Student:                                                                                                                          Essay:

A

B

C

D

F

Pts possible

Assignment: Incorporates all aspects of the assignment. Meets page length requirement 

 

 

 

 

 

5

Introduction: Grabs reader’s attention  Adequately developed to set up background and context for essay. Logically connects to the body and conclusion paragraph  States the thesis.  Uses the Rhetorical Triangle

 

 

 

 

 

10

Body: Organization: Each body paragraph includes the 4 components of academic essay structure: topic sentence, explanation, example, analysis  Demonstrates critical thinking by organizing ideas in logical order, employing transitions, and maintaining unity around the topic sentence All body paragraphs link logically and clearly to the thesis statement.

 

 

 

 

 

10

Body: Evidence: Demonstrates critical thinking by using reputable outside sources or common knowledge to support ideas (uses Rhetorical Triangle). Follows assignment requirements for research.

 

 

 

 

 

10

Body: Analysis: Demonstrates critical thinking by explaining to the reader the significance of the evidence and how it supports the topic sentence and thesis. Refutes any outside sources necessary to make argument logical (this is not always a required component of essays) Does not fall into logical fallacy or pure opinion. Uses Rhetorical Triangle

 

 

 

 

 

10

Conclusion: Restates the thesis.   Demonstrates critical thinking by offering ideas for why the reader should care about this topic (answers the “so what” factor). Explains to the audience any significant causes or effects of this issue to it Adequately developed to wrap up the essay.   Avoids clichéd and bland phrasing.

 

 

 

 

 

10

Coherence and Rhetoric:  Maintains coherence (parallelism; transitions; logic progression of ideas; clarity, specificity and accuracy in word choice)uses academic conventions of rhetoric, as discussed in class and readings.

 

 

 

 

 

15

Writing Style: Uses formal academic English, avoiding slang, jargon, or other informal usage.  Uses concrete and precise language.  Maintains consistent POV (no inappropriate use of 1st or 2nd person). Avoids wordy, incoherent, clichéd and/or bland diction, including the use of epithets (there is, there are, it is) and hack phrases (in conclusion, in this essay, in my opinion, I believe, etc)

 

 

 

 

 

10

Grammar: Avoids Passive Voice.  Evidences proofreading Uses correct, standard American English spelling.   Exhibits mastery of English through coherent usage of all parts of speech.

 

 

 

 

 

10

Mechanics: Uses standard American punctuation. Uses effective and varied sentence construction. Exhibits mastery of English through mechanics. Follows MLA essay formatting.  Incorporates in-text citations correctly.  Presents works cited correctly ▪Uses signal-in phrases (ex. according to the author) and signal-out phrases (e.g. parenthetical citations) to separate writer’s text and ideas from outside resources.

 

 

 

 

 

10

Grading Scale:     A: 100-90        B: 89-80        C: 79-70        D: 69-60        F: 59-1        NA: 0

Technical Plagiarism  Intentional Plagiarism  Student may resubmit by _______ to earn back MLA deductions.

Total points earned: