5

4

3

2

1

Writing Strategies

§    Thesis states a clear opinion/argument. (W 1.1)

§    Thesis tells what essay is about, has opinion. (W1.1)

§    Essay has a thesis, one sentence which tells what the essay is about. (W1.1)

§    Essay may have unclear thesis, or thesis isn’t in the introduction. (W1.1)

§    No thesis. (W 1.1)

§    T: Each paragraph includes a topic sentence, which tells what the paragraph is about and clearly supports the thesis.

§    T: Each paragraph includes a topic sentence, which tells what the paragraph is about and is related to the thesis. (W1.1)

§    T: Each paragraph includes a topic sentence, which tells what the paragraph is about. (W1.1)

§    T: Some paragraphs may be missing topic sentences, or each topic sentence may not tell what the paragraph is about. (W1.1)

§    T: No topic sentences. (W1.1)

§    E: Clarifies and defends positions with precise and relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations, and/or expressions of commonly accepted beliefs and logical reasoning (W1.4,.5)

§    E: Clarifies and defends positions with relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations, and/or expressions of commonly accepted beliefs and logical reasoning (W1.4,.5)

§    E: Defends positions with relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations, and/or expressions of commonly accepted beliefs and logical reasoning (W1.4, .5)

§    E: Defends some positions with relevant evidence (W1.4, .5)

§    E: Does not use evidence. (W 1.4, .5)

§    A: Each body paragraph includes thorough, reflective analysis. (W1.4)

§    A: Each body paragraph includes thorough analysis. (W1.4)

§    A: Each body paragraph includes basic analysis. (W1.4)

§    A: Some but not all paragraphs include analysis. (W1.4)

§    A: No para’s include analysis. (W1.4)

§    Language in writing is clear, shows voice and developed vocabulary. (W 1.2)

§    Language in writing is clear and shows some voice. (W 1.2)

§    Language in writing is clear and simple. (W 1.2)

§    Language is simple but not always clear. (W 1.2)

§    Language is often unclear. (W 1.2)

Writing Conventions

·       Structures ideas and arguments in a sustained and logical fashion, strategically organizing letter using appropriate format (W 2.4, .5)

·       Structures ideas and arguments in a logical fashion, making strategic use of business letter format (W 2.4, .5)

·       Uses at least one specific rhetorical device to support assertions (e.g., appeal to logic through reasoning; appeal to emotion or ethical belief; personal anecdote, case study, or analogy) (W 2.4)

·       Address readers' concerns, counterclaims, biases, and/or expectations (W 2.4, 5)

·       Ideas and arguments have a simplistic structure, using basic business letter format (W 2.4, .5)

·       Ideas and arguments are not organized and do not always follow business letter format (W 2.4, .5)

·       No argument , no use of business letter format (W 2.4, .5)

·       Uses multiple rhetorical devices to support assertions (e.g., appeal to logic through reasoning; appeal to emotion or ethical belief; personal anecdote, case study, or analogy) (W 2.4)

·       Uses at least one rhetorical device to support at least one assertion (e.g., appeal to logic through reasoning; appeal to emotion or ethical belief; personal anecdote, case study, or analogy) (W 2.4)

Uses of rhetorical devices is awkward (W 2.4)

·       No use of rhetorical devices (W 2.4)

·       Thoroughly address readers' concerns, counterclaims, biases, and/or expectations (W 2.4, 5)

·       Acknowledges readers' concerns, counterclaims, biases, and/or expectations (W 2.4, 5)

·       Does not acknowledges readers' concerns, counterclaims, biases, and/or expectations (W 2.4, 5)

·       No sense of reader (W 2.4, 5)

Self-Editing and Revision

Final draft contains one grammatical/mechanical error. (LC 1.3, .4)

Final draft contains no more than 5 grammatical/mechanical errors; (LC 1.3, .4)

Final draft contains no more than 7 grammatical/mechanical errors; errors do not distract the reader.
(LC 1.3, .4)

Final draft contains more than 7 grammatical/mechanical errors; errors distract the reader. (LC 1.3, .4)

§    Writing is full of distracting errors. (LC 1.3,.4)

§    All aspects of the paper are significantly re-written and improved from first draft.

§    Writer has improved organization, language and mechanics from first draft.

§    Writer has changed essay from first through final draft. (W 1.9)

§    Writer has barely changed essay from first through final draft. (W 1.9)

§    Few or no changes between drafts. (W1.9)

Peer Editing

§    Student response is specific & clear, and leads to significant changes. (W1.9)

§    Student response is specific and clear. (W1.9)

§    Student responds to others’ writing in a helpful way. (W1.9)

§    Student’s response to others is unclear. (W1.9)

§    Student’s response to others is unhelpful. (1.9)

§    Student identifies major errors in organization & mech. in editing, & improves the writer’s work in doing so.

§    Student identifies major errors in organization and mechanics in his/her editing. (LC 1.3, .4)

§    Student identifies errors in organization and mechanics his/her editing.

§    When editing, student misses many organizational and mechanical errors.

§    Student misses most errors (LC 1.3, .4)