and register tone, but may not register. * No or No use of figurative
Style
throughout the always be ineffective use of language. * Frequent
essay. * Effective use appropriate. * figurative language. grammatical errors,
of figurative Limited use of * Some grammatical typos, and
language (optional). figurative language. errors, typos, and punctuation
* Free of * Few grammatical punctuation mistakes.
grammatical errors, errors, typos, and mistakes.
typos, and punctuation
punctuation mistakes.
mistakes.
* No grammatical * Few grammatical * Some grammatical * Frequent
errors, typos, or errors, typos, or errors, typos, or grammatical errors,
punctuation punctuation punctuation typos, or
mistakes. * Proper mistakes. * Minor mistakes that may punctuation
formatting and formatting or affect clarity. * mistakes that
Mechanics
citation style (MLA, citation errors. Inconsistent significantly affect
APA, etc.) followed formatting or clarity. *
consistently. citation style. Inconsistent or
incorrect formatting
or citation style.
* Essay is engaging * Essay is generally * Essay is somewhat * Essay is not
and holds the engaging and engaging, but may engaging and may
reader's interest. * informative. * Shows lack focus or clarity. be difficult to
Demonstrates some evidence of * Limited evidence of understand. * Lacks
Engagement critical thinking and critical thinking. * critical thinking. * critical thinking and
analysis. * Offers a Presents a clear Presents a basic analysis. * Presents
unique perspective argument, but may argument, but may a weak or unclear
or insightful lack originality. not be fully argument.
argument. developed.