Cover letter
Cover Letter – Grading Rubric – 100 points
|
|
Levels of Achievement |
|||
|
Criteria |
Limited |
Developing |
Proficient |
Exemplary |
|
Content |
0 to 10 points Letter shows no awareness of the job advertisement and does not make clear how your experience would benefit the employer.
Letter does not use an appropriate, professional style and tone for the audience.
Letter uses no relevant evidence to support the claim(s).
Letter does not analyze and address the needs of the assignment and intended audience.
|
11 to 20 points Letter shows little awareness of the job advertisement and makes somewhat clear how your experience would benefit the employer.
Letter somewhat uses an appropriate, professional style and tone for the audience.
Letter uses little detailed, relevant evidence to support the claim(s).
Letter shows general ability to analyze and appropriately address the needs of the assignment and intended audience.
|
21 to 30 points Letter shows awareness of the job advertisement and makes generally clear how your experience would benefit the employer.
Letter mostly uses an appropriate, professional style and tone for the audience.
Letter uses largely detailed, relevant evidence to support the claim(s).
Letter shows good ability in analyzing and appropriately addressing the needs of the assignment and intended audience.
|
31 to 35 points Letter specifically matches the job advertisement and makes clear how your experience will benefit the employer.
Letter consistently uses an appropriate, professional style and tone for the audience.
Letter uses detailed, relevant evidence to support the claim(s).
Letter shows strong ability in analyzing and effectively addressing the needs of the assignment and intended audience.
|
|
Structure |
0 to 10 points Does not make immediately clear the key message(s) and objective(s) – i.e. a “thesis” stating your experience and fitness for the job.
Internal paragraphs do not open with a topic sentence asserting specifically what experience the paragraph uses as evidence.
Does not establish the appropriate context for why information is important – i.e. how your experience can benefit the employer.
Key message(s) and/or argument(s) is/are unfocused and main points are not clear.
Paragraphs are not coherent and show no progress of thoughts/ideas.
Drifts off topic throughout.
Document does not follow letter formatting instructions.
Student does not follow assignment instructions.
|
11 to 20 points Makes somewhat clear the key message(s) and objective(s) – i.e. a “thesis” stating your experience and fitness for the job.
Each internal paragraph opens with a topic sentence that somewhat asserts what experience the paragraph uses as evidence.
Somewhat establishes the appropriate context for why information is important – i.e. how your experience can benefit the employer.
Key message(s) and/or argument(s) is/are somewhat focused and main points are somewhat clear.
Paragraphs are somewhat coherent, somewhat well sequenced and show little progress of thoughts/ideas.
Drifts off topic at times.
Document somewhat follows letter formatting instructions.
Student follows some assignment instructions.
|
21 to 30 points Makes clear the key message(s) and objective(s) – i.e. a “thesis” stating your experience and fitness for the job.
Each internal paragraph opens with a topic sentence that generally asserts what experience the paragraph uses as evidence.
Generally establishes the appropriate context for why information is important – i.e. how your experience can benefit the employer.
Key message(s) and/or argument(s) is/are generally focused and main points are generally clear.
Paragraphs are generally coherent, fairly well sequenced and show a progression of thoughts/ideas.
Minimal topic drift.
Document generally follows letter formatting instructions.
Student follows most assignment instructions.
|
31 to 35 points Makes immediately clear the key message(s) and objective(s) – i.e. a “thesis” stating your experience and fitness for the job.
Each internal paragraph opens with a topic sentence that specifically asserts what experience the paragraph uses as evidence.
Clearly establishes the appropriate context for why information is important – i.e. how your experience can benefit the employer.
Key message(s) and/or argument(s) is/are focused and main points are clear.
Paragraphs are coherent, well sequenced and display logical progression of thoughts/ideas.
No topic drift.
Document follows letter formatting instructions.
Student follows all assignment instructions.
|
|
Grammar & Language
(NOTE: use Grammar & Language Checklist as a guide) |
0 to 10 points Uses language that is wordy and does not include precise details. Jargon is not used appropriately.
Does not adhere to grammatical, spelling or punctuation rules. Contains many errors.
|
11 to 20 points Uses language that is somewhat concise and includes some precise details. Jargon used somewhat appropriately.
Adheres to some grammatical, spelling or punctuation rules. Contains some errors.
|
21 to 25 points Uses language that is mostly concise and includes many, but not all, precise details. Jargon used appropriately.
Adheres to most grammatical, spelling or punctuation rules. Contains few errors.
|
26 to 30 points Uses language that is concise and includes precise details. Jargon used strategically and appropriately.
Demonstrates sophisticated awareness and use of grammar and written mechanics. Free of grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
|
Total (out of 100 points):