Essay Writing Rubric

The essay writing rubric is designed to score students' essays using a 100-point grading scale in three major categories: Organization, Content, and Style & Mechanics.

Essay Writing Assignment
Scoring Rubric
(100 points possible)

Organization: (20 points possible)
I.        Essay is easy to read due to clear organization of main points                                           8-10

 

II.         Method of organization is well-suited to topic                                                                        8-10

 

Content: (50 points possible)
III.     Essay completely addresses assignment prompt 8-10
Essay somewhat addresses assignment prompt; some information is missing

Too much information distracts the focus of the paper

Essay does not address assignment prompt

 

IV.  Examples in essay are ample support for thesis                                                              8-10

Examples in essay need more support for thesis
Examples in essay do not support thesis at all

 

V.    Examples are specific and concrete.                                                                               8-10

Examples are somewhat nonspecific and/or abstract.                                                                      
Examples are vague or distracting

 

VI.       Interest level of essay is superior.                                                                                               8-10
(Uses appropriate and interesting vocabulary and a variety of sentence
structures.)
Interest level of essay is average
Interest level of essay is below average.

 

VII.      Introduction and conclusion are interesting and balanced.                                                 8-10
Introduction or conclusion is dull, or one is stronger than the other is.                                
Both introduction and conclusion are dull or are both weak.

 

Style and Mechanics: (30 points possible)
VIII.     Essay consistently uses proper punctuation and grammar.                                                8-10
Essay contains fewer than four errors in punctuation and grammar.                                   
Essay contains four or more errors in punctuation and grammar.

 

IX.       Essay exhibits correct spelling. 8-10
Fewer than four words are misspelled.                                                                              
Four or more words are misspelled.

 

X.      Essay is written in appropriate point of view and format 8-10

Point of view and format are inappropriate for essay.