2 (Approaching

4 (Mastery) (80% 3 (Proficient) (70% Proficiency) (60% 1 (Basic) (50% 0 (Limited)

-100%) -80%) 70%) -60%) (0%-50%)
Complete thesis with Thesis is provided with a Has a recognizable thesis Has an introductory Has no thesis or
strong claim and 3 strong claim and three with a claim and 1-2 claim that is not introduction
Thesis supporting details. supporting details. supporting details. developed into a thesis. claim.
Includes most of the
Includes restatement of following: restatement of
question, definition of question, definition of
terms (when appropriate), terms (when
and a thesis that appropriate), and a thesis Functional introductory
introduces the analytical that introduces the paragraph containing a Introduction to essay Has no
categories to be analytical categories to be stated or recognizable lacks in structure, form, introductory
Introduction developed. developed. thesis and roadmap. and detail, but is present. paragraph.
Clearly organized with Clearly organized with Has recognizable
body paragraphs arranged body paragraphs from the organization with main Has unclear organization.
in the order of the thesis. ideas in the thesis, but ideas divided into This may include no body
Contains clear topic out of order. Contains paragraphs; body paragraphs that do not Body
Body sentence for each body topic sentence for each paragraphs may not be in follow in an order paragraphs are
Paragraphs paragraph. body paragraph. the same order as thesis. suggested by the thesis. not present.
Uses a reasonable number Incorporates a reasonable Contains reference to Makes reference to few
of the documents and number of the documents several documents but documents. Citations are
Document includes document but may not always there could easily be missing. Documents are Document use
Use citation. include citation. more. often misunderstood. is not present.
Provides evidence from
the documents that
supports the claim of the
topic sentences.
Demonstrates analytical
skills such as seeing close
detail, synthesis, finding
inconsistencies, Accurately interprets No evidence
questioning author bias, most but not all Contains some effort at Very little evidence provided to
Evidence and making judgments. documents cited. document analysis. provided. support claims.
Includes an
Most body paragraphs argumentative statement
Provides an argument in include an argument that but does not clearly
each body paragraph that ties the evidence to the explain how evidence The argument is present No argument
Argument addresses the baby thesis. baby thesis. answers the question. but is not explained. provided.
Concludes with a
paragraph that clinches Concludes with a Has some sort of
argument with succinct paragraph that restates concluding paragraph. Includes concluding
summary and/or fresh thesis and may May be unnecessarily statement, but not a No conclusion
Conclusion wrinkle summarize argument. repetitive. strong paragraph. provided.
Is generally written with Extreme
Is well-written with few or complete sentences, but Contains errors in mechanics
no errors in sentence contains errors in verb sentence structure and errors that
structure, spelling, Is quite well-written but tense, agreement, mechanics which make make the essay
punctuation, and includes some errors in punctuation, spelling, the essay hard to incomprehensib
Mechanics capitalization. grammar and spelling. and capitalization. comprehend. le.