1. An Essay Rubric for Grading Essays

2. What is an essay? A series of paragraphs discussing a single topic The intro paragraph explains the topic and gives main ideas that supports the thesis The body is one or more paragraphs explaining the main ideas Closing paragraph summarizes the essay

3. Rubric Grade of 6 An essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent mastery and understanding of the content, although it may have a few minor errors. A typical essay: –Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other factual evidence to support its position –Is well organized and clearly focused, demonstrating clear coherence and smooth progression of ideas –Addresses all point of the question –Is free of errors in fact or interpretation –Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

4. Rubric Grade of 5 An essay in this category demonstrates reasonably consistent mastery and understanding of the content, although it will have occasional errors or lapses in quality. A typical essay: –Effectively and insightfully develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates outstanding critical thinking, using clearly appropriate examples, reasons, and other factual evidence to support its position –Is well organized and focused, demonstrating coherence and progression of ideas –Addresses all point of the question –Is free of errors in fact or interpretation –Is free of most errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

5. Rubric Grade of 4 An essay in this category demonstrates adequate mastery and understanding of the content, although it will have lapses in quality. A typical essay: –Develops a point of view on the issue and demonstrates competent critical thinking, supporting the point of new with appropriate examples, reasons, and other factual evidence that may be more general in nature –Addresses most points of the question –Is generally free of errors in fact or interpretation –Has some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

6. Rubric Grade of 3 An essay in this category demonstrates developing mastery and understanding of the content, and is marked by ONE OR MORE or the following weaknesses: –Develops a point of view on the issue, demonstrating some critical thinking, but may do so inconsistently or use inadequate examples, reasons, or other factual evidence to support its position –Is limited in its organization or focus, or may demonstrate some lapses in coherence or progression of ideas –Fails to address major points in the question –Contains fundamental errors in fact or interpretation –Contains an accumulation of errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics

7. Rubric Grade of 2 An essay in this category demonstrates little mastery and understanding of the content, and is flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses: –Develops a point of view on the issue that is vague or seriously limited, and demonstrates weak critical thinking, providing inappropriate or insufficient examples, reasons, or other factual evidence to support its position –Is poorly organized and/or focused, or demonstrates serious problems with coherence or progression of ideas –Fails to address major point in the question –Contains fundamental errors in fact or interpretation –Contains errors in grammar, usage, mechanics so serious that meaning is somewhat obscured

8. Rubric Grade of 1 An essay in this category demonstrates very little or no mastery or understanding of the content, and is severely flawed by ONE OR MORE of the following weaknesses: –Develops no viable point of view on the issue, or provides little or no evidence to support its position –Is disorganized or unfocused, resulting in a disjointed or incoherent essay –Fails to address major points in the question –Contains fundamental errors in fact or interpretation –Contains pervasive errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics that persistently interfere with meaning

9. Keys to a Great Essay Strong, original thesis Accurate, important facts directly tied to the thesis Organize, cohesive thoughts that flow from the thesis Clear, concise writing which stays focused Proper form with an opening, a body and a closing Complete answering of the question with even treatment

10. A Thesis Statement: tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion. is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper. directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel. makes a claim that others might dispute. is usually a single sentence somewhere in your first paragraph that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

11. Rubric Grading Scale 6= 100 5= 93 4= 88 3= 80 2= 72 1= 65