Novogratz

Persuasive Essay Rubric The persuasive essay is designed to build a case for a central argument; factors that affect the power of that argument need to be examined: the clarity of the argument, the support, the overall organization, the choice of language, and grammar and punctuation.

Attribute Evaluated POS PTS

PTS

1. The Clarity of the Thesis/Central Theme/Argument – This element looks at the clarity of the overall argument, the thesis of the essay. A 1 indicates a major deficiency in the argument: no thesis, too many theses, or incoherent thesis. A 10 is awarded for a clear thesis expressed in a way that is not only clear but also captures the imagination and binds the reader to the essay.

10

2. Support of Thesis/Argument – This section looks at how you developed supporting material for your thesis, the evidence that you provide. 1 indicates that there is no real evidence and/or that the evidence is based on an individual’s personal feelings/beliefs and a 40 indicates that there not only is sufficient evidence to support the argument, but that the evidence is relevant, high quality, and credible; furthermore, it is presented in a most convincing fashion which conveys your mastery of the topic.

40

3. Organization of the Essay – This area focuses on the flow of the essay. There are many ways to organize an essay, e.g. the five-paragraph essay is designed to present a thesis, have three supporting paragraphs (because four is overkill and one or two might just be a coincidence), and provide concluding remarks in the fifth paragraph. The underlying notion is that the essay has a coherent organization that facilitates the audiences’ understanding. A 1 indicates that there is no coherent discernable organizational structure and a 10 indicates that there is a sophisticated flow to the paper that facilitates understanding of the argument.

10

4. Use of Language – The use of the language is evaluated against the appropriateness for a college level course. On this scale 1 is inappropriate use of language, multiple wrong words selected, and a tone set by the choice of words that undermines the argument. On this scale, a 10 indicates an elegant use of language that balances an understudying of the audience with the nature of the subject.

10

5. Grammar and Punctuation – The expectation is that you use appropriate grammar and have appropriate punctuation. Too many mistakes indicate that you don’t take the work seriously, so the reader should not either. A 1 on this scale indicates that there are numerous grammatical and punctuation errors which encourages the reader to stop reading. A 15 indicates that there were few if any mistakes and those errors did not interfere with the nature of the essay.

15

6. The Sophistication of the Thesis/Paper – There is a difference between a clear thesis and sophisticated thesis. In college, one seeks a greater level of sophistication, making connections that are not immediately apparent. A 1 indicates that the essay is relatively simplistic in concept and execution and a 15 indicates that it is sophisticated synthesis of ideas demonstrating deep understanding of the course concepts.

15

7. Documentation – You appropriately identify source material used in your arguments. There are no points for this rubric, as you are expected to appropriately source others. Please refer to NEC’s academic honesty policies. Technical citations errors will be treated under # 5.

0

Total Points/Letter Grade 100

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