English essay revised

Dimension

3 = excellent

2 =average/good

1 = below average

0 = poor

Purpose/

task

Accomplishes the task. Essay is well written using the appropriate elements of the assigned rhetoric. (narrative, argumentative, comparative, cause-effect, response, process analysis)

Has 5 to 6 complete paragraphs

Attempts to accomplish the task. Uses most of the elements of the assigned rhetoric.

Has 4 complete paragraphs

Attempts to accomplish the task using some of the elements of the assigned rhetoric.

Has 3 complete paragraphs

Attempts to accomplish the task.

Attempts to use little to no elements of the assigned rhetoric.

Introduction Paragraph

Has a strong introduction paragraph.

Includes a hook and background information to introduce the topic and connect the reader to the topic of the essay.

Has an average introduction paragraph. Has some background or connecting information, but needs more development to help connect with the reader to the topic.

Has a weak introduction paragraph.

Lacks a hook or lacks needed background information to understand the topic.

Lacks necessary background information about the topic.

Thesis

Statement

Has a clear thesis sentence that includes the topic and main idea (the writer’s idea or opinion about the topic) that is appropriate for the assigned rhetoric.

Has a thesis, but needs to be more developed. The topic or main idea (the writer’s idea or opinion about the topic) may not be clear.

The thesis is not clear or lacks main idea (the writer’s idea or opinion about the topic) May not be appropriate for the assigned rhetoric.

Lacks thesis sentence.

Unity

ALL supporting body paragraphs and sentences clearly support or explain the topic and main idea of the essay.

Most paragraphs and sentences support topic and main idea. Some sentences may not be necessary or don’t explain or focus on the main idea.

Few paragraphs or sentences support the topic and main idea. Sentences are not clear. Seems to go off into other topics. Not focused.

Lacks unity

Coherence

All paragraphs and sentences have a logical order that is easy to follow and understand. Paragraphs have a topic sentence, logical supporting details and conclusion sentence. Paragraphs are well developed.

Most paragraphs and sentences attempt to have some logical order to follow and understand. They have a beginning, middle and ending, but needs more development.

Many paragraphs and sentences are no coherent. Order of sentences is confusing. May lack topic sentence, logical supporting details or conclusion.

Little to no coherence.

Conclusion

Paragraph

Has a strong and clear

conclusion paragraph that supports the main idea and points in each of the supporting paragraphs. Restates the main idea in different words, expands on the meaning of the main idea, offers a suggestion, or a prediction, the result, the benefit.

Attempts to have a conclusion. The paragraph tries to support the main idea, but it is a little unclear. Usually it is confusion about the main idea for the essay.

Conclusion paragraph is not clear. Just restates the topic sentence and or points of the essay. Doesn’t have a solid main idea.

Does not have a concluding paragraph. Short and blunt.

Transition Words

Uses a variety of different transition words or phrases to introduce each paragraph. Uses appropriate connecting words in each paragraph.

Some paragraphs have a transition word or phrase to introduce a new paragraph topic. Paragraphs have some connecting words through out. May lack variety of word choices.

Paragraphs use a few transition words through out the essay. Word choices may be repetitive.

Paragraphs lack transition and connecting words.

Vocabulary

Uses a variety of appropriate academic vocabulary that are accurate to their meanings.

Uses correct word choices.

Uses correct spelling.

Attempts to use academic vocabulary, but has some wrong word choices according to their meanings.

Most words have correct spelling.

Uses some academic vocabulary words.

Many spelling errors or incorrect word choices.

May be difficult to understand due to vocabulary.

Cannot understand many words.

Uses slang or inappropriate words for academic writing.

Grammar

Readability

Demonstrates a high degree of control of grammar usage.

Uses a variety sentence types that are complete. Uses commas correctly. Uses appropriate verb agreement and tenses. Uses articles, adjectives and adverbs correctly.

Demonstrates some control of grammar usage.

Has some errors, but it can still be easily understood.

Demonstrates a little control of grammar usage.

Grammar errors make it difficult to read and understand.

Very difficult to read and understand. A lot of correction is needed.