Essay Writing

Teacher’s Scoring Rubric

Category 4 - Exceeds Expectations 3 - Meets Expectations 2 - Needs Improvement 1 - Inadequate Score

Demonstrates a keen Demonstrates a general Demonstrates a limited Not clear which

understanding of the target understanding of understanding of audience is intended
audience and uses audience and uses audience, and generally for this writing.
appropriate vocabulary and mostly appropriate uses appropriate, if
Understanding of
language. Anticipates vocabulary and language simple, vocabulary and
Audience
probable questions and structures. language.
addresses these concerns
with evidence pertaining to
probable potential readers.
Introductory paragraph Introductory paragraph Introductory paragraph Introductory
begins with a statement begins with a statement begins with a statement paragraph does not
that both grabs the that attempts to grab the that might be construed contain a hook or
Hook / attention of the reader and attention of the reader, as an attention getter but attention grabber.
Introduction is appropriate to the but is incomplete in is not clear.
audience. some sense, or may not
be appropriate to the
audience.
Theses / Main Introductory paragraph Introductory paragraph Introductory paragraph Introductory
Idea Structuring contains a clear thesis of contains a clear thesis. contains a statement that paragraph contains
main idea with clear However, the following may be construed as a no clear thesis
suggestions as to how the support sentences are thesis or main idea. statement or main
body of the essay will not necessarily, or only However, there is little idea.
support this thesis. vaguely connected to the structural support in the

Body paragraphs provide
clear evidence and ample
examples supporting thesis
Body / Evidence
statement.
and Examples
Closing paragraph provides
a clear conclusion
successfully stating the
Closing
author's position, as well as
Paragraph /
containing an effective
Conclusion
restatement of the main
idea or thesis of the essay.
All sentences are well
constructed with very few
Sentence
minor mistakes. Complex
Structure
sentence structures are
used effectively.
Linking language is used
correctly and often.
Linking Language
Grammar and Writing includes no or only
Spelling very few minor errors in
grammar, spelling.
body paragraphs. following sentences.
Body paragraphs provide Body paragraphs are Body paragraphs are
clear connections to vaguely on topic, but lack unrelated, or
thesis statement but clear connections, marginally
may be need more evidence and examples of connected to essay
examples or concrete thesis or main idea. topic. Examples and
evidence. evidence are weak
or nonexistent.
Closing paragraph Conclusion is weak and at Conclusion is
concludes essay in times confusing in terms nonexistent with
satisfactory manner. of author's position with little or no reference
However, author's little reference to main to proceeding
position and / or an idea or thesis. paragraphs or
effective restatement of author's position.
main idea or thesis may
be lacking.
Most sentences are well Some sentences are well Very few sentences
constructed with several constructed, while others are well
mistakes. Some attempts contain serious errors. constructed, or
at complex sentence Use of complex sentence sentence structures
structure are successful. structure is limited. are all very simple.
Linking language is used. Linking language is Linking language is
However, mistakes in seldom used. almost never or
exact phrasing or usage never used.
of linking language is
evident.
Writing includes a Writing includes several Writing includes
relatively small number errors in grammar, numerous errors in
of errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation grammar, spelling
spelling and punctuation. which, at times, hinders and punctuation
 However, reader's reader's understanding. which makes
understanding is not reader's
impeded by these errors. understanding
difficult.
Total Score