Allison Boye, TLTC

Evaluating Student Writing

SAMPLE ANALYTIC RUBRIC

Focus (20 Points)
Does the essay have a clearly stated, argumentative thesis? Does the essay maintain that focus throughout? Are
its main points of argument clearly articulated?

Development (30 Points)

Does the essay develop its claims and ideas logically and thoroughly? Does the essay support its ideas with
sound evidence and examples? Does the essay address counterarguments?

Organization (25 Points)

Does the essay employ a strong overall structure? Are the paragraphs structured carefully and logically, with
clear transitions and topic sentences? Are the paragraphs unified and coherent?

Grammar and Mechanics (15 Points)

Is the essay free of grammatical and mechanical errors? Do sentence-level errors impede reading of the essay?

Audience Awareness, Tone and Style (10 Points)

Does the essay employ a style and voice appropriate to the audience, purpose, genre, and claims? Are
sentences clear and effective?