| Criteria | Excellent (4 points) | Good (3 points) | Fair (2 points) | Poor (1 point) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis Statement | Clear, concise, and well-defined thesis that addresses the prompt and provides a strong argument. | Clear thesis that addresses the prompt but may lack some precision or strength. | Thesis is present but unclear or not directly addressing the prompt. | Thesis is missing or does not address the prompt. |
| Introduction | Engaging introduction that provides relevant background information and clearly sets up the essay. | Good introduction that provides some background information and sets up the essay. | Introduction is present but lacks engagement or sufficient background information. | Introduction is missing or does not provide relevant background information. |
| Supporting Arguments | Three or more well-developed arguments that are clearly explained and supported with evidence. | Two or more well-developed arguments that are explained and supported with evidence. | One or two arguments that are somewhat developed but lack sufficient explanation or evidence. | Arguments are unclear, unsupported, or missing. |
| Use of Evidence | Strong and relevant evidence is used to support arguments; sources are cited correctly. | Relevant evidence is used to support arguments; sources are mostly cited correctly. | Some evidence is used but may not be entirely relevant or well-cited. | Little to no evidence is used, or evidence is irrelevant and not cited. |
| Counterarguments | Effectively addresses and refutes counterarguments with clear reasoning and evidence. | Addresses counterarguments with some reasoning and evidence. | Mentions counterarguments but does not effectively refute them. | Does not address counterarguments. |
| Conclusion | Strong conclusion that summarizes the main points and reinforces the thesis. | Good conclusion that summarizes the main points and reinforces the thesis. | Conclusion is present but may be weak or not fully summarize the main points. | Conclusion is missing or does not summarize the main points. |
| Organization | Essay is well-organized with clear transitions between paragraphs. | Essay is organized with some clear transitions between paragraphs. | Essay has some organization but lacks clear transitions. | Essay is poorly organized and lacks clear transitions. |
| Grammar and Mechanics | Free of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. | Few grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. | Several grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. | Many grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. |