USDA

RUBRIC CRITERIA / SCALE Exceeds Expectations Meets Expectations Needs Improvement Inadequate

Structure (20% of grade) • Organization • Flow of thought • Transitions • Format

• Paper is logically organized

• Easily followed • Effective, smooth, and

logical transitions • Professional format

• Paper has a clear organizational structure with some digressions, ambiguities or irrelevances

• Easily followed • Basic transitions • Structured format

• There is some level of organization though digressions, ambiguities, irrelevances are too many

• Difficult to follow • Ineffective transitions • Rambling format

• There is no apparent organization to the paper.

• Difficult to follow • No or poor transitions • No format

Grammar/mechanics (20% of grade) • sentence structure • punctuation/mechanics

• Manipulates complex sentences for effect/impact

• No punctuation or mechanical errors

• Uses complex sentences • Few punctuation or

mechanical errors

• Uses compound sentences • Too many punctuation

and/or mechanical errors

• Uses simple sentences

Language (20% of grade) • Vocabulary; use of

ularyvocab • Tone

• ates

• iate

• ect ocabulary

• y appropriate to

audience

• bject ocabulary

• of audience

sensitivity

• vocabulary too sparingly

• Vocabulary is sophisticated and correct as are sentences which vary in structure and length

Uses and manipul subject specific vocabulary for effect Writer’s tone is clear, consistent and appropr for intended audience

• Vocabulary is varied, specific and appropriate

Frequently uses subj specific v correctly Writer’s tone emerges and is generall

• Vocabulary is used properly though sentences may be simple

Infrequently uses su specific v correctly Writer’s tone exhibits some level

• Vocabulary is unsophisticated, not used properly in very simple sentences.

Uses subject specific

Content/information (40% of grade)

• of

•

ght •

while focus remains tight

• of

t throughout the

•

• g examples and

evidence

•

tained throughout the

• al,

• ples ence, though

general

• of

pressed

• or

•

they are mostly irrelevant

• •

Clarity of purpose Critical and original thought Use of examples•

Central idea is well developed and clarity purpose is exhibited throughout the paper Abundance of evidence of critical, careful thought and analysis and/or insi Evidence and examples are vivid and specific,

Central idea and clarity purpose are generally eviden essay Evidence of critical, careful thought and analysis and/or insight There are good, relevant supportin

The central idea is expressed though it may be vague or too broad; Some sense of purpose is main essay Some evidence of critic careful thought and analysis and/or insight There are some exam and evid

Central idea and clarity purpose are absent or incompletely ex and maintained Little or no evidence of critical, careful thought analysis and/or insight There are too few, no examples and evidence or