The rubric assesses student essays on content/development, organization, research, style, mechanics, and timeliness. For each category, the rubric provides descriptors and point values for performance levels of excellent, good, needs improvement, and unacceptable. An excellent essay would have a clear central idea supported by original details, logical organization, cited research to enhance ideas, smooth writing style, and no errors in mechanics. An unacceptable essay would lack a central idea or supporting details, have poor organization, do no research, have confusing writing, and serious persistent errors.