Rubric for Persuasive Writing

Refer to the following rubric for guiding and assessing your persuasive writing.

Trait 6 5 4 3 2 1
Ideas The position is The position is Most reasons More A clearer A new
convincingly supported with support the supporting position position
supported and logical reasons; writer’s reasons and a statement is statement
defended; it an important position. An more needed. Better and reasons
compels the objection is important convincing support for the are needed.
reader to act. countered. objection is response to an position must
addressed. objection are be provided.
needed.
Organization All of the parts The opening Most parts of Some parts of The beginning, The
of the essay states the the essay are the essay need middle, and organization
work together position, the organized to be ending run is unclear
to build a very middle provides adequately reorganized. together. and
thoughtful, clear support, except for one incomplete.
convincing and the ending part.
position. reinforces the
position.
Voice The writer’s The writer’s The writer The writer’s The writer’s The writer
voice is voice is respects the voice needs to voice sounds needs to
extremely persuasive, audience but be more too emotional learn about
confident, knowledgeable, needs to sound persuasive and voice in
knowledgeable, and respectful. more persuasive and unconvincing. persuasive
and convincing. or respectful. writing.
knowledgeable.
Word Choice The writer’s The writer’s The writer The writer The words do Word choice
choice of words word choice avoids needs to not create a for
makes a helps persuade inflammatory change some clear message. persuasive
powerful case. the reader. (unfair) words inflammatory Some writing has
but needs to words and inflammatory not been
remove some remove some words are used. considered.
qualifiers. qualifiers.
Sentence The sentences Variety is seen Variety is seen More variety Too many Sentence
Fluency spark the in both the in most of the is needed in sentences are fluency has
reader’s interest types of sentences. the worded in the not been
in the essay. sentences and beginnings or same way. considered.
their kinds of
beginnings. sentences
used.
Conventions The writing is Grammar and Distracting There are a Frequent errors Nearly every
error free. punctuation grammar and number of make the essay sentence
errors are few. punctuation errors that difficult to read. contains
The reader is errors are seen may confuse errors.
not distracted in a few the reader.
by the errors. sentences.