| Criteria | 5 Points | 4 Points | 3 Points | 2 Points | 1 Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content Understanding | Clearly identifies and explains the theme with detailed analysis and insight into the novel’s message. | Identifies and explains the theme with good analysis and some insight into the novel’s message. | Identifies the theme and connects it to the text, but analysis lacks depth. | Theme is identified, but with minimal or unclear connection to the text. | Theme is not identified or is incorrectly identified, with no connection to the text. |
| Structure | Follows a clear TEEL structure with a strong topic sentence, well-developed explanation, appropriate evidence, and a solid link back to the theme. | Follows TEEL structure with minor issues in explanation or evidence, but maintains a clear progression. | Logical progression is present, but some aspects of the TEEL structure are underdeveloped or unclear. | Attempts TEEL structure but lacks clarity; several elements are missing or poorly connected. | Lacks a clear structure; elements of TEEL are missing or poorly connected. |
| Evidence and Explanation | Provides well-chosen evidence directly tied to a thorough explanation of the theme. | Provides relevant evidence with good explanation, but lacks thoroughness. | Includes evidence, but it is not fully integrated into the explanation or analysis. | Provides minimal evidence with weak explanation. | Little to no evidence is provided, or the evidence is not relevant to the theme. |
| Clarity and Expression | Clear, concise, and grammatically correct writing with strong expression. | Mostly clear and concise with minor grammatical errors or awkward phrasing. | Generally clear, but with some awkward phrasing or minor grammatical errors. | Writing is often unclear with several grammatical errors or awkward phrasing. | Lacks clarity, with multiple grammatical errors or unclear phrasing that hinders understanding. |