CATEGORY

4 - Above Standards 5-6

3 - Meets Standards 4

2 - Approaching Standards 3-2

1 - Below Standards 1

Score

Focus or Thesis Statement

The thesis statement names the topic of the essay and outlines the main points to be discussed.

The thesis statement names the topic of the essay.

The thesis statement outlines some or all of the main points to be discussed but does not name the topic.

The thesis statement does not name the topic AND does not preview what will be discussed.

 

Attention Grabber

The introductory paragraph has a strong hook or attention grabber that is appropriate for the audience. This could be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or question addressed to the reader.

The introductory paragraph has a hook or attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling or inappropriate for the audience.

The author has an interesting introductory paragraph but the connection to the topic is not clear.

The introductory paragraph is not interesting AND is not relevant to the topic.

 

Sentence Structure

All sentences are well-constructed with varied structure.

Most sentences are well-constructed and there is some varied sentence structure in the essay.

Most sentences are well constructed, but there is no variation is structure.

Most sentences are not well-constructed or varied.

 

Grammar & Spelling

Author makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Author makes some errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Author makes errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Author makes very many errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

 

Sequencing

Arguments and support are provided in a logical order that makes it easy and interesting to follow the author's train of thought.

Arguments and support are provided in a fairly logical order that makes it reasonably easy to follow the author's train of thought.

A few of the support details or arguments are not in an expected or logical order, distracting the reader and making the essay seem a little confusing.

Many of the support details or arguments are not in an expected or logical order, distracting the reader and making the essay seem very confusing.