Criteria

5 - Excellent

4 - Above average

3 - Average

2 - Below average

1 - Failing

Title

5 Points

Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the topic.

4 Points

Title makes an attempt to catch the reader's interest

3 Points

Title is related to the topic but needs to be more creative

2 Points

Title is present but is either generic or confusing.

0 Points

No title is present

Paragraphing / structure

5 Points

The essay uses paragraphs effectively.

4 Points

There may be a few problems with paragraphing but overall the writer uses them well.

3 Points

There are a few paragraphs in this essay that are a little long (or a little too short for no reason).

2 Points

Paragraphing often seems to be random. There is no apparent logic for why paragraphs are broken up the way they are.

0 Points

There are no paragraphs.

Content of the argument

30 -24 Points

The argument is clearly explained and backed up with well stated logical explanation and carefully chosen research. If there is a call to action included, the terms/ suggestions are clear and definite.

23 – 18 Points

The argument is well-constructed and backed by researched information but there may either be some places that are not as polished or that need more development. Also, there may be places where the writer’s logic or support needs work.

19 – 13 Points

The writer manages to make a statement about a particular issue, though parts of that statement may be a little vague or unsupported by research. The writer’s opinion shows pretty good critical thinking and logic. Either the writer’s thesis is rather vaguely stated or the examples or logic that he/she chooses do not clearly back it up. There are moments in the writer’s essay where their argument does not seem to make much sense..

12 – 6 Points

The writer’s thesis is a little unclear, unexplained, or not really logically supported. There may be some obvious holes in the writer’s logic. The writer uses examples and research that are not clear or that seem to contradict his argument. The argument may be too informative or might not take a clear stance on the issue being considered.

5- 0 Points

It is hard to determine what the writer is wanting the reader to focus on The essay wanders. The examples or research chosen do not seem to have much at all to do with the argument of the writer. The writer might not really explain the logic behind their argument much at all.

Sources

10-9 Points

Student presents relevant and fully analyzed textual evidence to support the thesis and makes an attempt to connect that information to his own argument. The sources used are completely reliable and authoritative.

8-7 Points

Student presents relevant and fully analyzed textual evidence to support the thesis and makes an attempt to connect that information to his own argument. The sources used are sound, though there may be some that are questionable.

6 – 4 Points

Student presents relevant and partially analyzed textual evidence to support the thesis. The sources used have not been carefully examined for their reliability and are rather questionable in nature.

3 – 1 Points

Student presents textual evidence that is not integrated into the argument or does not support the thesis. The sources that the essay uses are general and/or unreliable. There seems to have been little consideration of the nature of the research used.

0 Points

Student provides no textual evidence to support the thesis or student’s textual evidence is irrelevant and is not analyzed. Sources are either not used or are not smoothly integrated into the student’s argument.

Voice/ Presentation

20 -17 Points

In presenting his argument, the writer manages to give an impression of trustworthiness and objectivity while also demonstrating why this topic is important to him personally.

16 – 13 Points
The writer seems reasonable and fairly objective but there may be occasions where the voice of the essay becomes too personal or too objective in places.

12 – 9 Points

There are some problems with the consistency of the essay’s voice. The writer may have either adopted a voice that seems too personal and subjective (perhaps using too much emotional appeal) or too objective and distant (seeming too impersonal)

8 – 5 Points

There are obvious problems with the consistency of the voice in this essay. The writer does not seem to have considered how his audience will perceive him (as the writer of the essay). The writer uses the first person (“I” and “you”) too much or too inappropriately. There is no objectivity in the argument.

4 -0 Points

There is absolutely no attempt to write with voice personality in this essay.

Organization

20 – 17 Points

The writer has found some way to really make his/her discussion gripping. It makes you want to read the argument.

16 – 13 Points

The way that the writer presents their argument makes it easy to understand what they are talking about.

12 – 9 Points

The writer presents his argument in a manner that is logical and that flows well. There may problems here or there but, overall, their essay/argument is pretty easy to follow.

8 – 5 Points

The presentation of the argument seems a little random or disorganized. The discussion does not really flow from point to point very well.

4 – 0 Points

The essay seems to be an almost random collection of statements. There is little discernible organization at all.

MLA formatting and documentation

10 – 9 Points

The formatting of the works cited and the in-text citations meets the criteria of MLA.

8 – 7 Points

The formatting of the works cited and the in-text citations meets the criteria of MLA but there are a few minor problems here and there.

6 – 4 Points

The formatting of the works cited and the in-text citations generally meets the criteria of MLA but there may be some recurring errors .

3 – 1 Points

The student attempts MLA format in this essay but there are noticeable and regular errors.

The paper contains one or more sources in the argument that are either not documented or that are not on the works cited.

0 Points

The writer makes no attempt at MLA format. Perhaps the writer uses another formatting style (APA, for example).

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