This document provides a rubric for grading essays. It assesses essays across several criteria in 4 levels from A to D. The criteria include format, understanding of literature, idea development, text support, organizational pattern, word choice, sentence structure, transitional devices, and language mechanics. For each criterion, it describes the characteristics of papers that would meet the standards for levels A through D. The rubric allows for objective assessment of essays and assignment of grades based on how well the paper meets the various quality standards.

1. Essay Rubric
Name: _________________________________________ Date: ______________
Topic: _________________________________________ Professor Castillo
Standards Criteria
Areas of Assessment A B C D
Format __includes typed __includes typed __includes typed final, __ missing prewrite/outline, draft or
final, prewrite or final, prewrite or prewrite/ outline, draft, Works Cited; insufficient editing of
outline, marked outline, marked draft, & Works Cited, but draft or outline; numerous errors in
draft, & Works & Works Cited - some insufficient editing of format
Cited in prescribed (minor) errors in draft; several errors in
format prescribed format prescribed format
Understanding of __ writing shows __writing shows __writing shows __writing shows little or no
literature/ texts unusual insight strong, clear adequate understanding understanding of text
understanding understanding but may be too general
or superficial
Idea Development __ presents fresh __ presents an __ presents a clearly __ poorly defined or inconsistent
thesis in an original effective thesis and defined thesis, but the development of thesis that displays
manner while development using a development is too little insight
displaying unusual consistent, careful general or may not be
insight manner incorporating marked by independent
examples thought
Text Support __more than __adequate/some __inadequate/several __inadequate/numerous errors in
adequate/correct errors in APA format; errors in APA format; APA format; ineffective embedding
APA format; generally smooth some faulty embedding
smooth embedding embedding
Organizational Pattern __ strong, __ organized; clear __ somewhat organized; __ no attempt at organization; lacks
interesting; clear beg/middle/end; clear attempt at clear beg/middle/ end; thesis lacking
beg/middle/end; thesis that is marked beg/middle/end; thesis is or inappropriate - not marked on draft
strong thesis that is on draft weak or unclear - not
marked on draft marked on draft
Word Choice _ fresh/vigorous; __vivid/interesting; __ appropriate but not __ simple/vague; appears to lack
contributes to attempt to establish specific or vivid; weak "voice"
"voice" "voice" "voice"
_excessive use of 1st and 2nd person &
__ very limited use __ limited use of 1st __ weak attempt to limit "to be" verbs
of 1st and 2nd person and 2nd person & "to use of 1st and 2nd person
& "to be" verbs be" verbs & "to be" verbs
Sentence Structure __ correct/varied __ correct, but lacks __ sometimes incorrect __ frequent errors & lacks variety
variety & lacks variety
Transitional Devices __smooth & __ somewhat smooth __ many not smooth & __ not used &/or frequent errors in
effective; marked & generally effective; some errors in usage; usage; many not marked on draft
on draft most marked on draft many not marked on
draft
Language Mechanics __ very few (if any) __ few errors; __ several errors; __ numerous errors; appears not to
errors; very well generally well requires additional have been proofread
proofread proofread proofreading
Students Signature: ________________________ Total Points: _________ Grade: _________
Comments: _______________________________________________________________________________________________