Basic Essay Writing Rubric  

                               

Name: _________________ Teacher: Mrs. Hancock
Date: August 8, 2009 Class: English 7
Description: This rubric will help you know exactly what I am expecting to find in an essay.
5 / 4 / VERY 2 / NEEDS 1 /
3 / AVERAGE
EXCELLENT GOOD IMPROVEMENT UNACCEPTABLE
This paper is This paper is The writer is Topic is not well- As yet, the paper has
clear and mostly focused, beginning to defined and/or no clear sense of
focused. It holds and has some define the topic, there are too many purpose or central
the reader's good details and even though topics. theme. To extract
Ideas attention. quotes. development is meaning from the
Relevant details still basic or text, the reader must
and quotes general. make inferences
enrich the based on sketchy or
central theme. missing details.
The organization Paper (and The Sentences within The writing lacks a
enhances and paragraphs) are organizational paragraphs make clear sense of
showcases the mostly structure is sense, but the order direction. Ideas,
central idea or organized, in strong enough to of paragraphs does details, or events
theme. The order, and move the reader not. seem strung together
Organization order, structure makes sense to through the text in a loose or random
of information is the reader. without too fashion; there is no
compelling and much confusion. identifiable internal
moves the structure.
reader through
the text.
Sentence The writing has The writing The text hums The text seems The reader has to
Fluency an easy flow, mostly flows, along with a choppy and is not practice quite a bit in
rhythm, and and usually steady beat, but easy to read orally. order to give this
 cadence. invites oral tends to be more paper a fair
Sentences are reading. businesslike interpretive reading.
well built, with than musical,
strong and more
varied structure mechanical than
that invites fluid.
expressive oral
reading.
The writer The write The writer The writer seems to Errors in spelling,
demonstrates a understands shows have made little punctuation,
good grasp of good writing reasonable effort to use capitalization, usage,
standard writing conventions and control over a conventions: and grammar and/or
conventions usually uses limited range of spelling, paragraphing
(e.g., spelling, them correctly. standard writing punctuation, repeatedly distract the
punctuation, Paper is easily conventions. capitalization, reader and make the
capitalization, read and errors Conventions are usage, grammar text difficult to read.
Conventions grammar, are rare; minor sometimes and/or
usage, touch-ups would handled well and paragraphing have
paragraphing) get this piece enhance multiple errors.
and uses ready to publish. readability; at
conventions other times,
effectively to errors are
enhance distracting and
readability. impair
readability.
Presentation The form and The format only The writer's The writer's The reader receives a
presentation of has a few message is message is only garbled message due
the text mistakes and is understandable understandable to problems relating to
enhances the generally easy in this format. occasionally, and the presentation of
ability for the to read and paper is messily the text, and is not
reader to pleasing to the written. typed.
understand and eye.
connect with the
message. It is
pleasing to the
eye.