| Criteria | Excellent (10 points) | Good (8 points) | Fair (6 points) | Poor (4 points) | Very Poor (2 points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evidence of Writing Ability | Demonstrates exceptional writing skills with clear, coherent, and engaging prose. | Shows strong writing skills with mostly clear and coherent prose. | Writing is generally clear but may lack coherence in places. | Writing is often unclear and lacks coherence. | Writing is consistently unclear and incoherent. |
| Distinctive Evidence of Own Voice | Strong, unique voice that is consistent and engaging throughout the essay. | Clear voice that is mostly consistent and engaging. | Voice is present but may not be consistent or engaging. | Voice is weak and inconsistent. | Voice is absent or very weak. |
| Lively Sentence Construction | Uses a variety of sentence structures that enhance the essay’s liveliness. | Uses some variety in sentence structures that contribute to the essay’s liveliness. | Uses limited variety in sentence structures. | Uses repetitive sentence structures. | Uses monotonous and repetitive sentence structures. |
| Precise Language Use | Language is precise and effectively conveys the intended meaning. | Language is mostly precise and conveys the intended meaning. | Language is somewhat precise but may be vague at times. | Language is often vague and imprecise. | Language is consistently vague and imprecise. |
| Skilful Use of Imagery | Uses vivid and effective imagery that enhances the description. | Uses effective imagery that enhances the description. | Uses some imagery, but it may not always be effective. | Uses limited or ineffective imagery. | Uses no imagery or very ineffective imagery. |
| Able to Control Tone and Nuances | Controls tone and nuances expertly to enhance the essay. | Controls tone and nuances well to support the essay. | Shows some control of tone and nuances. | Struggles to control tone and nuances. | Unable to control tone and nuances. |
| Content Controlled Throughout | Content is consistently controlled and focused throughout the essay. | Content is mostly controlled and focused. | Content is somewhat controlled but may wander at times. | Content is often uncontrolled and unfocused. | Content is consistently uncontrolled and unfocused. |
| Details Revealing Observation | Details are vivid and reveal keen observation. | Details are clear and reveal good observation. | Details are present but may not be very revealing. | Details are limited and reveal little observation. | Details are absent or reveal very poor observation. |
| Flair of Own Voice is Revealed | Essay reveals a strong and unique flair of the writer’s own voice. | Essay reveals a clear flair of the writer’s own voice. | Essay reveals some flair of the writer’s own voice. | Essay reveals little flair of the writer’s own voice. | Essay reveals no flair of the writer’s own voice. |
| Well Organised | Essay is exceptionally well-organised with a clear and logical structure. | Essay is well-organised with a mostly clear structure. | Essay is somewhat organised but may lack clarity in structure. | Essay is poorly organised and lacks a clear structure. | Essay is very poorly organised with no clear structure. |
| Intelligent and Mature | Essay demonstrates a high level of intelligence and maturity. | Essay demonstrates a good level of intelligence and maturity. | Essay demonstrates some intelligence and maturity. | Essay demonstrates limited intelligence and maturity. | Essay demonstrates very little intelligence and maturity. |
| Skilful Control of Language Usage | Demonstrates exceptional control of language usage. | Demonstrates good control of language usage. | Demonstrates some control of language usage. | Demonstrates limited control of language usage. | Demonstrates very poor control of language usage. |