Characteristic

Thesis

Understanding
of the Question

Analysis

Supportive
Information
Grammar and
Structure
Organization
and Writing
Style

Score 8-9
Score 5-7
87 or above
77 or above
Clear, well
Contains a clear
developed thesis thesis with limited
development

Score 2-4
Score 0-1
67 or above
66 or below
Lacks a thesis, or
No thesis
thesis may be
confused or
underdeveloped
Understands
Limited or lack of Ignores complexity; May simply
complexity of the understanding of may deal with one paraphrase or
question; deals complexity; may
part of the question, restate the question
with all parts of thedeal with one part of or all elements of the
question in depth the question in
question in a
some depth, or in a superficial way
more general way
Provides effective Limited analysis, Weak or
No analysis
analysis of the
mostly describes inappropriate analysis
question; some
imbalance
permissible
Supports thesis Supports thesis with Lacks supporting
Incompetent,
with substantial, some factual
information, or
inappropriate
relevant
information
information given is responses
information
minimal
May contain
May contain minor May contain major Contains many
insignificant errors errors that do not errors
major or minor
detract from overall
errors
essay
Well organized Clearly organized Weak organization Disorganized and
and well written and written, but not and writing
poorly written
exceptional