400words paper

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Writing Rubric

Note: there is grading “wiggle room” between the three levels from excellent to poor. Obviously, a rubric cannot cover everything. Example: If you do well on thesis, writing, argument, but egregiously make essay disorganized, I have reason to mark you down.

Thesis and Development of

Position

(the position and direction)

20% of total

Organization

(the internal structure)

15% of total

Writing (includes tone, sentence

flow, word choice, phrasing, and

adherence to conventions of

grammar, punctuation, paragraph,

structure, etc.

25% of total

Argumentation (the support)

40% of total

19-20 Points

Position is clearly stated and

reflects deep exploration of

issue; thought in thesis is clear

and focused. No

trivialities/irrelevancies. Reader

knows where argument should

go from here.

14-15 Points

The organization is compelling and

moves reader through the text.

Details are correctly placed. A

natural flow from sentence to

sentence, paragraph to paragraph.

Good use of transitional language.

23-25 Points

The essay is lively, expressive,

engaging. Word choice is precise,

original, concise, and rich. Sentences

themselves flow nicely; phrasing

conventions enhance readability.

Errors in grammar, punctuation, or

paragraphing really don’t exist.

37-40 Points

Thoughts are clearly and powerfully

defined and/or stated.

Counterarguments are considered and

rebutted. Weak or unsound arguments

are not used. Rhetoric, if present, is

never substituted for argument.

15-18 Points

Position/issue is stated/treated

superficially; ideas tend to be

general, insubstantial, and

occasionally even trivial.

Reader is not entirely sure

where (specifically) the

argument will go.

11-13 Points

Reader may readily follow

essay/argument, but organization is

ineffective or possibly confusing.

Not really a natural flow,

confusing transitions.

18-22 Points

The writing is pleasant, acceptable,

and, for the most part, mechanically

correct, but it lacks punch (passive

voice, non-direct language, negative

form, etc). An occasional awkward

construction distracts the reader from

content.

29-36 Points

Thoughts are supported, but support is

incomplete or uncompelling.

Counterarguments may be considered,

but they are fallacious, and/or there is

no response. Rhetoric is sometimes

used in place of argument.

0-14 Points

No position on the issue; no

clear position on the issue.

Difficult for reader to fathom

what the writer wants to say or

accomplish in paper.

0-10 Points

Organization is haphazard and

disjointed. Ideas are strung

together helter-skelter.

0-17 Points

The writing is flat, lifeless, stiff,

turgid, and/or dull. Sentences are

choppy, incomplete, rambling, or

awkward. Errors in conventions are

common. Essay is difficult to

comprehend without rereading. Essay

resists being read aloud.

0-28 Points

Thoughts are weakly supported if at

all. Emotional appeals or fallacies

appear; questions are begged, rhetoric

frequently is used in place of

argument. Arguments, if any, are

irrelevant, weak, unsound, difficult to

comprehend or paraphrase, or leave

big gaps for the reader to try to fill in

by guesswork.