World History Essay Assignment and Rubric

11th Grade
Mr. Nussbaum

"War is the health of the state," the radical writer Randolph Bourne said. For your essay,
you will be looking at World War 1 from a worldly perspective. You will be answering if you
agree or disagree with Randolph Bourne’s statement. Does war contribute to help the health of
the state, or does it overall hurt the health of the state? Your answer should be clearly stated in
your thesis. You will support your thesis with 3 reasons on why WW1 helped or hurt certain
countries. Make sure to explain your evidence, demonstrating how exactly it either hurt or helped
the state you are discussing. In addition to this, address one counter argument in your essay and
address why your evidence outweighs the counter argument. Use at least 3 different sources to
explain your reasons. Make sure to cite your sources.

The format will be as follows. Your font should be 12-point Times New Roman. The
paper will be at least 800 words, no more than 1100 words, and 1-inch margins. The paper will
follow MLA guidelines, with a works cited page for your recourses. Make sure to double check
for grammar and spelling mistakes.
Description Exceptional Proficient Developing Underdeveloped Insufficient
Thesis and The text includes a The text includes a The text includes a The text may lack The text may lack a
Introduction: precise central central thesis or thesis or somewhat a clear central clear central thesis
thesis. The response controlling idea and controlling idea and thesis or or controlling idea
demonstrates a a somewhat a somewhat controlling idea or and/or a
deliberate and effective effective may deviate from recognizable
highly effective introduction. The introduction. The the thesis and/or introduction. The
progression of ideas response response an ineffective response does not
within the demonstrates a demonstrates a introduction. The have a discernible
paragraph. clear progression of progression of ideas response does progression of
ideas within the within the not clearly ideas.
paragraph. paragraph. demonstrate
  some progression
4 3 of ideas.
2 1      -       0
5
Evidence The text makes The text makes The text makes The text makes Makes very  little
exceptional use of effective use of somewhat effective limited resources, or no use
resources. The text resources and use of resources, demonstrating resources, and
demonstrates a demonstrates an and demonstrates a some demonstrates little
complete understanding of somewhat complete understanding of or no
understanding of the source text. understanding of the the source text. understanding of
the source text. The Evidence is properly source text. Most of Little evidence is the source text. No
evidence is properly cited, with context,  the evidence is properly cited and evidence is
cited, with context and from a credible properly cited or from a credible properly cited or
and from a credible source. lacking context and source. most comes from a
source. from a credible non credible
source. source.
7    -    6 5    -    4     -    3
9    -    8 2    -    1     -    0
10

Counter Text finds a Text finds a counter Text finds a Texts finds a weak Text does not find
Argument legitimate counter argument and mediocre counter or incohesive a counter
argument and clearly states argument that is counter argument or the
clearly states within. within. The counter states within. The argument. The counter argument
The counter argument is counter argument is author does not stated does not
argument is combatted with combatted by the combat the challenge the
analyzed and evidence from a author within in a counter argument authors theisis.
combatted with reliable source in a way that supports effectively in a There is no
evidence from a way that supports authors thesis. way that supports combatting of a
reliable source in a the authors thesis. their own thesis. counter argument
skillful way which to support the
supports the thesis.
authors thesis.

5 4 3 2 1- 0
Conclusion: The text includes a The text includes an The text includes a The text includes The text lacks a
effective conclusion. effective somewhat effective an ineffective recognizable
The response conclusion. The conclusion. The conclusion. The conclusion. The
demonstrates a response response response may or response does not
highly effective demonstrates a demonstrates a may not have a discernible
restatement of the restatement of the restatement of the demonstrate a thesis and/or
thesis and thesis and thesis and restatement of progression of
progression of progression of progression of ideas. the thesis and/or ideas.
ideas. ideas. progression of
  ideas.

5 4 3 2 1      -       0

Organization The text creates a The text creates a The text lacks a clear The text lacks a The text
seamless progression of ideas progression of ideas. clear progression demonstrates little
progression of ideas using some The text is disjointed of ideas. The text or no cohesion and
using multiple techniques. The and/or does not is disjointed inadequate skill in
techniques. The text text is coherent and demonstrate an and/or does not the use and control
is coherent and demonstrates a effective use and demonstrate an of language.
demonstrates a somewhat effective command of effective use and  
highly effective use use and command language to create a command of
and command of of language to cohesive whole. language to
language to create a create a somewhat   create a cohesive
cohesive whole. cohesive whole. 3 whole
1      -       0
5 4  
2
Grammar and The text shows a The text shows a The text shows a The text shows a The text shows a
Format: proper use of good use of English developing use of limited control of weak control of the
English and is free and is free of English and may the use of English use of English and
or virtually free of significant errors contain several and contains may contain
errors. The text is in that detract from errors that detract errors that numerous errors
MLA format header, the quality of from the quality of detract from the that undermine
times new roman 12 writing. The text is writing and may quality of writing the quality of
pt font, and double in MLA format with impede and may impede writing and/or the
spaced. little error(s). understanding understanding text does not
  and/or the text and/or the text follow MLA
  contains several contains several formatting.
formatting errors. formatting errors.
5 4 1      -       0
3 2

Total: _____/35