Assignment

ENG 239—Essay 1 Rubric

Points Possible

Points Earned

Comments

Effective Presentation of Thesis: Controlling idea/thesis should be clear and identifiable, making a clear argument about how the chosen text relates to, illustrates, or is defined by “rural.”

25

Selection of Supporting Passages/Details: Close reading and careful selection of brief passages should be used to support the central thesis. Important passages should be quoted and clearly analyzed. The essay should not “drift” from the central thesis or the idea of the rural when presenting supporting information. The essay should be 2–3 full pages, not including works cited page.

25

Arrangement of Information: All ideas should be organized well without any missing or incomplete components. Information should be clearly arranged, both within paragraphs and sentences. The essay should read logically and smoothly from beginning to end.

20

Writing Style: Word choice should be varied and precise throughout the assignment. Vague words (“things,” “very”) should be avoided. Sentence structures should be varied, and should not become monotonous or distracting. Both word choice and sentence structure should help create meaning.

15

Technical Matters: Language should be used correctly. Capitalization, punctuation, and spelling should be correct. Clarity and conciseness should be considered. The assignment should follow MLA guidelines.

15

General Comments