Position Paper Rubric

Category 5 4 3 2 Score
above standards meets approaching below
standards standards standards
Attention- The introductory The The author has The
Grabber paragraph has a introductory an interesting introductory
strong hook or paragraph has introductory paragraph is
attention grabber a hook or paragraph but not interesting
that is appropriate attention the connection and is not
for the audience. grabber, but it’s to the topic is relevant to the
This could be a weak, unclear. topic.
strong statement, a rambling, or
relevant quotation, inappropriate.
statistic, or question.
Focus or The thesis statement The thesis The thesis The thesis
Thesis clearly names the statement statement statement
Statement topic of the essay names the topic outlines some does not name
and outlines the of the essay. or all of the the topic and
main points to be The author’s main points to does not
discussed. The position is be discussed preview what
author’s position is stated. but does not will be
strongly and clearly name the discussed.
stated. topic.
Support or Includes 3 or more Includes 3 or Includes 2 Includes 1
Position pieces of evidence more pieces of pieces of piece of
that support the evidence that evidence that evidence, but
position statement. support the support the does not
The writer position. position. include any
anticipates the Includes at least Includes at counter-
reader’s concerns, 2 counter- least 1 argument.
biases, or arguments arguments. counter-
and has provided at argument.
least 3
counterarguments.
Evidence and All of the evidence Most of the At least one of Evidences and
Examples and examples are evidence and the pieces of examples are
specific, relevant, examples are evidence and not relevant
and explanations are specific, examples is and/or are not
given that show how relevant, and relevant and explained.
each piece of explanations has an
evidence supports are given that explanation
the position. show how each that shows
piece of how that piece
evidence of evidence
supports the supports the
author’s position.
position.
Sequencing Arguments and Arguments and A few of the Many of the
support are support are supporting supporting
provided in a logical provided in a details or details or
order making the fairly logical arguments are arguments are
essay easy and order that not in an not in a logical
interesting to read. makes it expected or order making
reasonably easy logical order the essay
and interesting making the distracting
to read. essay and very
distracting confusing to
and confusing read.
to read.
Writing Piece is clearly Author paid Errors may be Errors make
Mechanics written with NO attention to present and the essay
grammar, spelling, writing may slightly difficult to
 punctuation, conventions; take away read and/or
capitalization, or minor errors do from the understand.
typographical not distract clarity; yet the
errors. from meaning. writer’s
meaning can
be
determined.
Closing The conclusion is The conclusion The author’s There is no
Paragraph strong and leaves the is recognizable. position is conclusion.
reader solidly The author’s restated
understanding the position is within the
writer’s position. restated within closing
Effective the first two paragraph, but
restatement of the sentences of the not near the
position statement closing beginning.
begins the closing paragraph and The essay’s
paragraph and is is followed by a body is not
followed by an summary of the summarized.
effective summary body of the
of the body of the essay.
essay.
References All references are At least 2 At least 1 None of the
cited properly. references are reference is references are
cited properly. cited properly. cited properly.
Overall Score
Remarks:

Adapted from: https://www.scholastic.com/content/dam/teachers/lesson-plans/migrated-featured-

files/persuasiveessay.pdf
 Book Review Rubric
Category 5 4 3 2 Score
above meets approaching below
standards standards standards standards
Introductory Includes short Includes short Includes Does not
Paragraph but concise background of vague include a clear
background of the book, background of background of
the book, attention- the book, the book,
attention- grabbing attention- attention-
grabbing statement, and grabbing grabbing
statement, and main reason statement, but statement,
main reason why the writer did not state and the main
why the writer found it why the writer reason why
found it interesting to found it the writer
interesting to read. interesting to found it
read. read. interesting to
read.
Opinion/Critique The writer The writer The writer The writer
shares his/her shares his/her briefly shares does not share
personal personal his/her his/her
opinion of the opinion of the personal personal
book, book, opinion of the opinion of the
commenting commenting book. The book. The
on the book’s on the book’s writer writer does
strengths and strengths and provides not include
weaknesses. weaknesses. limited examples
The author The author examples from from the book
provides provides the book to to support
many specific examples from support his/her
examples the book to his/her opinion.
from the book support opinion.
to support his/her
his/her opinion.
opinion.
Organization The writer has The writer has The writer has The writer did
organized the organized the attempted to not organize
review into review into organize the the review
detailed paragraphs. It review into into
paragraphs. It is easy to paragraphs. It paragraphs. It
is easy to follow the is somewhat is difficult to
follow the writer’s ideas. difficult to follow the
writer’s ideas follow the writer’s ideas.
because they writer’s ideas.
flow nicely
together.
Writing Mechanics Piece is clearly Author paid Errors may be Errors make
written with attention to present and the essay
NO grammar, writing may slightly difficult to
spelling, conventions; take away read and/or
punctuation, minor errors from the understand.
capitalization, do not distract clarity; yet the
or from meaning. writer’s
typographical meaning can
errors. be
determined.
Overall Score
Remarks:

Adapted from: http://www2.sedomocha.org/colemanbookreviews/BookReviewRubric.pdf