Category Criteria Points Earned Intro 0- There is a lack of a clear introduction What is written does not relate to the thesis Author has ignored writing structure conventions and/or failed to write a introduction What is written does not relate to the assigned task 1- There is no hook The reader cannot identify the context There is no link between the intro and the thesis The primary source material is not mentioned or named 2- A hook is not evident or is an introduction sentence that does not function as a hook The reader requires considerable effort struggles to identify the context The link between the intro and the thesis is weak. hard to identify The primary source material is referenced or named only in part 3- There is a hook but it is not engaging The reader requires some effort to identify the context The link between the intro and the thesis is present but vague or difficult to understand The primary source material is named by title and artist’s name 4- There is a hook that engages the reader The reader requires no effort to can clearly identify the context is a purpose that links the intro to the thesis The primary source material is introduced with control 5- There is a clear hook which creatively engages the reader The reader is drawn into the context There is a clear purpose linking the intro to the thesis Writer elegantly and/or smoothly introduces the primary source material ____/5 Thesis 0- Thesis is so poorly structured that it is not comprehensible Thesis is unrelated to the required task Thesis is absent 1- Thesis is poorly structured and shows a disregard for original thought Thesis is weakly crafted, has two areas that need serious refinement, or has three areas that need refinement 2- Thesis is and shows little no attention to originality Thesis is poorly crafted or has two areas that need refinement Thesis is very weakly related to the structure of the argument Thesis is not sufficient for the required length of the essay 3- Thesis is functional and shows some originality Thesis is adequately crafted but has one area that needs refinement Thesis does not indicate strongly enough the structure of the argument Thesis is not clearly sufficient to provide 4- Thesis is original Thesis is well crafted Thesis outlines the structure the argument will take Thesis is complete but could be refined to provide sufficient fuel for the essay 5- Thesis is original, sophisticated and thought provoking Thesis is well crafted and shows attention to word choice Thesis reflect/indicates the structure the argument will take (compare/contrast, cause/effect, change over time, or other pattern) ____/5
topic sentences predominate Organization 0- No organization Essay is written as one paragraph Essay exhibits structural issues that impedes the reader’s understanding of the argument 1- There is very little evidence of organization Poor structure with incoherent paragraphs No transitions are used to join arguments is missing one of the following: introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion 2- Essay has a beginning, middle, and end, but paragraphing may be an issue Paragraphing is mostly correct, but is problematic in one or two places Paragraphs often take on two or more ideas without a proper transition 3- Essay contains a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion Paragraphs make Paragraphs are linked with appropriate transitions attempts to employ an academic argument structure but is not wholly successful 4- Essay shows sophistication in development Essay clearly employs an academic argument structure with control (compare/contrast, cause and effect, or other) 5- shows complex rhetorical development Paragraphs are tight, well-structured, and logical Transitions are smooth and show attention to the overall development of from one to another ____/5 Use of Source Materials and Internal Citations 0- Ideas and claims have no support Evidence is unfounded Source materials are used with no attempt at documentation 1- Ideas and claims have limited and mostly inadequate support Evidence is not drawn from the text or academic sources Evidence is tangentially related to the claim 2- Evidence is partially drawn from the text or another reputable academic source but 2 sources may not be clearly academic Evidence is somewhat related to the claim, but fails to be clearly connected by the author Documentation has 3 errors or lapses which impacts readability or understanding 3- Evidence is mostly drawn from the text or another reputable academic source but more than 1 source may not be clearly from an academic source Evidence is pertinent, valid, and documented correctly Documentation has 2 errors or lapses which impacts readability or understanding 4- Nearly all evidence is nearly all drawn from the text or another appropriate academic source but one source may not be clearly from an appropriate academic source Evidence is used with control Documentation has 1 error or lapse which impacts readability or understanding 5- All evidence is clearly from required source materials and appropriate academic sources (journals, academic research) Evidence is presented with sophistication, style and finesse Documentation of sources is flawless, smooth, and controlled ____/5
Documentation is attempted but is something than MLA Documentation has 4 or more errors or lapses which impacts readability or understanding Conclusion 0- The thesis is not restated No attempt is made to provide a conclusion that is relevant to the research question The conclusion may read like a body paragraph 1- Thesis is exactly as stated in the introduction paragraph Little attempt is made to provide a conclusion that is relevant to the research question. Conclusion introduces two new arguments or ideas Conclusion does not address the “So what?” question 2- Thesis is restated, but changes only one or two words from the original A conclusion is attempted that is relevant to the research question but may not be entirely consistent with the evidence presented in the Conclusion introduces one new argument or idea Conclusion does not attempt to answer the “So what?” question 3- The thesis is functionally restated Conclusion is partially persuasive but does not address the evidence presented in the body of the paper Conclusion summarizes one or two major arguments but fails to address all arguments Conclusion does not introduce new ideas or materials Conclusion attempts to answer the “so what?” question but it is weak and the reader must work to find a relevant link 4- The thesis is restated in an interesting way Conclusion is mostly persuasive and relevant to the research question Conclusion summarizes the major arguments in the essay’s body Conclusion does not introduce new ideas or materials Conclusion attempts to answer the “so what?” question but the topic is not clearly relevant to the reader . 5- The thesis is restated in a way that is well crafted, interesting and sophisticated Conclusion is persuasive and relevant to the research question Conclusion summarizes the major arguments presented in the essay’s body with control and insight Conclusion does not introduce new ideas or materials Conclusion answers the “so what?” issue with control and makes the topic relevant to the reader ____/5 Mechanics
audience with extremely rare use of MLA and WC Page 0- Essay has 5 or more errors in MLA format OR Work page has 5 or more errors in MLA format OR There are 5 or more combined errors between the essay and WC page 1- Essay has 4 errors in MLA format OR Work Cited page has 4 errors in MLA format\ OR There are 4 combined errors between the essay and WC page 2- has 3 errors in MLA format OR Work Cited page has 3 errors in MLA format OR There are 3 combined errors between the essay and WC page 3- Essay has 2 errors in MLA format OR Work Cited page has 2 errors in MLA format OR There are 2 combined errors between the essay and WC page 4- Essay has 1 error in MLA format OR Work Cited page has 1 error in MLA format AND One section (Essay or WC Page) is perfectly formatted 5- Essay is perfectly formatted according to MLA requirements AND Work Cited pages is perfectly formatted according to MLA requirements ____/5