SOMS-NJHS Open-Ended Response Rubric 2011-2012

5/ Excellent / 4/Very good / 3/Adequate / 2/Weak / 1/Very poor
Focus / The thesis is clearly stated and sufficiently limited in scope. It responds to the assignment clearly and reflects the author’s purpose. The essay maintains the focus solidly throughout, and establishes clearly articulated points in support. / The thesis is clear, and responds to the assignment clearly. The essay’s purpose is clear, but could use a little more originality. The essay generally maintains the focus and clear points in support. / The thesis could be more clearly stated. The purpose lacks originality, and the essay loses focus in places. Main points of support are present, but also lacking somewhat in clarity. / The essay lacks a central idea, or presents one that is so vague as to be non-existent. The essay demonstrates little or no originality and focus. / The essay lacks a thesis and does not respond to the assignment. The essay demonstrates no focus.
Development / The essay provides thorough and logical development of its points, using relevant examples, evidence, and explanations.. / The essay offers some development of ideas with a fair amount of explanation and examples. It usually shows how the evidence supports the thesis, but makes inconsistent connections. / The essay shows limited development of ideas with few examples or explanations. / There is little or no development of ideas. There is confused or simplistic discussion of the subject. / There is no development, or the ideas are developed with irrelevance.
Organization / Overall, the essay has a clear and logical skeletal structure with an effective introduction and conclusion. The paragraphs are unified and coherent, both internally and from paragraph to paragraph. There are clear transitions and topic sentences. / The paragraphs generally progress logically and purposefully. Topic sentences and transitions might lack some clarity. Some paragraphs are disorganized and/or inconsistently integrated. There is an adequate introduction and conclusion. / The organization of the paragraphs is somewhat apparent but inconsistent and confusing. There are few transitions, or they are weak and illogical. The introduction and conclusion are vague or weak. / The essay lacks the important elements of structure, presents paragraphs and/or sentences non-sequentially or randomly, and lacks transitions and topic sentences. / The organization is random or non-existent.
Grammar and Mechanics / The essay is free from grammatical or mechanical errors. / Grammatical and mechanical errors exist, but not enough to distract from reading. / The essay contains several errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and/or syntax that may somewhat distract from the reading of the essay. / The sentences contain many serious errors in punctuation, spelling, diction, and syntax that distract from the reading of the essay. / The sentences contain a large number of serious problems with grammar, syntax, diction, punctuation, and spelling that make the essay incomprehensible.
Audience, Tone, and Style / The sentences produce an essay which is clear, fluent, and graceful. The writer deploys a variety of sentence structures, and employs a style and tone appropriate to the audience and purpose. / The sentences are mostly clear but lack complexity, and demonstrate some variety. Style and tone are generally appropriate to audience and purpose. / Sentences are somewhat unclear, simplistic, and clumsy. Word choice is often redundant. Style and tone are occasionally awkward or inappropriate. / Sentences are extremely unclear, and word choice is redundant or unspecific. Style and tone are mostly inappropriate to the purpose, genre, and audience of the essay. / Sentences are wholly unclear and incomprehensible; word choice, style and tone show no awareness of audience and purpose, and might be offensive.

Open-Ended Response Questions – Each essay can earn up to 25 points with a Maximum of 75 points for this section of the Application

  1. In what career field do you aspire to enter? What role will character traits such as leadership, service, characters, scholarship, and citizenship play in your success in that field?
  2. .Explain why you want to become and member of the Samuel Ogle Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. What skills/talents will you bring to the chapter?
  3. Explain how community service and charity play a role in building your character. Include personal experiences that will help to elaborate your thoughts. Explain why practicing charity and community service are important qualities for a leader to possess.