6 - Above Standar 4 - Meets Standar 2 - Approaching Standar 0-

ds ds ds Below Standards
Motivator or The introductory The introductory The author has an interesting The introductory
"Hook" paragraph has a strong paragraph has a hook introductory paragraph but the paragraph is not
hook or attention or attention grabber, connection to the topic is not interesting AND is not
grabber that is but it is weak, rambling clear. relevant to the topic.
appropriate for the or inappropriate for the
audience. This could be audience.
a strong statement, a
relevant quotation,
statistic, or question
addressed to the
reader.
Focus or Thesis The thesis statement The thesis statement The thesis statement outlines The thesis statement
Statement names the topic of the names the topic of the some or all of the main points to does not name the topic
essay and outlines the essay. be discussed but does not AND does not preview
main points to be name the topic. what will be discussed.
discussed.

Support for Includes 3 or more Includes 3 or more Includes 2 pieces of evidence Includes 1 or fewer
Position pieces of evidence pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, pieces of evidence
(facts, statistics, (facts, statistics, real-life experiences) that (facts, statistics,
examples, real-life examples, real-life support the position statement. examples, real-life
experiences) that experiences) that experiences).
support the position support the position
statement. The writer statement.
anticipates the reader's
concerns, biases or
arguments and has
provided at least 1
counter-argument.
Evidence and All of the evidence and Most of the evidence At least one of the pieces of Evidence and examples
Examples examples are specific, and examples are evidence and examples is are NOT relevant
relevant and specific, relevant and relevant and has an explanation AND/OR are not
explanations are given explanations are given that shows how that piece of explained.
that show how each that show how each evidence supports the author's
piece of evidence piece of evidence position.
supports the author's supports the author's
position. position.
Sequencing Arguments and support Arguments and A few of the support details or Many of the support
are provided in a logical support are provided in arguments are not in an details or arguments are
order that makes it a fairly logical order expected or logical order, not in an expected or
easy and interesting to that makes it distracting the reader and logical order, distracting
follow the author's train reasonably easy to making the essay seem a little the reader and making
of thought. The author follow the author's confusing. The author does not the essay seem very
uses one of the given train of thought. There use one of the given strategies confusing.
strategies for is evidence of one of for organization.
organization. the given strategies for
organization.
Closing The conclusion is The conclusion is The author's position is restated There is no conclusion -
paragraph strong and leaves the recognizable. The within the closing paragraph, the paper just ends.
reader solidly author's position is but not near the beginning.
understanding the restated within the first
writer's position. two sentences of the
Effective restatement of closing paragraph.
the position statement
begins the closing
paragraph.
Grammar & Author makes no errors Author makes 1-2 Author makes 3-4 errors in Author makes more than
Spelling in grammar or spelling errors in grammar or grammar or spelling that 4 errors in grammar or
that distract the reader spelling that distract distract the reader from the spelling that distract the
from the content. the reader from the content. reader from the content.
content.
Capitalization & Author makes no errors Author makes 1-2 Author makes a few errors in Author makes several
Punctuation in capitalization or errors in capitalization capitalization and/or errors in capitalization
punctuation, so the or punctuation, but the punctuation that catch the and/or punctuation that
essay is exceptionally essay is still easy to reader's attention and interrupt catch the reader's
easy to read. read. the flow. attention and interrupt
the flow.

Format Author makes no errors Author makes 1 – 2 Author makes a few errors in Author makes several
in formatting errors in formatting formatting which raise a errors in formatting
which do not raise question of plagiarism
questions of plagiarism

Process All parts of the project All parts of the project Some parts of the project are None of the parts of the
are done on time are done but some not completed. project are completed
parts are completed
late