| Complete understanding of the prompt |
Shows little to no understanding of the prompt. |
Shows limited understanding of the prompt. |
Shows some understanding of the prompt. |
Shows adequate understanding of the prompt. |
Shows clear understanding of the prompt. |
Shows good understanding of the prompt. |
Shows very good understanding of the prompt. |
Shows excellent understanding of the prompt. |
Shows complete and insightful understanding of the prompt. |
| Complete understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience |
Shows little to no understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows limited understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows some understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows adequate understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows clear understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows good understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows very good understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows excellent understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
Shows complete and insightful understanding of the passage, purpose, and audience. |
| Identifies pertinent rhetorical strategies and explains how they help accomplish purpose |
Fails to identify rhetorical strategies or explain their purpose. |
Identifies few rhetorical strategies with limited explanation. |
Identifies some rhetorical strategies with basic explanation. |
Identifies several rhetorical strategies with adequate explanation. |
Identifies many rhetorical strategies with clear explanation. |
Identifies numerous rhetorical strategies with good explanation. |
Identifies a wide range of rhetorical strategies with very good explanation. |
Identifies a comprehensive range of rhetorical strategies with excellent explanation. |
Identifies an insightful and comprehensive range of rhetorical strategies with thorough explanation. |
| Provides sufficient textual support and cites specific evidence |
Provides little to no textual support or evidence. |
Provides limited textual support with few specific examples. |
Provides some textual support with some specific examples. |
Provides adequate textual support with several specific examples. |
Provides clear textual support with many specific examples. |
Provides good textual support with numerous specific examples. |
Provides very good textual support with a wide range of specific examples. |
Provides excellent textual support with a comprehensive range of specific examples. |
Provides insightful and comprehensive textual support with thorough specific examples. |
| Follows through fully and explains how the evidence cited leads to accomplishment |
Fails to follow through or explain how evidence leads to accomplishment. |
Limited follow-through with minimal explanation. |
Some follow-through with basic explanation. |
Adequate follow-through with clear explanation. |
Good follow-through with detailed explanation. |
Very good follow-through with thorough explanation. |
Excellent follow-through with comprehensive explanation. |
Insightful follow-through with deep explanation. |
Complete and insightful follow-through with thorough and nuanced explanation. |
| Clear and well organized |
Disorganized and unclear. |
Limited organization and clarity. |
Some organization and clarity. |
Adequate organization and clarity. |
Clear and organized. |
Good organization and clarity. |
Very good organization and clarity. |
Excellent organization and clarity. |
Exceptionally clear and well-organized. |
| Sophisticated and appropriate diction |
Diction is unsophisticated and inappropriate. |
Diction is limited and often inappropriate. |
Diction is basic and sometimes inappropriate. |
Diction is adequate and mostly appropriate. |
Diction is clear and appropriate. |
Diction is good and appropriate. |
Diction is very good and appropriate. |
Diction is excellent and highly appropriate. |
Diction is sophisticated and exceptionally appropriate. |
| Stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax |
Shows little to no stylistic maturity, sentence variety, or syntax control. |
Shows limited stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
Shows some stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
Shows adequate stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
Shows clear stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
Shows good stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
Shows very good stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
Shows excellent stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
Shows exceptional stylistic maturity, sentence variety, and syntax control. |
| Few if any flaws in grammar or conventions |
Contains numerous grammar and convention errors. |
Contains many grammar and convention errors. |
Contains several grammar and convention errors. |
Contains some grammar and convention errors. |
Contains few grammar and convention errors. |
Contains very few grammar and convention errors. |
Contains minimal grammar and convention errors. |
Contains almost no grammar and convention errors. |
Contains no grammar and convention errors. |
