second look

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Compare and Contrast Rubric

Category 4 3 2 1

Purpose & Supporting Details

The paper compares and contrasts items clearly. The paper points to specific examples to illustrate the comparison. The paper includes only the information relevant to the comparison.

The paper compares and contrasts items clearly, but the supporting information is general. The paper includes only the information relevant to the comparison.

The paper compares and contrasts items clearly, but the supporting information is incomplete. The paper may include information that is not relevant to the comparison.

The paper compares or contrasts, but does not include both. There is no supporting information or support is incomplete.

Organization & Structure

The paper breaks the information into whole-to- whole, similarities- to-differences, or point-by-point structure. It follows a consistent order when discussing the comparison.

The paper breaks the information into whole-to- whole, similarities- to-differences, or point-by-point structure but does not follow a consistent order when discussing the comparison.

The paper breaks the information into whole-to-whole, similarities-to- differences, or point-by-point structure, but some information is in the wrong section. Some details are not in a logical or expected order, and this distracts the reader.

Many details are not in a logical or expected order. There is little sense that the writing is organized.

Transitions The paper moves smoothly from one idea to the next. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words to show relationships between ideas. The paper uses a variety of sentence structures and transitions.

The paper moves from one idea to the next, but there is little variety. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words to show relationships between ideas.

Some transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are fuzzy.

The transitions between ideas are unclear or nonexistent.

Grammar & Spelling (Conventions)

Writer makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Writer makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Writer makes 3-4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Writer makes more than 4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.