Essay

Level 3

Level 4

Organization

Writing lacks logical

Writing is coherent and

Writing is coherent and

Writing shows high degree of attention

organization. It shows some

logically organized. Some

logically organized with

to logic and reasoning of points. Unity

coherence but ideas lack

points remain misplaced and

transitions used between

clearly leads the reader to the

unity. Serious errors.

stray from the topic.

ideas and paragraphs to create

conclusion and stirs thought regarding

Transitions evident but not

coherence. Overall unity of

the topic.

used throughout essay.

ideas is present.

Level of Content

Shows some thinking and

Content indicates thinking

Content indicates original

Content indicates synthesis of ideas, in-

reasoning but most ideas are

and reasoning applied with

thinking and develops ideas

depth analysis and evidences original

underdeveloped and

original thought on a few

with sufficient and firm

thought and support for the topic.

unoriginal.

ideas.

evidence.

Development

Main points lack detailed

Main points are present with

Main points well developed

Main points well developed with high

development. Ideas are

limited detail and

with quality supporting

quality and quantity support. Reveals

vague with little evidence of

development. Some critical

details and quantity. Critical

high degree of critical thinking.

critical thinking.

thinking is present.

thinking is weaved into points

Grammar &

Spelling, punctuation, and

Most spelling, punctuation,

Essay has few spelling,

Essay is free of distracting spelling,

Mechanics

grammatical errors create

and grammar correct allowing

punctuation, and grammatical

punctuation, and grammatical errors;

distraction, making reading

reader to progress though

errors allowing reader to

absent of fragments, comma splices,

difficult; fragments, comma

essay. Some errors remain.

follow ideas clearly. Very

and run-ons.

splices, run-ons evident.

few fragments or run-ons.

Errors are frequent.

Style

Mostly in elementary form

Approaches college level

Attains college level style;

Shows outstanding style going beyond

with little or no variety in

usage of some variety in

tone is appropriate and

usual college level; rhetorical devices

sentence structure, diction,

sentence patterns, diction, and

rhetorical devices used to

and tone used effectively; creative use

rhetorical devices or

rhetorical devices.

enhance content; sentence

of sentence structure and coordination

emphasis.

variety used effectively.

Format

Fails to follow format and

Meets format and assignment

Meets format and assignment

Meets all formal and assignment

assignment requirements;

requirements; generally

requirements; margins,

requirements and evidences attention to

incorrect margins, spacing

correct margins, spacing, and

spacing, and indentations are

detail; all margins, spacing and

and indentation; neatness of

indentations; essay is neat but

correct; essay is neat and

indentations are correct; essay is neat

essay needs attention.

may have some assembly

correctly assembled.

and correctly assembled with

errors.

professional look.