English Composition 1

Rubric for Essays

Below is the rubric that is included with graded essays. The rubric defines the criteria used to evaluate essays and allows you to see at a glance the strengths of your essay and what aspects of the essay could be better. It also presents information designed to help you strengthen your essays. For example, if the feedback on one of your essays indicates that the organization of the paper is "Okay," you can look at the description of "Excellent" organization on the rubric to see how the organization could be better.

Below the rubric is a table that lists grammar and punctuation errors. On graded essays, the "X" that is marked in each column indicates how many of each specific error occur in the essay: none, one or two, three or four, five or more.

Just click the links within the rubric and table below to see more information.

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ENG 1001-
Assignment:
Name:

Thesis	Excellent	Good		Okay	Weak		Poor
	The paper has a central purpose and an insightful approach to the subject. The introduction ends with a one-sentence thesis statement expressing the main ideas and how they are logically related.		The paper has a clear approach to the subject. A thesis statement in the introduction expresses the main ideas but may just list the ideas without indicating how they are logically related.			The paper lacks a clear thesis or has a thesis that does not show insight into the subject or is not expressed clearly in the introduction. Logical connections among the main ideas may not be clear.
Organization	Excellent	Good		Okay	Weak		Poor
	The paper is unified with a relevant introduction and conclusion, clear connections between the thesis statement and topic sentences, focused body paragraphs, effective topic sentences, a logical progression of ideas, and smooth transitions.		The paper is organized logically, but there could be clearer connections between topic sentences and the thesis statement, better-focused body paragraphs, more effective topic sentences, a more logical progression of ideas, or better transitions.			The paper does not show an understanding of essay structure. The paper may lack topic sentences, connections between the thesis statement and body paragraphs, focused body paragraphs, a logical progression of ideas, or effective transitions.
Support and Development of Ideas	Excellent	Good		Okay	Weak		Poor
	Ideas are developed with abundant evidence and clear explanation and interpretation tailored to the audience. Each body paragraph is at least half of a page long.		Ideas are developed with evidence and explanation tailored to the audience, but some ideas may lack support. Most body paragraphs are at least half of a page long each.			Ideas lack sufficient evidence and explanation, or the ideas are not appropriate for the audience. Body paragraphs may be shorter than half of a page each.
Insight into the Subject	Excellent	Good		Okay	Weak		Poor
	The ideas are consistently original and insightful and demonstrate a sophistication and complexity of thought.		The ideas are generally clear and logical, perhaps relying heavily on commonly accepted concepts.			The ideas are not consistently clear or logical, lack insight, or rely entirely on commonly accepted concepts.
Style	Excellent	Good		Okay	Weak		Poor
	The paper expresses ideas clearly, with a confident and sophisticated writing style, quotations smoothly integrated, varied sentences, effective word choice, and logical transitions.		The paper expresses ideas clearly but with mostly undistinguished word choice and sentence structure and may include weaknesses such as informal diction and overuse of short sentences.			The paper includes significant weaknesses, such as informal diction, quotations not integrated, overuse of short sentences, awkward wording, and sentences weakened by grammar/punctuation errors.
Grammar Punctuation Mechanics	Excellent	Good		Okay	Weak		Poor
	The paper is free or almost free from grammar and punctuation errors. The format of the paper is correct.		The paper has grammar and punctuation errors, but most errors are minor. Most of the formatting is correct.			The paper has many grammar and punctuation errors and may have major errors. There may be formatting problems.

Number of Errors	0	1-2	3-4	5+	Number of Errors	0	1-2	3-4	5+

Sentence Fragments					Apostrophe/Possessive Errors
Run-on Sentences					Inaccurate Word Choice
Comma Splices					Semicolon Errors
Other Comma Errors					Spelling Errors
Lack of Subject/Verb Agreement					Other Errors
Pronoun Errors

Comments

Grade: