Rubric Exercise

Insects and Culture

Writing Criteria for all essay materials
Criteria
Mechanics: length,
grammar, reference
citation style

Writing Style/Prose

References and
Evidence

Voice, Creativity,
Novelty

Organization

Mastering (5 or 4)
Length is within set
parameters, very few or
no grammatical errors,
references cited (both
in-text and in
bibliography)
appropriately
Flows, easy to read,
sentence structure is
fluid, piece is
persuasively written

Developing (3 or 2)
Length may be outside
set parameters,
grammatical errors
noticeably present in
paper, references are
cited in an inconsistent
format
Writing choppy, voice
not consistent,
sentence structure
awkward in places,
reader not fully
persuaded by writing

All arguments are

supported with
evidence and
references, facts are
clearly linked to the
arguments they
support, the number of
references is at or
above the specified
level
Exciting and interesting,
captivates and catches
the attention of the
reader, the novelty or
value of the topic is
highlighted

Most arguments are

supported by evidence
and references, the link
between the references
and the arguments
made is sometimes
unclear, the number of
references is at or
below the specified
level
At points the essay is
not interesting or fails
to capture the readers
attention, the
importance or novelty
or topics discussed is
not emphasized
The piece could be
organized in a more
persuasive way, ideas
are sometimes
repeated in different
areas of the essay,
arguments do not
always flow but are still
logically arranged

The organization of the

piece makes it
persuasive, ideas are
not repeated,
arguments flow in
logical and sequential
order

Emerging (1 or 0)
Length outside of set
parameters,
grammatical errors
detract from the essay,
references cited
inappropriately or in
the wrong format
Writing hard to follow,
voice fluctuates often,
sentences structure
makes ideas difficult to
understand, the writing
confuses or fails to
persuade the reader
Many arguments are
not supported by
evidence or references,
if references and facts
are used their
connection to the
arguments made are
not explained, number
of references below the
specified level
The reader is not
captivated or drawn to
the essay, the
importance and novelty
of the topics discussed
is not explained or
addressed
The organization often
takes away from the
persuasion of the piece,
ideas repeated often in
different places of the
essay, arguments to not
flow and are not
logically arranged