Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man. F. Bacon

• Thesis/Main Idea/Central Idea
  • 4. Original, fresh idea; a new angle
  • 3 Clear but broad, general, or common
  • 2. Blurred, uncertain, inconsistent
  • 1. Does not exist
• Support/Development
  • 4. Clear, convincing evidence specific, concrete support
  • 3. Sometimes general or repetitive support, some paragraphs more convincing than  others
  • 2. Scarce details, many generalities
  • 1. Very little valid, specific evidence
• Unity/Organization
  • 4. Content follows a natural, logical order reinforced by transitions, bridges, and repetition
  • 3. easy-to-follow but transitions are occasionally incorrect or missing
  • 2. Some paragraphs are not easy to follow due to illogical order or missing transitions
  • 1. Ideas inaccessible due to illogical order and missing transitions
• Style/Expression/diction
  • 4. Vivid language, varied sentence structure, graceful sentences, no clutter
  • 3. Clear, appropriate language that may occasionally be vague or general; some sentences may be repetitive or awkward; little clutter
  • 2. Many value and general words, many repetitive or awkward sentences, some clutter
  • 1. So many vague, general words, repetitive or awkward sentences and clutter that the ideas are inaccessible
• Sentence Skills/Mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation, typos)
  • 4. very few, if any errors; if any, they do not distract the reader
  • 3. Minor errors that do not cause a misreading or undermine the credibility of the writer
  • 2. Minor and major errors with sufficient frequency to distract the reader and interfere with meaning
  • 1. Frequent major and minor errors that make reading difficult or impossible.
• MLA or APA Format
  • Pages formatted correctly, parenthetical documentation formatted correctly in the appropriate places, effectively quotes/effectively paraphrases, no plagiarism
  • 3. Pages formatted correctly, minor errors in parenthetical documentation, may occasionally ineffectively quote instead of paraphrase, no plagiarism
  • 2. Pages formatted nearly correctly; many errors in parenthetical documenting; uses quotes too often; drops quotes; paraphrases , at times, ineffectively; no plagiarism
  • 1 Pages not formatted correctly, many errors in documenting, quoting, paraphrasing; little to no attempt to properly document, plagiarism may be found