Writing Skills Rubric

Unacceptable Beginning Competent Skilled Exemplary 1 2 3 4 5 Overall position is Overall position is Overall position is Overall position is Overall position is not evident. Topic evident, but often clear with a sense clear and developed. well articulated and n i as expressed is too simplistic. of developed ideas. Topic is interesting, thoroughly a

M superficial or Topic is also Topic is interesting significant, and is developed. Topic s i s undeveloped. simplistic and one- and significant, but engaged from is interesting, e h dimensional. not deeply explored several angles. significant, and T /

a in needed areas intellectually e d challenging with I multiple facets addressed. No argumentative Argumentative Argumentative Argumentative Argumentative structure is evident. structure is structure is evident structure is evident. structure is clearly

t Ideas are rudimentary. but sometimes Objections are taken evident. Objections n e unconnected. Claims are repeated simplistic. seriously and are taken seriously m

u rather than Objections are typically addressed and addressed fair- g r developed. Few addressed but fair-mindedly. mindedly with great A objections are formulaically. skill. addressed and may be misrepresented. Claims are not Some claims are Claims are Claims are almost Claims are supported by supported by valid, typically supported always supported by supported by reliable evidence reliable evidence, by valid, reliable valid, reliable reliable, valid e c from credible but support is evidence from sources, so that the evidence from n e

d sources, making the inconsistent, making credible sources, paper is generally credible sources i v paper unconvincing the paper less than making the paper convincing. and effectively E convincing. for the most part synthesized in a convincing. very convincing manner. sConvention Readability onOrganizati missing. documentation is Necessary meaning. impedeseriously punctuation and spelling grammar,usage, Numerouserrors in understanding. vocabulary hinder and/or imprecise unsophisticated voice/tone, and inappropriate unskillful or Awkward phrasing, nonexistent. weak, trite, or conclusionbe may Introduction and/or coherence. andofunity shows lack serious information. Paper irrelevant contain may restatement; they developed by sentences and lacking clear topic areincoherent, Several paragraphs unconnected. Ideas appear Problems with Problemswith impede meaning. readerthe and distract punctuation spelling, and grammar,usage, Several errors in ideas. from the paper’s vocabulary distract and/or imprecise unsophisticated voice/tone, and inappropriate unskillful or Awkward phrasing, thesis. therestatesimply conclusionthemay overly and general introduction be may formulaic. The perfunctoryor attempted but are conclusionare introduction and development. An sentences and clear strong topic incoherent, without occasionally Paragraphs are simplistically. organized,though The paper is documentation documentation exist needed implications or implications explore paper but does not summarizes the conclusion formulaic. be The coherence, but may provideTransitions structured. arelogically points Main information. and development, sentences, topic serviceable clearwith usually areParagraphs way. predictable though in a thesis, paper and states a for context the some provides introduction The usually correct. usually Documentation is reader.the impede not seriously noticeable, but do are punctuation spelling, usage, and ingrammar Errors ideas.against its work occasionally and ideas only for the paper’s generally suitable are vocabulary and voice/tone generally effective; isPhrasing significance. and significance. and implications explore effortto some paper and makes summarizes the conclusion coherence. The sense a of provide Transitions structured. logically are clear and points clear. Main meaning is that so systematically developing sentences, topic withstrong coherent paragraphs all are clearNearly thesis. a the paper and states context thesets for introduction The sources is correct.issources Documentation of reader. the not impede do that punctuation spelling, usage, and grammar,errors in There are occasional ideas.the paper’s enhance vocabulary and and voice tone, of management appropriate phrasing,Clear explores summarizes and conclusion coherence. The strong a sense of provide Transitions structured. logically are clear and ideas All the main easytofollow. and exceptionally clear is meaning so developed the sentences, topic withapt coherent paragraphs are Allpaper. for the context the while establishing attention reader captures skillfully introduction The sources is correct.issources Documentation of theerrors in paper. mechanical or no There are very few paper.inviting create an choice wordapt and tone, of and voice management adept phrasing,Skillful significance. and implications ImpressionOverall writing. college-level Falls of short sentence level. errorstheat from distracting Languagesuffers underdeveloped. arelargely developedthan or areassertedrather effectiveness. Ideas organization hinder overall Paragraphing and significantposition. presentinga constructing and strugglesin The writer level level writing. college-Marginal inconsistent.is Paragraphinglevel. sentence-theat pervasiveproblems Frequent though not development. significant support need organization and convincing.Overall shy of being that position falls a significant The presents writer sentence-level sentence-level distracting, not overly are but occasional undeveloped. There sometimes but evident Organization is inadequate. sometimes good, but ideas. Support is of development addto theand organized typically areParagraphs weaknesses. some but convincing, has generally is position that significant a writer The presents writing. college-level errors. Acceptable writing. college-level infrequent. Good errors arelevel Sentence-clear. Organization is areas.weak withinfrequentgood ideas. Support is of development tothecontribute andorganized areParagraphs well convincing. part fortheis that most thoughtful position significant and writer The presents a level writing. level Exemplary college- non-existent. errors toare rare Sentence-level weak no areas. withrare sound or ideas. Support is of development addto theand organized skillfully areParagraphs provoking. thought and convincing is that interesting position significantand a writer The presents