Grading Rubric for Short, Formal Essays

Name: ___________________________________  Date: ________________  Assignment # __________________

Prewriting Included: Y____ N___ (-5 points)      Peer Reviewed Draft Included: Y___ N ___(-5 points)
Minimum length of Final Draft met: Y____ N____ (-5 points)

Points 
Range	Your
Points	Description	
Appropriateness
(10-9)		Topic clearly stated – Style and language appropriate for purpose/audience/occasion	
(8-7)		Topic generally stated – Style and language appropriate for purpose/audience/occasion	
(6-5)		Vague use of topic – Some style and language inappropriate for purpose/audience/occasion	
(1-4)		Indefinite topic – Little or no idea of purpose/audience/occasion	
Unity and Focus
(10-9)		Strong focus – Central idea is clearly stated near beginning and maintained through essay	
(8-7)		Generally clear focus – Central idea is stated near beginning – a few unrelated details	
(6-5)		Weak focus – Central idea is vague or misplaced – Many unrelated details	
(1-4)		Little or no focus – No central idea – Little or no support – Random use of details	
Development
(15-12)		Significant topic – Outstanding examples – Vivid, concrete details – Ample support	
(11-8)		Appropriate topic – Acceptable examples – Mostly specific details – Effective support	
(7-6)		Weak or general topic – Poor or few examples – Mostly general details – Need support	
(1-5)		Inadequate topic – Unsupportive examples – Vague or random details – Little or no support	
Organization
(15-12)		Effective paragraphing – Number of paragraphs apt – Strong introduction/conclusion
Smooth flow – logical order of information	
(11-8)		Acceptable paragraphing – Number of paragraphs need work – Adequate intro/conclusion
Some choppy transitions or connectors – Some information loosely organized	
(7-6)		Organization needs work – Poor/unsatisfactory paragraphing – Weak intro or conclusion	
(1-5)		Non-fluent – Ideas confused or disconnected – Illogical or no paragraphing
Ineffective, weak, or missing introduction or conclusion	
Sentence Structure
(20-17)		Variety of sentence forms – no awkward sentences – No unnecessary repetitions
Complete and properly constructed sentences (No fragments, comma splices, or run-ons)	
(16-12)		Generally effective sentences – Some awkward phrasing – Some unnecessary repetition
Some sentence problems (a few fragments, comma splices, or run-ons)	
(11-6)		Frequent problems with awkward phrasing – Garbled sentences – Frequent unnecessary repetition – Serious construction problems (many fragments, comma splices, run-ons)	
(1-5)		Communication severely hampered by garbled sentences – Nonstandard Written English	
Word Usage
(20-17)		Effective word choice, idiom choice, and usage – Word form mastery	
(16-12)		Occasional errors of diction or usage (pronoun case/agreement, subject/verb, verb format)	
(11-6)		Limited vocabulary – Frequent errors of diction or usage (pronoun case/agreement, subject/verb, verb tenses, verb forms – Serious/frequent word choice or idiom problems	
(1-5)		Communication seriously hindered by word form errors – Nonstandard Written English	
Mechanics
(10-9)		Spelling and capitalization perfect – Periods and other punctuation mostly correct
Manuscript Form correct – No spacing problems – Excellent presentation	
(8-7)		Some spelling errors or caps errors – Some comma/period/other punctuation errors
Manuscript Form generally correct – Good presentation	
(6-5)		Frequent spelling or caps errors – Numerous comma/punctuation errors
Manuscript Form needs major work – Presentation hinders communication	
(1-4)		Spelling errors seriously hinder communication – Frequent caps errors – Nonstandard use of commas/periods/punctuation – Manuscript is hard to read or illegible.	

Total Score ______