Critical Reading

Argument

Logic and Coherence

Evidence

Revision

Directness and Succinctness

Grammatical, Mechanical clarity

5 The writer demonstrates superior, original insight about the text(s) under discussion.

5 The essay's thesis is original, well established, and intelligently presented.

5 The essay's organization (ordering of assertions) is outstandingly composed; inferences are drawn logically with superior insight; and no part of the essay is extraneous.

5 The writer demonstrates a breadth of understanding of the topic through careful selection and presentation of evidence to support assertions.

5 The writer has completely rethought and improved where needed the essay’s argument, organization, use of evidence, wording, grammar and mechanics.

5 The writer chooses words and constructions with care, making statements in support of the argument directly and clearly.

5 The essay contains no errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation; the composition is elegant and complex while remaining clear.

4 The writer demonstrates original insight about the text(s) under discussion.

4 The essay's thesis asserts an original argument.

4 The essay's organization (ordering of assertions) is thoughtfully composed; inferences are drawn logically and interestingly; and no part of the essay is extraneous.

4 The writer supports assertions with carefully selected evidence.

4 The writer has shown new thinking and improvement where needed on four of the following: the essay’s argument, organization, use of evidence, wording, grammar and mechanics.

4 The writer includes a wordy construction no more than two times throughout the essay but the argument is clearly understood.

4 The essay contains no more than two errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation; and the composition is sophisticated.

3 The writer demonstrates an understanding of the text(s) under discussion.

3 The essay has a thesis.

3 The essay's organization (ordering of assertions) is clear; inferences are drawn logically; and no part of the essay is extraneous.

3 The writer supports assertions with evidence.

3 The writer has shown initiative beyond the markings on the first draft to improve three of the following: the essay’s argument, organization, use of evidence, wording, grammar and mechanics.

3 The writer includes three or four wordy sentences, but the essay’s argument remains discernable.

3 The essay contains three or four errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation.

2 The writer represents the text(s) under discussion poorly.

2 The essay's thesis is unclear.

2 The essay's organization (ordering of assertions) is faulty; inferences are drawn illogically once or twice; or one or two parts of the essay are extraneous.

2 The writer fails to support assertions with evidence once or twice.

2 The writer has fixed problems in wording, grammar, and mechanics.

2 Five or six sentences in the essay are wordy, pretentious, or overwritten, detracting from the essay's argument.

2 The essay contains five or six errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation.

1 The writer fails to address the text(s) under discussion.

1 The essay has no thesis.

1 The essay demonstrates no sense of organization; inferences are drawn illogically three or more times; or three or more parts of the essay are extraneous.

1 The writer fails to support assertions with evidence three or more times.

1 The writer has failed to fix problems in wording, grammar, and mechanics between drafts.

1 Seven or more sentences in essay are wordy, pretentious, or overwritten, obscuring the essay's argument.

1 The essay contains seven or more errors in sentence structure, spelling, word choice, punctuation, or documentation.