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Exceeds Expectations (90-100)

Meets Expectations (70-89)

Does Not Meet Expectations (↓ 69)

Uses evidence particularly and appropriately

Writer uses vivid, particular, and compelling, language, surprising and delighting the reader by the detail and energy.

Writer uses mostly vivid, particular, clear language.

Writer uses language that is mostly vague or clichéd; and/or the essay doesn’t have enough details.

Writer chooses and emphasizes details relevant to and particularly valuable for probing the issues and concerns of the class.

Writer chooses and emphasizes details relevant to the issues and concerns of the class.

Essay uses lots of details not relevant to the concerns and issues of the class so the essay reads like a general essay.

Evaluates evidence critically: uses reflection, insight, and interpretation to discuss the evidence as it speaks to, amplifies, and interrogates the concerns of the assignment.

Writer reflects with considerable depth and insight so as to reveal the significance of the evidence in terms of concerns and issues relevant to the class.

Writer reflects adequately on the evidence so as to reveal the significance of the evidence in terms of concerns and issues relevant to the class.

Writer doesn’t pause and reflect enough on the evidence in terms of bigger obesity issues.

Writer shifts from recounting detail to reflecting on it, and vice versa, thereby revealing her/his own deep understanding of the obesity issue thereby adding compelling weight and impact to the essay.

Writer demonstrates deliberate attempts to shift from recounting detail to reflecting on it, or vice versa, thereby revealing her/his own understanding of issues and concerns and adding weight and impact to the essay.

Writer still needs to make deliberate shifts from using detail to reflecting on it, and vice versa, so as to give the essay depth and weight.

Writer uses evidence to probe, question, grapple with, and amplify some of the complexities involved in the obesity issue. 

Writer uses evidence to begin to probe some of the complexities involved in the obesity issue.

The writer doesn’t make enough connections between evidence and ideas so the details don’t contribute enough to a full and probing understanding of the obesity issue.

Conclusion goes beyond the assignment and offers some insightful, perhaps surprisingly original, and thought-provoking final ideas.

Conclusion attempts to go beyond the assignment to offer some thought-provoking final ideas.

Essay lacks a conclusion or the conclusion doesn’t close the essay adequately.

Demonstrates clear, persuasive, thoughtful, and grammatically correct writing: evidence of deliberate structure and organization, ability to carry through the key ideas and threads, and correct writing mechanics

Essay has deliberate and compelling shape as it moves between detail and reflection with smooth progress, logical flow of ideas, paragraphs, and sentences, and sometimes surprising and original connections and turns. Essay is a pleasure to read from start to finish.

Essay has deliberate shape as it moves between detail and reflection, with fairly smooth progress and logical flow of ideas, paragraphs, and sentences.

Essay faces serious problems in the area of structure (confusing), use of details or evidence (nonexistent or weak), language (the sentences often are awkward, don’t connect, or contradict each other), and/or mechanics (punctuation, spelling, grammar have several mistakes).

Essay proportions the use of detail and reflection or interpretation to maximize the impact of both.

Essay proportions the use of detail and reflection or interpretation so neither aspect feels short-changed or overwhelming.

The writing doesn’t move forward but keeps repeating the same details or main points, or touches on many things but without a sense of progress or depth.

There are no errors in punctuation, grammar, or spelling. Paper is cited correctly and only appropriate sources are used.

There are only a few errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling, citation, and/or source selection.

There are many errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling, citation, or source selection.