750 words due Asap

ENG122 – Essay/Research Paper Evaluation Sheet

Note: The descriptions here are typical qualities and patterns in essays, but cannot exactly match every individual essay. At least occasionally, qualities from different levels mix, and the score may represent a similar mix of levels.

THESIS 0 -10 points (up to 2 points for each quality)

____ 0-2 Topic is appropriately adapted for the audience, purpose, and length of the essay.

____ 0-2 Expression of thesis is clear and graceful.

____ 0-2 Originality of thought is likely to surprise or engage many readers.

____ 0-2 Emphasis clearly reflects the writer's attitude and purpose.

____ 0-2 Direction or structure of the essay is clearly indicated or implied (often through a preview of main points).

SUPPORT 0 - 30 points

____ 27-30 Individually and together, the body paragraphs offer sufficient relevant evidence to make ideas and the overall thesis clear and convincing for the intended audience and purpose; support is typically specific, concrete, and interesting.

____ 24-26 The body paragraphs together offers sufficient evidence to make the essay idea reasonably clear and convincing, but evidence is occasionally general or repetitive or overly familiar.

____ 21-23 Some good, relevant support is offered, but evidence is frequently general, or occasionally insufficient to make the ideas fully clear or convincing.

____ 18-20 Some paragraph ideas may be unclear, or support in two or more body paragraphs may be thin or unconvincing, or not directly relevant to the original thesis.

____ 0-17 Support is consistently weak, often relying only on generalities or repetition.

ORGANIZATION 0 -10 points

____ 9-10 Organization both among and within paragraphs follows a natural, logical order reinforced by effective transitions.

____ 8 Organization among and within paragraphs is generally logical and clear, with some effort toward providing clear, smooth transitions.

____ 7 Organization is reasonably easy to follow, but the pattern of organization seems uncertain,
or the absence of transitions may occasionally require the reader to work out the
connections.

____ 6 Organization among and/or within paragraphs is difficult to follow, with considerable scattering of ideas.

____ 0-5 Lack of organization among and/or within paragraphs makes ideas and connections uncertain or hard to find.

EXPRESSION 0 -10 points

____ 9-10 Language is consistently accurate and appropriate, and often vivid; sentence structures are mature and varied, and control emphasis well; sentences may display rhythm and balance.

____ 8 Language is usually clear and appropriate, but may be occasionally general or vague; sentence structures are usually clear and smooth, but may lack variety or conciseness.

____ 7 Language is usually clear, but occasionally inaccurate, inappropriate, or unclear; some
sentence structures may seem simplistic or tangled.

____ 6 Word choice in several places is inexact and inappropriate, and several sentences may be confusing.

____ 0-5 Word choice and/or sentence structures reveal considerable discomfort

INTRODUCTION 0 - 5 points (0-1 point for each quality)

____ 0-1 Grabber Opening sentences make the reader want to read further.

____ 0-1 Set-up Early sentences provide enough context or background to lead naturally to the thesis.

____ 0-1 Focus The central concern of the essay is clearly established (usually through a firm thesis statement).

____ 0-1 Preview The reader is prepared for smooth movement into the essay's body (usually through a preview of main points).

____ 0-1 Voice A clear sense of the writer's attitude, tone, and voice emerges.

CONCLUSION 0 - 5 points

____ 5 Conclusion ends the essay gracefully and memorably, reinforcing the central idea or ideas of the essay, and maintaining its overall tone and emphasis.

____ 4 Conclusion ends the essay clearly and smoothly, reinforcing the central idea or ideas of the essay, and maintaining its overall tone and emphasis.

____ 3 Conclusion makes clear that the essay has ended, but it may seem abrupt or hurried, perhaps merely repeating the original thesis statement

____ 2 Conclusion may seem uncertain, without a firm sense of completion; it may introduce new ideas or attitudes that leave the reader uncertain about overall emphasis.

____ 0-1 Conclusion may contradict or undermine the original thesis, or the essay may trail off with no sense of ending.

MECHANICS (Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation) 0-30 points
____ 27-30 Control of mechanics is secure: few if any errors appear; those that do appear are insignificant.

____ 24-26 Occasional minor errors occur, but they do not cause misreading, and the writer still reveals a firm grasp of grammar, spelling and punctuation.

____ 21-23 Several minor errors or occasional major errors occur, distracting the reader, but not interfering with understanding.

____ 18-20 Errors in mechanics are frequent or troublesome enough to interfere with understanding and undermine the reader's confidence in the writer.

____ 0-17 Frequent serious errors occur, or occasional serious errors combine with frequent minor errors to make reading difficult and meanings unsure.

______ Total Points