Short Story Essay

Criteria Level 5

Level 4

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Level 0

Criterion 1: Thesis

10 points The essay has a concise thesis that includes the author's name, title of the story, and the 3-4 major points of the essay as well as the theme

8 points Essay is a mixure of level 5 and level 3

6 points The essay has a thesis, but it could be more concise, or is missing the author's name, title of the story, or one of the 3-4 major points of the essay

4 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

2 points The essay has severely weak thesis or it is missing TWO or more of the following-- author's name, title of the story, or major points of the essay

0 points Fails to achieve the requirements, such as no thesis present.

Criterion 2: Evidence

15 points The essay uses and effectively incorporates plenty of specific evidence from the story, including summary, paraphrase, and direct quotes, to support its thesis statement and points

12 points Essay is a mixture of level 5 and level 3

10 points The essay includes some evidence from the story, which might include summary, paraphrase, and direct quotes, but the effectiveness is lacking, such as not clearly supporting the thesis and main points.

8 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

5 points The essay's use of evidence is significantly lacking; summary, paraphrase, and direct quotes are in error or ineffective; a thesis is not present so that any evidence presented has nothing to support; main points are unclear so that any evidence present has nothing to support; other errors in evidence hamper the effectiveness of the essay.

0 points Failure to achieve the criterion

Criterion 3: MLA Style

10 points The essay uses correct MLA documentation style with no more than one overall minor error

8 points Essay is a mixture of level 5 and level 3

6 points The essay uses MLA documentation style with two to four minor errors

4 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

2 points The essay uses MLA documentation style, but there are five or more errors or no MLA documentation is absent

0 points Failure to achieve the criterion

Criterion 4: Title

5 points The essay has an effective title that reflect the thesis

4 points Essay is a mixture of level 5 and level 3

3 points The essay has a title, but may not reflect the thesis

2 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

1 point The essay has a title that only reflects the assignment

0 points Failure to achieve the criterion, such as no title present

Criterion 5: Development

20 points The essay fully develops at least 3-4 points that analyze the story

15 points Essay is a mixture of level 5 and level 3

10 points The essay attempts to develop the points, but somewhat fall short of their effectiveness

5 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

3 points The essay attempts to develop the points, but falls severely short of being effective.

0 points Failure to achieve the criterion, such as the working failing to develop the points.

Criterion 6: Mechanics and Style

10 points The essay is free from mechanical and technical errors, and is written in standard academic English following MLA essay formatting

8 points Essay is a mixture of level 5 and level 3

6 points The essay has no more than four mechanical, technical, or formatting errors.

4 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

2 points The essay has five ore more mechanical, technical, or formatting errors.

0 points Failure to achieve the criterion

Criterion 7: Terminology

10 points The essays uses the correct

8 points Essay is a mixture of level 5

6 points The essay uses terminology

4 points Essay is a mixture of level 3

2 points The essay lacks accurate

0 points Failure to achieve the

terminology associated with writing about and analyzing fiction as defined in class

and level 3 associated with writing about and analyzing fiction, but the usage has minor errors, misunderstandings, or misinterpretations.

and level 1 terminology associated with writing about and analyzing fiction.

criterion, such as the complete absence of terminology associated with writing about and analyzing fiction.

Criterion 8: Assignment

10 points The essay fulfills the assignment as defined

8 points Essay is a mixture of level 5 and level 3

6 points The essay attempts the assignment, but somewhat falls short of achieving success

4 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

2 points The essay attempts the assignment, but severely falls short of achieving success.

0 points Essay fails to meet criterion, such as failing to address the assignment.

Criterion 9: Organization

10 points The essay is effectively and logically organized in support of the thesis

8 points Essay is a mixture of level 5 and level 3

6 points The essay attempts organization, but the overall set up is lacking

4 points Essay is a mixture of level 3 and level 1

2 points The essay is severely deficient in its organization

0 points Failture to achieve the criterion

Overall Score

Level 5

90 or more

Level 4

79 or more

Level 3

59 or more

Level 2

39 or more

Level 1

21 or more

Level 0

0 or more