| Criteria / Topics |
Level 4 |
Level 3 |
Level 2 |
Level 1 |
| Purpose, Focus, & Organization |
My response is fully focused on the topic. I have a strong, clearly stated opinion. My response uses an organized structure. My response has the following:
- a strongly maintained opinion and little/no loosely connected material
- use of transitional words to connect my ideas
- ideas flow from beginning to end
- contains both an introduction and conclusion
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My response is generally focused on the topic. I have an opinion. My response uses an organized structure. My response has most of the following:
- a maintained opinion and some loosely connected material may be used
- adequate use of transitional words
- adequate flow of ideas from beginning to end
- contains a sufficient introduction and conclusion
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My response may be somewhat focused on the topic. I may have an opinion but it might not use an organized structure. My response may include the following:
- a partially focused opinion but may be unclear
- little variety or use of transitional words to connect my ideas
- uneven flow from beginning to end
- contains poor introduction/conclusion
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My response may be related to the topic but has little or no awareness of purpose. I have no clear opinion and my writing lacks an organized structure. My response may include the following:
- absent, confusing and/or weak opinion
- frequent use of extra ideas impedes understanding
- few or no transitional words
- uneven flow from beginning to end
- too short
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| Evidence and Elaboration |
My response provides convincing evidence that supports my opinion and effectively uses sources, facts, and details. My response has the following:
- related facts are used smoothly and refer to the sources
- use of definitions, examples, quotations
- clear expression of ideas
- uses academic and domain-specific vocabulary appropriately
- uses varied sentence structure
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My response provides adequate evidence that supports my opinion and effectively uses sources, facts, and details. My response has the following:
- related facts are generally used but may be inconsistent
- adequate use of definitions, examples, quotations
- adequate expression of ideas
- uses some academic and domain-specific vocabulary appropriately
- uses some variation in sentence structure
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My response provides uneven evidence for my opinion and includes an ineffective use of sources, facts, and details. My response has the following:
- weakly related facts may be used and some non-related facts may be present
- ineffective use of definitions, examples, quotations
- simplistic/unclear expression of ideas
- inappropriate use academic and domain-specific vocabulary
- sentences limited to simple construction
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My response provides minimal evidence for my main idea and includes little if any use of sources, facts, and details. My response has the following:
- minimal, absent, or unrelated evidence from source material
- unclear/confusing expression of ideas
- limited or inappropriate use of academic or domain-specific vocabulary
- sentences limited to simple construction
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| Conventions |
My response demonstrates an adequate command of basic English conventions. My response has the following:
- some minor errors in usage, but no patterns of errors
- adequate use of punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, and spelling
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My response demonstrates a partial command of basic English conventions. My response has the following:
- various errors in usage
- inconsistent use of correct punctuation, capitalization, sentence formation, and spelling
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My response lacks command of basic English conventions, with frequent and severe errors that obscure the meaning |
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