This document provides a rubric for evaluating letters on a scale of 1 to 5 in the following areas: 1) Claim - how clear, precise, and arguable the letter's central claim or position is 2) Development - how thoroughly the letter provides data, evidence, and reasoning to support its claim 3) Audience - how well the letter addresses the needs and concerns of its intended readers 4) Cohesion - how skillfully the letter uses language to connect the different parts of its argument 5) Style and Conventions - the formality and objectivity of the letter's tone and its use of standard English grammar and mechanics The rubric describes the characteristics of a letter that would receive a score of

1. 5 Exceptional 4 Skilled 3 Proficient 2 Developing 1 Inadequate
Claim: Theletter introduces a
compelling claim thatisclearly
arguableand takesa
purposeful position on an
issue.
Theletter introduces a precise
claim thatis clearlyarguable
and takes an identifiable
position on an issue.
Theletter introduces a claim
that is arguableandtakes a
position.
Theletter contains an unclear
or emergingclaimthat
suggests a vagueposition.
The letter containsan
unidentifiableclaimor vague
position.
Development: Theletter provides ample
convincing and relevant
data on climatechangeand
sea level riseand evidence
to back up the claim.The
conclusion strengthens the
claimand evidence.
The letter providessufficient
and relevantdataand
evidenceon climatechange
and sea level riseto back up
the claim.Theconclusion
effectively reinforcesthe
claimand evidence.
The letter providessufficient
data and evidenceon climate
changeand sea level riseto
back up theclaim. The
conclusion tiesto theclaim
and evidence.
Theletter provides dataon
climatechangeand sea level
riseand evidencethat
attempts to back up the
claim.Theconclusion merely
restates the position.
The letter contains limited data
on climatechangeand sea
level riseand evidencerelated
to the claim.Theletter may fail
to conclude the argumentor
position.
Audience: Theletter addresses the
community’s concernsabout
the claim.Theletter
addressesthespecificneeds
of the letter.
Theletter anticipates the
community’s concerns about
the claim.Theletter addresses
the specific needsof the
community.
Theletter considers the
community’s concernsabout
the claim.Theletter
addressestheneeds of the
community.
Theletter illustrates an
inconsistent awarenessof
the community’s needs.
Theletter lacks an awareness
of the community’sneeds.
Cohesion: Theletter strategically uses
words,phrases,and clauses to
link themajor sections of the
letter. The letter explainsthe
relationships between the
claim and reasons aswell as
the evidence.
Theletter skillfully useswords,
phrases,andclauses to link the
major sections of theletter.
Theletter identifies the
relationshipbetween the claim
and reasons aswell asthe
evidence.
Theletter uses words, phrases,
and clauses to link themajor
sections of the letter. The
letter connects theclaimand
reasons.
Theletter contains limited
words,phrases,and clauses
to link the majorsections of
the letter.
Theletter contains few,if any,
words,phrases andclauses to
link themajor sections of the
letter.
Styleand
Conventions:
Theletter presents an
engaging,formal andobjective
tone. Theletter intentionally
uses standard English
conventions of usageand
mechanics.
Theletter presents an
appropriate and formal,
objective tone.Theletter
demonstrates standard English
conventions of usageand
mechanics.
Theletter presents a formal,
objective tone.Theletter
demonstrates standard
Englishconventions of
usageand mechanics.
Theletter illustrates a limited
awarenessof formal tone.
Theletter demonstrates
someaccuracy in standard
Englishconventions of usage
and mechanics.
Theletter illustrates a
limited awarenessor
inconsistent tone.The
letter illustratesinaccuracy
in standard English
conventions of usageand
mechanics.