Social Studies Essay Scoring Standards

SOCIAL STUDIES ESSAY SCORING STANDARDS

A B C D F  Sets the scene for the  Sets the scene for  Mentions some of  Mentions  Gives no essay by clearly the essay by listing the background the general background explaining the some background information and background information background information and has at least one information but is and defines Introductory information and some key concepts. term defined. lacking some key no terms. Paragraph introducing key  Thesis is located at  Thesis is located information.  No thesis is concepts. the end of the at the end of the  Thesis is identifiable.  Thesis statement is paragraph. paragraph.. misplaced. located at the end of this paragraph.  Contains a strong,  Contains a thesis  Contains a thesis  Contains a thesis  No thesis is well-developed thesis that responds to the that attempts to that is weak or identifiable. statement (that is essay topic. respond to the unclear. Thesis usually a single  It does not include topic but is  A personal sentence) which the words “I, me, or incomplete. pronoun is used. Statement clearly responds to my.”  A personal the essay topic. pronoun might  It does not include the have been used. words “I, me, or my.”  Topic sentences  Topic sentences  Topic sentences  Topic sentences  Topic accurately introduce accurately introduce are used. are not used. sentences are content and tie to content.  Includes some  Some examples not used. thesis.  Includes several examples that are relevant and  Examples are  Includes extensive, clearly explained relate to topic some are not. irrelevant clearly explained examples. sentences  Analysis is non- and/or examples.  Examples are  Examples are not existent inaccurate.  Examples are relevant relevant and are always well- (examples are  Analysis of Body and analysis adequately analyzed chosen nor clearly just in list form) examples is effectively supports to support the thesis. analyzed but or is inaccurate. inaccurate. Paragraphs the thesis statement  Closing sentences of instead just  Closing  Closing by connecting the body paragraphs presented as a list. sentences are not sentences are topic sentences to the may not effectively  Closing sentences evident. not evident. thesis. tie into thesis nor are not evident.  Closing sentences of lead into the next body paragraphs tie paragraph. into the thesis and transition to the next paragraph. Thesis is restated and Thesis is restated and Concluding Closing sentence No conclusion Concluding key points are a few points are paragraph is evident attempts to is evident. Paragraph summarized in a summarized. but incomplete. conclude the essay. complete paragraph.  Proper paragraph  Proper paragraph  Paragraph  Paragraphs are  No paragraph structure is used. structure is used. structure is used. used but lack structure  Essay has been  Grammar and  Grammar and clear structure. exists, though proofread and spelling are spelling are  Many spelling there may be grammar and spelling generally correct, adequate. and grammatical random Writing are correct. some errors may  Essay is mostly on errors exist. indentations. Quality  Essay is well exist. topic but is not  Essay wanders  Organization organized and always  Essay is well clearly organized. off topic. is lacking and on topic. organized and  Language used is  Language used is there are  Appropriate language always on topic. not well chosen. not well chosen. serious errors is used.  Appropriate in grammar language is used. and spelling.