synthesis essay

Synthesis Essay 3 Grading Rubric

Introduction /25

Essay has a title specific to the topic of the essay

Introductory paragraph introduces a scholarly source and non-scholarly secondary source

Student’s thesis makes an argument about the topic and is not just a list of main points

Student’s thesis makes an argument about the effectiveness of the sources’ arguments

Student’s thesis addresses the impact of the arguments made on the audience

Body and Conclusion /45

Essay uses one scholarly source and one non-scholarly secondary source from D2L

Essay does not simply summarize or repeat the source information

Essay makes a commentary/argument about the topic both of the sources address

Essay uses specific examples from the sources and contextualizes, cites, and analyzes them

It is explained how the examples used relate to the student’s thesis

Conclusion makes sense with the thesis

Conclusion touches on the broader consequences/benefits to the audience’s

understanding/interpretation of the student’s and the sources’ arguments

MLA format /15

Heading is present and correctly formatted

Uniform double spacing throughout the essay

Times New Roman 12 pt. font used

Last name and page numbers are formatted correctly

All margins are 1 in. each

Works cited page is present and the citations used for the sources are correct

In-text/parenthetical citations are used correctly in the essay

Style and Structure /8

Except for source quotations, essay is written in 3rd person, not 1st or 2nd person

Word choice is apt. (avoids slang/colloquialisms)

Tone is scholarly but clear (don’t abuse the thesaurus)

Sentence structure is correct (no comma splices, run-ons, or sentence fragments)

Sentences are clear and easy to understand

Paragraphs cover one specific topic

Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, etc. /7

Grammar is completely coherent, and correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling is used

Overall Comments: / 100