ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY (1st draft) 3 pages or more

Essay 1 Argument with Counterargument & Refutation in MLA Rubric

Skill Assessed:

Level Achieved Beginning Developing Proficiency Mastery Score

Thesis/ Claim Reader cannot determine thesis and purpose OR thesis has no arguable claim.

Thesis may be obvious or unimaginative. Thesis and purpose are somewhat vague.

Contains an arguable claim that is somewhat original. Thesis and purpose are fairly clear.

Contains an arguable claim that develops fresh insight and challenges the reader’s thinking.

±20%

__/30

Support/ Reasoning (2

points/ paragraphs

required in this section)

The writer focuses on own thoughts and beliefs about the topic; neglects the rhetorical elements. Offers simplistic, undeveloped, or cryptic support for the ideas.

The writer includes 1 rhetorical element in the development of ideas. Offers somewhat obvious support that may be too broad. Details are too general, not interpreted, irrelevant to thesis, or inappropriately repetitive.

The writer includes 2 rhetorical elements in the development of ideas. Offers solid but less original reasoning. Assumptions are not always recognized or made explicit.

The writer includes all 3 rhetorical elements (logos, pathos, ethos) in the development of ideas. Assumptions are made explicit. Details are relevant, original, and convincingly interpreted.

±26%

__/40 Counterargument

Paragraph/ Opposing

Viewpoints

Counterargument is missing or vague. Obvious lack of sound, logical argument throughout.

Counterargument paragraph missing and/or vague. There are one or two examples that are not sound, logical argument.

Author acknowledges the opposing view, but does not present sound counterpoints.

Author acknowledges the opposing view and argues it logically.

±13%

__/20 Refutation Paragraph

Refutation is missing or vague. Obvious lack of sound, logical argument throughout.

Refutation paragraphs attempts to “turn back” but does not present any new evidence.

Refutation paragraph partially turns back to original argument but may not present new evidence.

Refutation “turns back” to the writer’s original argument with additional support.

±13%

__/20

Structure & Organization

Work lacks structure; lacks a clear thesis or conclusion, body seems haphazard; transitions are not present. The ability to apply basic essay structure is not evident.

Body lacks a clear direction; supporting evidence loosely tied to thesis; transitions missing; conclusion has no sense of closure. Includes some of the basic parts of an essay.

Body mostly flows from the thesis; transitions are awkward at times; appropriate conclusion. Includes most of the basic parts of an essay.

Body flows from thesis; transitions guide the reader smoothly through the text; conclusion effectively wraps up the essay. Includes all basic parts of an essay.

±16%

__/25

Sources/ Documentation

Neglects important sources. Overuse of quotations or paraphrase to substitute writer’s own ideas. *(Probably uses source material without acknowledgement.)

Uses relevant sources but lacks in variety of sources and/or the skillful combination of sources. *Quotations and paraphrases may be too long and/or inconsistently referenced.

Uses sources to support, extend, and inform, but not substitute writer’s own development of ideas. *Doesn’t overuse quotes, but may not always conform to MLA format.

Uses sources to support, extend, and inform, but not substitute writer’s own development of ideas. *Source material is announced by a signal phrase and ended with intext citations.

__/NA

Grammar/ Mechanics

Errors so numerous they distract the reader and skew the writer’s meaning

Repeated weaknesses in mechanics and usage. Pattern of flaws. Meaning is still clear.

Occasional minor errors do not distract the reader or interfere with meaning

Essentially free from mechanical, grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors.

±10%

__/15

NOTES:

135-150 = A 90-104 = D 120-134 = B 0- 89 = F 105-119 = C

_____ /150 TOTAL:

Student Notes for Next Writing Assignment:

What worked best for my writing according to the rough draft rubric:

What doesn’t work for my writing according to the rough draft rubric:

In my FINAL DRAFT, I will focus more on:

Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) Lower Order Concerns (LOCs)