DBQ Rubric

Introduction

First Reason
Paragraph

Second Reason
Paragraph

Counterargument
Paragraph

Conclusion
Paragraph

Overal
Gramma
Spelling
and
Punctuat

Contains creative
hook sentence,
accurate and
relevant
background
information on the
topic, and a claim
statement that
states at least two
reasons to back up
the argument.

Contains well-written
introduction sentence
explaining first reason
supporting claim and one or
two relevant quotes or direct
references from different
documents with full, clear
explanations and links back
to the reason.

Contains introduction
sentence explaining second
reason supporting claim and
two relevant quotes or direct
references from different
documents with full, clear
explanations and links back
to the reason.

Contains relevant counterargument statement

backed up by at least one
document with a full,
clear explanation and
links back to the counterargument, then
successfully refuted with
one to two sentences.

Contains excellent restatement of claim sentence,

along with several sentences
summarizing main arguments
presented in the argumentative
writing piece and a strong
concluding sentence.

Contains a hook
statement,
background
information on the
topic, and a claim
sentence that
states two reasons
to back up the
argument.

Contains an introduction
sentence explaining first
reason supporting claim and
one or two quotes or direct
references from different
documents with explanation
and links back to the reason.

Contains an introduction
sentence explaining second
reason supporting claim and
two quotes or direct
references from different
documents with explanation
and links back to the reason.

Contains a counterargument statement

backed up by at least one
document with an
explanation and links
back to the counterargument, then refuted
with one or two sentences.

Contains a re-statement of
claim sentence, along with
some summary of the main
arguments made throughout
the argumentative writing
piece, and a concluding
sentence.

The paper is readable,

are several mistakes in
grammar, spelling, and
punctuation.

Contains some
form of
introductory
sentence, some
background on the
topic, and some
kind of claim
statement on the
question at hand.

Contains some kind of

introduction sentence
explaining first reason
supporting claim with
evidence from one to two
documents, and some
explanation of this evidence.

Contains some kind of

introduction sentence
explaining second reason
supporting claim with
evidence from one to two
documents, and some
explanation of this evidence.

Contains some kind of

counter-argument
statement, and using at
least one document as
evidence for this
statement, then refuted in
an unclear manner.

Contains some kind of restatement of thesis and

summary of main arguments,
with a weak concluding
sentence.

The paper has gramma

spelling, and punctuat
throughout the paper.

Introduction with
some unclear
elements of
background
information
and/or a claim
sentence.

May contain an unclear

introduction, along with
some evidence from one to
two documents that is not
explained clearly.

May contain an unclear

introduction, along with
some evidence from one to
two documents that is not
explained clearly.

May contain an unclear

counter-argument
sentence, along with some
evidence from a document
that is not explained
clearly. There is little to
no attempt to refute the
counter-argument.

May contain some elements of

thesis or summary of main
arguments, and little to no
concluding sentence.

The paper is difficult t

to many grammar, spe
punctuation errors thro
the paper.

No introduction
paragraph.

No first reason paragraph or

it is incoherent.

No second reason paragraph

or it is incoherent.

No counter-argument
paragraph or it is
incoherent.

No conclusion paragraph.

The paper is unreadab

an abundance of gram
spelling, and punctuat
throughout the paper.

The paper is clearly a

product that has been
thoroughly for gramm
spelling, and punctuat