| Criteria / Scoring Scale |
Score Point 4 |
Score Point 3 |
Score Point 2 |
Score Point 1 |
| 1. Purpose/Structure |
- Position is focused and consistently maintained.
- Organizational structure strengthens the response and argument advancement.
- Purposeful transitional strategies create cohesion.
- Effective introduction and conclusion.
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- Position is focused and generally maintained.
- Logical organizational structure.
- Purposeful transitional strategies.
- Sufficient introduction and conclusion.
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- Position may be unclear or insufficiently sustained.
- Organizational structure may be repetitive or inconsistent.
- Transitions attempt to connect ideas but may lack purpose.
- Introduction and conclusion may be present but ineffective.
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- Position may be absent, ambiguous, or confusing.
- Little or no discernible organizational structure.
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| 2. Development |
- Skillful development with thorough understanding.
- Effective elaboration using various techniques to enhance the argument.
- Smooth integration of relevant evidence from multiple sources.
- Fully addressed counterclaims with appropriate citations.
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- Logical development with understanding of the topic.
- Adequate elaboration using various techniques.
- Relevant, integrated evidence from multiple sources.
- Sufficiently addressed counterclaims with appropriate citations.
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- Partial or incomplete understanding of the topic.
- Elaboration may rely heavily on sources or provide loosely related information.
- Evidence may be partially integrated but unsupportive of the argument.
- Insufficiently addressed counterclaims without appropriate citations.
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- Lack of understanding of the topic and/or development.
- Elaboration may consist of confusing ideas or demonstrate lack of knowledge.
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| 3. Language |
- Integration of academic vocabulary.
- Skillful use of varied sentence structure.
- Consistent command of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
- Tone and/or voice strengthens the argument.
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- Clear expression of ideas through academic vocabulary.
- Varied sentence structure demonstrating language facility.
- Grade-appropriate command of standard English conventions.
- Appropriate tone and/or voice for the argument.
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- Vocabulary and word choice may be imprecise or basic.
- Partially controlled sentence structure.
- Inconsistent use of correct grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.
- Tone and/or voice may be inconsistent.
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- Vocabulary and word choice may be vague, unclear, or confusing.
- Simplistic or confusing sentence structure.
- Use of grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling may contain multiple errors.
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