Rubric for Assessment of the Personal Essay

(maximum of 15 points for each essay)

3 2 1 0
INTRODUCTI Well-developed Introduction Introduction Background details
ON introduction creates interest. adequately are a random
Background/Hist engages the Sufficient explains the collection of
ory reader and background background, information, unclear,
Thesis Statement creates interest. information is but may lack or not related to the
CONCLUSION Contains detailed provided. Thesis detail. Thesi topic. Thesis is vague
background clearly states the s states the or unclear.
information. position or belief. position or Conclusion does not
Thesis clearly Conclusion belief. summarize main
states a effectively Conclusion is points.
significant and summarizes recognizable
compelling topics. and ties up
position or belief. almost all
Conclusion loose ends.
effectively wraps
up and goes
beyond restating
the thesis.
MAIN POINTS The main idea or The main idea can The main More than one of the
Body Paragraphs a thesis statement be identified. The idea can be following problems
is clearly defined. writer shares identified. may be evident: The
There may be relevant The writer main idea is not
more than one information, facts shares some identifiable. The
key point. and information, writer shares some
Appropriate experiences. Ther facts and information, but it is
relevant e is a clear experiences, limited or unclear.
information and distinction but may Details are missing or
details are shared between general show repetitious.
from a variety of observations and problems
sources including specifics. Support going from
personal ing details are general
experiences, relevant and observations
observations, and explain the main to specifics.
prior knowledge. idea. Stronger
Supporting support and
details are greater
accurate, attention to
relevant, and details would
helpful in strengthen
clarifying the this paper.
main idea(s).
ORGANIZATI Logical Logical Organization No discernable
ON progression of progression of is clear. organization. Transiti
Structure ideas with a clear ideas. Transitions Transitions ons are not
Transitions structure that are present. present. Connections
 enhances the are present equally between ideas seem
thesis. Transition throughout essay. confusing or
s are mature and incomplete.
graceful.
STYLE The paper is Writer's voice Writer's Writing is confusing,
Writer’s Voice, honest and is consistent and voice may hard to
Audience enthusiastic. The strong. The writer emerge follow. Language is
Awareness, language is is aware of an strongly on vague. No audience
natural yet audience. The occasion, awareness. No
thought- reader is informed then retreat variety in sentence
provoking. It and remains behind structure.
brings the topic engaged. general,
to life. The reader Sentences have vague,
feels a strong varied structure. tentative, or
sense of abstract
interaction with language.
the writer and The writer is
senses the person aware of an
behind the words. audience. Th
Writing is e reader is
smooth, skillful, informed, but
and must work at
coherent. Senten remaining
ces are strong and engaged.
expressive with Sentence
varied structure structure
shows some
variety.
MECHANICS Punctuation, Punctuation, A few Distracting errors
Spelling, spelling, spelling, errors in in punctuation,
punctuation, capitalization capitalization punctuation spelling,
capitalization are correct. No are generally , spelling, capitalization.
errors. correct, with capitalizatio
few errors. (1-2) n. (3-4)