Rubrics for ESSAY

5 4 3 2 1

Ideas and Content (40%)

1. Paper communicates its purpose.
2. Opening statement captures the readers’ interest.
3. Topic is fresh and somehow original.
4. Essay reflects higher level of thought.
5. Paper uses proof and evidence from credible sources.
6. Supporting details relate with their major point.
7. Major points in the body support the central idea.
8. Conclusion restates the main idea.
9. Closing statement is powerful and has a lasting impression.
10. All ideas contribute to the central focus.
11. Paper is developed with consistent and effective point of
view.
ORGANIZATION (30%)
1. Paper uses organizational pattern and structure appropriate
for the genre.
2. Paper uses effective transitions and cohesive devices.
3. Ideas are correctly placed which improves the paper’s
organization.
4. Ideas are complete which improves the flow of the paper.
5. Paper’s organization makes sense to the reader.
STYLE (20%)
1. Paper showcases the voice of the writer.
2. Paper uses a variety of sentence structures.
3. Paper uses words carefully considering both their denotative
and connotative meaning.
4. Writer eliminates sexist language.
5. Writer eliminates redundancies and wordiness.
GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS (10%)
1. Transitional devices are skillfully used.
2. Grammar is accurate.
3. Mechanics are correct.
4. Choice of words is appropriate.
5. Sentences are skillfully structured (absence of run-ons,
ineffective fragments, dangling and misplaced modifiers).
TOTAL

Legend:
5 – To a Very Great Extent
4 – To a Great Extent
3 – To Some Extent
2 – To a Little Extent
1 – Not at All