6 Clear and consistent mastery 

ideas and explanations(at least three) are insightful, thorough, convincing, varied in strategy, and strongly supported by compelling evidence.

 organization uses appropriate transitions between and within paragraphs for consistently clear, smooth, and logical relationships among ideas. 

style is a “pleasure to read”—graceful, uncluttered, rich and vivid.

grammar and mechanics errors are rare or absent.

5 Reasonably consistent mastery 

 ideas and explanations (at least two) demonstrate strong critical thinking; arguments are generally substantial and supported by well-chosen evidence.

organization is logical and appropriate for content, but not as smooth as a 6

 style is clear, shows sentence variety, and uses interesting and precise vocabulary.

grammar and mechanics errors are occasional.

4Adequate mastery

ideas and explanations are reasonable, competent, and supported by adequate, but limited, evidence.  Explanations may be simple or brief.

organization is logical and appropriate for content, demonstrating some coherence and progression of ideas

 style has clear start to sentence variety, and uses precise vocabulary. Both may be basic.

grammar and mechanics errors occur in most paragraphs.

3 Developing mastery

ideas and explanations are mostly on topic and understandable, but evidence may be too limited and explanations are often too simple, obvious, brief, vague, or illogical.  May contain excessive plot summary or evidence-to-inference.

organization maintains one idea per paragraph, but is simplistic or idea relationships are sometimes unclear.

style is functional but sentence variety and vocabulary are limited or style is lively but wordy.

grammar and mechanics errors are frequent.

2 Little mastery 

ideas and explanations are too simple, very repetitious, hard to follow, mostly irrelevant, inaccurate and/or contain mostly plot summary.

organization shows some minor skill but has major flaws—e.g., no controlling idea; poor paragraphing; redundant sections.

style has major flaws—e.g., simplistic, wordy, repetitious, monotonous, often unclear.

grammar and mechanics errors exist in almost every sentence, interfering with meaning and posing a distraction.

1 Very little or no mastery 

 ideas and explanations are absent, irrelevant, unsupported by evidence or incomprehensible.

organization lacks paragraphing and is illogical and confusing; or essay is too short to have any organization.

style has such severe flaws that sentences are hard to understand; or essay is too short to judge.

grammar and mechanics errors are pervasive and obstruct meaning; or essay is too short to judge grammar/mechanics.

Commonly Made Errors

Found In Your Essay

_____ No thesis in introduction

_____ Hook needs more depth

_____ No introduction of author/title

_____ Not enough/unclear context setting

_____Thesis is too broad or tied to the text

_____ Personal pronouns (you, I) in essay

_____No or simple transitions

_____No or choppy quote introduction

_____Evidence not on topic

_____Quote too long/edit down

_____Too much plot summary

_____No or weak analysis

_____ Decent start to analysis but not fully developed (stuck at plot level, not insightful, etc)

_____Needs more sentence variety

_____Sentences follow a pattern

_____Run-ons and/or Fragments

_____Subject-verb agreement errors

_____Improper use of semi-colons

_____Hard to follow (grammar or ideas)

_____Conclusion simply restates essay

_____Missing “something new” in conclusion

_____Citation errors

_____Off topic

Common Strengths

Found In Your Essay

_____Strong hook

_____Nice context setting (historical or literary)

_____Clearly focused thesis

_____Excellent introduction

_____Strong transitions btwn paragraphs

_____Strong transitions w/in paragraphs

_____Nicely integrated quotes

_____Well chosen evidence

_____Insightful analysis

_____Interesting or innovative thinking

_____Very easy to read

_____Nice sentence variety

_____Unique writing style

_____Strong vocabulary

_____Nice imagery, metaphor in writing

_____Very fluid – ideas flow seamlessly

_____Free of most grammatical errors

_____Free of most spelling errors

_____Conclusion is thoughtful (deepens argument, makes historical connection, connection to modern times or makes universal observation)

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