Rhetorical Analysis Assignment

Grade Component (Weight)

Unacceptable (<50%)

Well Below Expectations (50-59%)

Developing Twd. Expectations

(60-69%)

Meets Expectations (70-80%)

Exceeds Expectations (81%+)

Notes

Academic Honesty and Format

-Essay follows APA format guidelines as reflected in the text and discussed in class

-Proper APA References list

-APA in-text citations are sufficient, properly formatted

Use and Integration of Evidence

-All claims are supported with evidence from the text

-Evidence is relevant, concrete, and sufficiently detailed to support the claim

-Evidence is smoothly integrated into the text, using a variety of techniques and approaches

-Evidence is accurate/correct

Analysis

-All evidence analyzed/explained thoroughly; analysis displays deep thinking (no superficial discussion)

-Links between evidence and claims are clear, strong

-Analysis is accurate, does not misrepresent evidence

Structure and Organization

-Thesis statement is correctly placed, and presents a clear, compelling argument

-All body paragraphs begin with a clear topic sentence that fully captures the discussion in the paragraph

-Topic sentences are connected to the overall thesis

-Paragraphs are unified (one topic), coherent (flow logically and smoothly)

-Conclusion paragraph begins with a re-worded thesis statement and wraps up in a satisfying way

Style and Clarity

-Free from informal language (slang, colloquialism, contractions, first-person and second-person pronouns)

-Sentence construction is sound and varied (different lengths, organizations, parallel structure)

-Transitional words/phrases smoothly connect sentences and/or indicate relationships to one another

-Writer chooses words accurately and appropriately

-Writing is concise (no wordiness) and precise (no vagueness)

Grammar/Mechanics

-Free from fragments, comma splices, fused sentences

-Free from spelling errors

-Nearly free from grammatical errors (eg. Subj.-verb agreement, pronoun reference, incorrect tense)

-Nearly free from mechanical errors (typing errors, missing words, capitalization errors)

-Punctuation is used properly (very few minor errors)