| Criteria |
4 Points |
3 Points |
2 Points |
1 Point |
| 1. Purpose/Structure |
- Central idea (thesis) is focused and consistently maintained.
- Organizational structure strengthens the response.
- Purposeful transitional strategies connect ideas.
- Effective introduction and conclusion enhance the essay.
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- Central idea is focused and generally maintained.
- Organizational structure is logical.
- Transitional strategies connect ideas.
- Sufficient introduction and conclusion.
|
- Central idea may be unclear or insufficiently sustained.
- Organizational structure may be repetitive or inconsistent.
- Transitions may lack purpose or variety.
- Introduction and conclusion may be ineffective.
|
- Central idea may be absent or confusing.
- Lacks organizational structure and transitions.
- Introduction and conclusion may create confusion.
- Response is too brief.
|
| 2. Development |
- Skillful development demonstrates thorough understanding.
- Effective elaboration includes original writing and integrated evidence.
- Smoothly integrated, relevant evidence from multiple sources.
- Appropriate citations.
|
- Logical development demonstrates understanding.
- Adequate elaboration includes a combination of writing and evidence.
- Relevant, integrated evidence from multiple sources.
- Appropriate citations.
|
- Development may demonstrate partial understanding.
- Elaboration may be incomplete or ineffective.
- Evidence may be disconnected from the exposition.
- Lacks appropriate citations.
- Citation is not a holistic consideration. Without citation, the highest score possible in Development is a 2.
|
- Response lacks understanding and development.
- Elaboration is confusing or lacks knowledge.
- Evidence may be absent or vague.
- Lacks appropriate citations.
|
| 3. Language |
- Integration of academic vocabulary strengthens ideas.
- Varied sentence structure contributes to fluidity.
- Consistent command of standard English conventions.
- Tone and voice strengthen the response.
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- Integration of academic vocabulary demonstrates clear expression.
- Varied sentence structure shows language facility.
- Command of standard English conventions.
- Appropriate tone and voice.
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- Vocabulary and word choice may be imprecise or basic.
- Sentence structure may be simplistic.
- Inconsistent use of correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Inconsistent tone and voice.
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- Vocabulary and word choice may be vague or confusing.
- Sentence structure may be simplistic or confusing.
- Errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Inappropriate tone and voice.
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