YES! Magazine Exemplary Essay Project

YES! Magazine Exemplary Essay Project Evaluation Rubric

Basic guidelines:  Must respond to the article and writing prompt provided by YES!  Must reference the article and include at least 2 personal examples.  No more than 700 words.  Must be original, unpublished work.

In addition, we are evaluating essays for:  Grammar  Organization  Strong style and personal voice  Originality and clarity of content and ideas

How to use the rubric: As you’re choosing the 3 best essays from your class to send to us, please use this rubric as a measure of what we will be looking for when selecting essays. This rubric should provide guidelines, not an unreasonable or rigid standard.

You have probably encountered a rubric before, but here’s a quick guide to using this one:  Along the left side of the rubric grid are the criteria for evaluating students’ essays.  Along the top of the grid, we have scores from 4 (outstanding) to 1 (poor).  For each criterion, match the essay with the description that best fits it and assign a score.  Once you have scored the essay on all the criteria, take the average of those seven numbers. That is the score for the essay. YES! Magazine Exemplary Essay Project Evaluation Rubric

4 3 2 1 There is one Main idea is Main idea is not clear, well- somewhat clear, clear. There is a focused topic. Main idea is but there is need seemingly Main idea is clear, but the Focus on topic for more random supported by general. supporting collection of detailed evidence. information. information. Details are Details are placed in a placed in a Some details are There is no clear logical order and logical order, but not in a logical introduction of the way they are the way they are or expected the main topic or Organization presented presented order, and this structure of the effectively keeps sometimes make distracts the paper. the reader’s the writing less reader. interest. interesting. Formulates a thought- Writer takes a Fails to take a Writer’s position provoking, well- clear position on clear position, or is evident, Originality and developed, and an issue, though writer though it is strength of ideas fairly original it is not contradicts vague. position on an developed fully. herself. issue. Offers only Offers adequate general reasons Provides specific Provides less – though or evidence or reasons and/or than adequate or perhaps vague or none, or offers evidence that contradictory Evidence and/or incomplete – evidence demonstrate reasons or reasoning supporting contradictory to understanding evidence to reasons and/or the writer’s and insight. support position. evidence thesis or main idea. Command of conventions Weak control of Correct use of Use of grammar exhibited. grammar and Command of grammar and and conventions Creative word conventions. grammar and conventions (for interferes with choice and Errors conventions the most part). understanding. varied sentence distracting. structure. Writing attracts Writing fails to Technically well Author’s voice reader’s interest. engage the written; is strong and Author’s voice reader. Does not however, Voice engaging. Draws shows demonstrate author’s voice is reader in. engagement with writer’s interest weak. the topic. in topic.

Adapted from Rubric for Editorial – Commentary Essay from LAEP.org and the 6+1 Traits of Writing Rubric from Readwritethink.org