write one formal analytical paragraph

Criteria

1 point earned

2 points earned

3 points earned

4 points earned

Total

Topic Sentence

Weak topic sent; sets up a summary

rather than an argument;

doesn’t reflect content of body paragraph

Topic sent makes

weak, problematic, or obvious claim; vaguely identifiable

Buried topic sent; makes arguable claim; potential for an interesting paragraph; missing 1 minor element

Provocative topic sent; clear argument; topic narrowed to one strategy.

Development

(support/detail sents)

Fails to meet development requirement

Only meets ½ of development requirement

Meets ¾ of development requirement

Thoroughly develops topic from several angles

Quality of content

Development unrelated to topic sent; sents may be choppy, lacking cohesion and unity; no logical progression identified in argument; no variety in sent structure; doesn’t refer to reading; no documentation (if required); misunderstanding of material

A few sents may be unrelated to topic sent; some sents may be choppy; awk sents; weak logic in paragraph development; some variety in sent structure; refers very little to reading; doesn’t explain quotations; faulty quotations; inadequate documentation (if required)

One or two sents may be only loosely tied to topic sent; some evidence of cohesion with use of transitions; sents in logical order; a variety of sent structure; refers to reading assignment; a few problems with quotes, explaining quotes, or documentation (if required)

All sents directly relate to topic sent; fluent use of transitions and other strategies for coherence and unity; logical progression of argument; wide variety of sent structures; synthesizes reading assignment; correct documentation (if required)

Mechanics

More than 3 major grammar errors: fragments, run-ons, subj-verb agreement; weak vocabulary; multiple spelling and punctuation errors

1-3 major grammatical errors: frags, run-ons, subj-verb agreement; weak vocabulary; several spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors

Minor errors in grammar, spelling, and/or punctuation

Nearly perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation; no major grammatical errors

Concluding sentence

None identified

Weak closing to the paragraph’s argument

Concluding sent summarizes paragraph’s argument

Concluding sent draws a conclusion about what was argued in body paragraph

Format: paper & works cited page

Not formatted correctly

One major formatting error, or two minor errors

One minor formatting error

Formatted correctly: TNR 12 font, double spaced, 1” margins