This method of grading allows you to see which areas you have mastered, and which you must continue to work on. The topic of your paper should be appropriate to the assignment. It should not be forced to fit where it does not belong. Most students discover that with a little thought they can find topics they really enjoy writing about. The thesis is a statement of the point you are making in your paper.
Every successful paper has a clear thesis.
How much you earn here depends on how clear you make your thesis in your introduction and how well the body of the paper demonstrates that thesis. Your paper should completely cover your topic, yet not be stretched with padding. At the outline stage, think through all the aspects of your topic implied by the thesis you have chosen. If your outline is half as long as the paper assignment, narrow it down with a different thesis, probably covering just one section of your outline. By the end of your paper, what was promised in your thesis should be accomplished.