SPC 3230- Essay 2

Essay

The following rubric will be used to evaluate your writing sample. When preparing your document, please follow the Five C’s of Effective Writing. Make your writing: Clear, Concise, Correct, Courteous, and

Comprehensive.

Total /60 20

Excellent

Good

Acceptable

Unacceptable

Score

Content

(25 points

possible)

The essay illustrates

exemplary understanding of the course material by

thoroughly and correctly:

(1) addressing the relevant

content; (2) identifying and explaining all of the

key concepts/ideas; (3)

using correct terminology; (4) explaining the

reasoning behind key

points/claims; and (5) (where necessary or

useful) substantiating

points with several

accurate and original examples.

(25 points)

The essay illustrates

solid understanding of the course material by

correctly: (1) addressing

most of the relevant

content; (2) identifying and explaining most of

the key concepts/ideas;

(3) using correct terminology; (4)

explaining the reasoning

behind most of the key points/claims; and (5)

(where necessary or

useful) substantiating

some points with accurate examples.

(20 points)

The essay illustrates

rudimentary understanding of the course material by:

(1) mentioning, but not

fully explaining, the

relevant content; (2) identifying some of the key

concepts/ideas (though

failing to fully or accurately explain many of them); (3)

using terminology, though

sometimes inaccurately or inappropriately; and (4)

incorporating some key

claims/points, but failing to

explain the reasoning behind them (or doing so

inaccurately).

(15 points)

The essay illustrates poor

understanding of the course material by (1)

failing to address or

incorrectly addressing the

relevant content; (2) failing to identify or

inaccurately

explaining/defining key concepts/ideas; (3)

ignoring or incorrectly

explaining key points/claims and the

reasoning behind them;

and (4) incorrectly or

inappropriately using terminology.

(10 points)

Reasoning (25 points

possible)

The essay reflects expert

reasoning by:

(1) synthesizing material; (2) making connections

between relevant

ideas/claims/points; (3)

presenting an insightful and thorough evaluation

of the relevant issue or

problem; (4) identifying and discussing important

nuances in the relevant

material; and (5) identifying and discussing

key assumptions and/or

implications.

(25 points)

The essay reflects fairly

strong reasoning by:

(1) synthesizing material, (2) making appropriate

connections between

some of the key

ideas/claims/points; (3) accurately evaluating the

issue/problem; and (4)

identifying ad discussing key assumptions and/or

implications.

(20 points)

The essay reflects basic

reasoning by:

(1) synthesizing some of the material, though

remains vague and

undeveloped; (2) making a

few connections between ideas/claims/points, but

ignoring or inaccurately

connecting others; (3) evaluating the

issue/problem at a very

basic/superficial level; and (4) ignoring assumptions

and implications.

(15 points)

The essay reflects

substandard or poor

reasoning by: (1) failing to synthesize the material or

doing so inaccurately; (2)

failing to make

connections between ideas/claims/points or

doing so inaccurately; and

(3) failing to evaluate the issue or problem.

(10 points)

Writing,

Grammar

and

Mechanics (10 points

possible)

The essay is clear, and concise as a result of: (1)

appropriate and precise

use of terminology; (2) absence of tangents and

coherence of thoughts;

and (3) logical

organization of ideas and thoughts. (4) complete

sentences, free of spelling

errors and uses correct grammar, (5) follows

correct formatting style,

(6) falls between the minimum and maximum

page requirement.

(10 points)

The essay is mostly clear as a result of: (1)

appropriate use of

terminology and minimal vagueness; (2) minimal

number of tangents and

lack of repetition; and (3)

fairly good organization (4) complete sentences,

few spelling errors and

grammar mistakes, (5) follows correct

formatting style with

minimal mistakes, (6) falls between the

minimum and maximum

page requirement.

(7 points)

The essay is often unclear and difficult to follow due

to: (1) some inappropriate

terminology and/or vague language; (2) ideas

sometimes being

fragmented, wondering

and/or repetitive; and (3) poor organization. (4)

incomplete sentences, has

spelling errors and uses acceptable grammar, (5)

barely follows correct

formatting style, (6) does not fall between the

minimum and maximum

page requirement.

(5 points)

The essay does not communicate ideas/points

clearly due to: (1)

inappropriate use of terminology and vague

language; (2) reliance on

disjointed and

incomprehensible thoughts and clauses; and

(3) lack of recognizable

organization. (4) no sentence structure, many

spelling errors and

unacceptable grammar, (5) does not follow correct

formatting style, (6) does

not fall between the

minimum and maximum page requirement.

(3 points)

Evaluation Criteria

Outstanding: The essay/paper demonstrates superior application of communication concepts and principles outlined in the readings and exercises. The assignment does not contain errors in content,

reasoning, writing, grammar and mechanics. Above Average: The essay/paper demonstrates above average application of communication concepts and

principles outlined in the readings and exercises. The assignment has a few minor content, reasoning, writing, grammar and mechanics. Satisfactory: The essay/paper demonstrates satisfactory application of communication concepts and

principles outlined in the readings and exercises. The assignment has a moderate number of errors in content, reasoning, writing, grammar and mechanics. Poor: The essay/paper has an inconsistent application of communication concepts and principles outlined in the readings and exercises and/or has frequent and serious errors in content, reasoning, writing, grammar and mechanics. Incomplete: The essay/paper was not submitted before the due date and/or was not completed according to the published instructions.