Name______Date /100

ACADEMIC WRITINGESSAYEVALUATION CRITERIA

Language use and Sentence structure (40%)

1. VocabularyRange / -Sophisticated range
5 / -Adequate range
4 / Limited range
3 ------0
2. Word Choice / - Clear evidence of thinking about accurate vocabulary selection
- Effective word choice/use
10 9 / - Some evidence of thinking about accurate vocabulary selection
-Occasional word choice and usage errors
8 7 6 / - Little evidence of careful vocabulary selection
-Frequent word choice and usage errors
5------0
3. Word forms / -Word form mastery and appropriate use in context
5 / -Errors but meaning not obscured
4 / - Errors causing meaning to be obscured
3------0
4. Sentence Structure / - Strong evidence of sentence structure selection to achieve a specific rhetorical purpose
-Effective simple, compound and complex constructions
15 14 13 / - evidence of sentence structure selection to achieve a specific rhetorical purpose
- Effective but simple constructions
- Minor problems in complex constructions( clauses, run-ons, connectors, fragments, etc
- Meaning not obscured
12 11 10 9 / - Little/No evidence of sentence structure selection to achieve a specific rhetorical purpose
- Major simple construction problems (subj., verb, obj.,etc)
Major complex construction problems( clauses, run-ons, connectors, fragments, etc)
- Meaning obscured
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
5. Idiomatic Language/ Direct Translation / -Effective idiomatic language
- No direct translation from another language
5 / - Occasional idiomatic errors
- Occasional direct translation
4 / - Frequent idiomatic errors
- Frequent direct translations
3------0

Organization (25%)

1. Introduction and Thesis / - Topic very effectively introduced
- Intro flows naturally into thesis
- Thesis: Strong statement containing position and indicates essay outline
- succinct thesis
10 9 / -Topic is introduced
- Intro and thesis are loosely connected
-Thesis: Statement containing position
-Clear thesis
8 7 6 / Ineffective topic introduction
-Intro does not flow into thesis
- Thesis: Weak statement/ Not present
- Unclear or wordy
5 ------0
2. Structure and Cohesion / - Thorough topic development
- Ideas grouped logically
Essay is a tight cohesive unit
-Ideas flow naturally
-Very effective transitions
10 9 / - Adequate topic development
- Adequate grouping of ideas
- Essay is a cohesive unit
-Ideas flow
Some effective transitions
8 7 6 / - Inadequate/ not present
- Inadequate development
- Not a cohesive unit
- Flow of ideas is stilted
Frequent transition errors/ not present
5------0
3. Conclusion / - Topic included effectively
- Effective closure
5 / - Topic loosely included
-Adequate closure
4 / - Topic not included
- Weak closure
3 ------0

Content (20%)

1. Content and Ideas / -Essay demonstrates analysis and accurate interpretation of the topic
-Ideas are fully developed with details, examples, explanation, etc.
- Ideas show much substance and depth
-Content is very engaging
20 19 18 17 / -Shows some analysis and interpretation of the topic
-Ideas are developed with some detail, examples, explanations, etc.
-Ideas show some substance and depth
- Content is engaging
17 16 15 14 13 / - Insufficient analysis and inaccurate interpretation of topic
-Ideas are not developed (insufficient detail, examples, explanation, discussion, etc)
- Ideas are superficial
-Content is mundane\
- Repetition of point without real support-
12 ------0

Grammar and Mechanics (15%)

1. Grammar: Verbs, Plurals, Articles, Prepositions / - No/ Very few errors of agreement, tense, verb form, number, word order, articles, pronouns, prepositions
10 9 / - Several errors of agreement, tense, verb form, number, word order, articles, pronouns, prepositions
- Meaning not obscured
8 7 / - Frequent errors of agreement, tense, verb form, number, word order, articles, pronouns, prepositions
- Meaning obscured
6------0
2. Mechanics: Spelling, Punctuation, Capitalization, / - Almost no spelling, punctuation and capitalization errors,
5 / -Some spelling, punctuation and capitalization errors
4 / - Frequent spelling, punctuation and capitalization errors
3 ------0