| Scoring Scale | 4 | 3.5 | 3 | 2.5 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria / Topics | Excellent | Proficient | Basic | Approaching Basic | Limited | Minimal | Not Evident |
| Overall | The essay clearly and effectively presents a claim supported by strong evidence and analysis. | The essay presents a clear claim with adequate evidence and analysis. | The essay presents a claim with some evidence and analysis. | The essay attempts to present a claim but lacks sufficient evidence and analysis. | The essay lacks a clear claim and supporting evidence. | The essay is missing a claim and evidence. | No claim or evidence is presented. |
| Introduction | The introduction grabs the reader’s attention, clearly states the claim, and provides a preview of the argument. | The introduction states the claim and provides a brief preview of the argument. | The introduction introduces the topic but lacks a clear claim or preview of the argument. | The introduction is unclear and does not effectively set up the essay. | The introduction is missing or irrelevant to the topic. | The essay lacks an introduction. | No introduction is present. |
| Transitions | Smooth transitions guide the reader through the essay, enhancing the flow and coherence of the argument. | Transitions are used to connect ideas, but some may be awkward or unclear. | Transitions are attempted but do not effectively connect ideas. | Transitions are lacking, making the essay difficult to follow. | Transitions are missing or inappropriate. | The essay lacks transitions. | No transitions are used. |
| Conclusion | The conclusion effectively summarizes the argument, restates the claim, and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. | The conclusion restates the claim and provides a brief summary of the argument. | The conclusion attempts to summarize the argument but may be repetitive or lacking clarity. | The conclusion is weak and does not effectively wrap up the essay. | The conclusion is missing or irrelevant. | The essay lacks a conclusion. | No conclusion is present. |
| Organization | The essay is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas and a clear structure. | The essay is organized with a clear structure, but some sections may lack coherence. | The essay has some organization but lacks a coherent structure. | The essay is disorganized and difficult to follow. | The essay is poorly structured and lacks organization. | The essay is chaotic and lacks any clear organization. | No organization is evident. |
| Elaboration | The essay provides thorough and detailed evidence to support the claim, with insightful analysis and explanations. | The essay includes sufficient evidence to support the claim, but may lack depth in analysis. | The essay includes some evidence but lacks detailed analysis or explanation. | The essay attempts to provide evidence but lacks analysis or explanation. | The essay lacks sufficient evidence and analysis. | The essay is missing evidence and analysis. | No evidence or analysis is present. |
| Craft | The essay demonstrates exceptional craftsmanship in language use, engaging the reader with vivid and precise language. | The essay shows skill in language use, using appropriate vocabulary and style. | The essay uses language effectively but may lack variety or precision. | The essay’s language use is basic and may be repetitive or unclear. | The essay’s language use is limited and lacks sophistication. | The essay’s language use is minimal and lacks clarity. | No evidence of language use is present. |
| Spelling, Punctuation, and Sentence Structure | The essay demonstrates mastery of spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure, enhancing clarity and readability. | The essay has few errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure that do not detract from understanding. | The essay contains some errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure that may slightly impede understanding. | The essay has frequent errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure that hinder understanding. | The essay’s errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure are pervasive and significantly impact understanding. | The essay’s errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure make it difficult to comprehend. | The essay is illegible due to errors in spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure. |