Thesis Statement Criteria

CATEGORY 4 - Very Good 3- Good 2- Satisfactory 1 Unsatisfactory

Position The thesis
statement
answers the
question directly.
The writer's
position in
regard to the
question is very
clear.
Writer's position
is stated in the
thesis statement,
but it is not so
clear to
understand from
the first read.
Reader can imply
the author's
position based on
the answer.
Beginning of the
thesis statement
could be more
direct.
Reader does not
understand the
author's position
in regards to the
question.
Scope The scope of the
thesis is not too
narrow or too
general. The
focus points are
clearly defined;
each idea could
provide enough
to write about in
a paragraph.
The scope of the
thesis is a bit too
narrow or too
general. The
focus points are
defined; but the
author could have
difficulty writing
a body paragraph
with that topic.
The scope of the
thesis is a too
narrow or too
general. There are
over-generalization
s or it deals with a
very specific idea,
which will make it
harder to
understand what
the support in the
body paragraphs
will be about.
The thesis
statement scope
is not adequate.
It might be too
vague or unclear.
It does provide
the necessary
guidance to the
reader in
promising which
topics will be
explored.
Support Thesis mentions
3 distinct
reasons
supporting the
writer's stance
without being too
detailed.
Thesis mentions
3 reasons
supporting
writer's stance,
Thesis mentions
1-2 reasons
supporting writer's
stance, but some of
them are repetitive
or the order is not
clear.
Thesis fails at
mentioning any
specific reasons
to support the
writer's position.
Language Language is
clear: parallel
structure,
transition words,
verbs and
vocabulary work
well.
Language is
mostly clear.
Errors could be
easily fixed
without having to
change the
structure of the
thesis statement.
Language helps
understand the
points being made.
However, the thesis
needs to be
rewritten for
grammar, spelling,
or word order
issues.
Language
problems affect
clarity and
understanding of
the author's idea.
Thesis needs to
be rewritten.