argumentative essay

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OPENING,

BACKGROUND,

DEFINITION,

THESIS

Thesis/claim is precise, knowledgeable, significant, and distinguished from alternate or opposing claims

Thesis/Claim is precise and knowledgeable

Thesis/Claim may be unclear or incomplete

Thesis/Claim is missing

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EVIDENCE/

REFUTATION

Develops the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, details or other information and examples

Skillfully integrates information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas and advance the thesis

Skillfully assesses the strengths and limitations of evidence.

Includes solid refutation

Develops the topic by selecting significant and relevant facts, concrete details, or other information and examples

Integrates evidence into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas and advance the thesis.

Assesses the strengths and limitations of evidence.

Includes refutation

Attempts to develop the topic using evidence, but evidence is inaccurate, irrelevant, and/or insufficient

Attempts to integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas and advance the thesis, but information is insufficient or irrelevant

Attempts to assess the strengths and limitations of evidence, but goes off topic.

Weak refutation

Does not develop the topic by selecting evidence to support a thesis

Does not assess the strengths and limitations of evidence.

No evidence of refutation

CONCLUSION

Conclusion summarized the main point and topics without repeating previous sentences; thesis is restated in a new way.

Conclusion summarizes main topics; thesis is restated.

Conclusion summarizes main points but is repetitive. Thesis is restated but not in a new way.

Conclusion does not adequately summarize the essay. Thesis is not restated.

Organization,

Writing Style and Conventions

Organization skillfully sequences the claim(s), reasons, and evidence

Provides a concluding statement or section that skillfully follows from or supports the argument presented

Skillfully produces clear, coherent, sophisticated writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience

Follows the standard (MLA) format without errors

Organization logically sequences the claim(s), reasons, and evidence

Provides a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented

Produces clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience

Follows the standard (MLA) with few and/or minor errors

Attempts to create a logical organization, but may be missing some elements of the assignment

Attempts to provide a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented, but statement does not support thesis

Attempts to produce clear and coherent writing, but errors in conventions and writing style detract from understanding

Attempts to follow the standard but with several errors

Does not provide logical organization

Does not provide

a concluding statement or section that follows from or supports the argument presented

Does not produce clear and coherent writing

Does not follow the standard format