| Criteria | 1 Point | 2 Points | 3 Points | 4 Points | 5 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Section | Introduction is missing or unclear. | Introduction is present but lacks clarity or relevance. | Introduction is clear but somewhat lacks relevance or engagement. | Introduction is clear, relevant, and somewhat engaging. | Introduction is clear, highly relevant, and engaging. |
| Organization by Paragraph | Information is poorly organized and lacks coherence. | Information is somewhat organized but lacks clear paragraph structure. | Information is organized with clear paragraphs but lacks unity. | Information is well-organized with clear and mostly unified paragraphs. | Information is excellently organized with clear, unified, and coherent paragraphs. |
| Concluding Section | Conclusion is missing or unclear. | Conclusion is present but lacks clarity or relevance. | Conclusion is clear but somewhat lacks relevance or support. | Conclusion is clear, relevant, and somewhat supportive. | Conclusion is clear, highly relevant, and strongly supportive. |
| Use of Evidence | Little to no evidence is provided. | Some evidence is provided but lacks relevance or depth. | Adequate evidence is provided but lacks variety or depth. | Ample evidence is provided with some variety and depth. | Extensive and varied evidence is provided with great depth. |
| Relevant Commentary | Commentary is missing or unclear. | Commentary is present but lacks relevance or clarity. | Commentary is relevant but somewhat lacks clarity or depth. | Commentary is clear, relevant, and somewhat insightful. | Commentary is clear, highly relevant, and insightful. |
| Connection of Ideas | Ideas are poorly connected or disjointed. | Some connections between ideas are present but unclear. | Ideas are connected but somewhat lack clarity or variety. | Ideas are well-connected with clear and varied syntax. | Ideas are excellently connected with clear, varied, and sophisticated syntax. |
| Appropriate Tone | Tone is inappropriate for the audience. | Tone is somewhat appropriate but inconsistent. | Tone is appropriate but somewhat lacks consistency. | Tone is appropriate and mostly consistent. | Tone is highly appropriate and consistent throughout. |
| Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation | Frequent errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. | Several errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. | Some errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. | Few errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. | Virtually no errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. |