Category 4 - Exceeds Expectations 3 - Meets Expectations 2 - Needs Improvement 1 - Inadequate Score

Understanding Demonstrates a keen understanding of Demonstrates a general Demonstrates a limited Not clear which audience is
of Audience the target audience, and uses understanding of audience and understanding of audience, and intended for this writing.
appropriate vocabulary and language. uses mostly appropriate generally uses appropriate, if
Anticipates probable questions and vocabulary and language simple, vocabulary and language.
addresses these concerns with evidence structures.
pertaining to probable potential readers.
Hook / Introductory paragraph begins with a Introductory paragraph begins Introductory paragraph begins Introductory paragraph
Introduction statement that both grabs the attention with a statement that attempts to with a statement that might be does not contain a hook or
of the reader and is appropriate to the grab the attention of the reader, construed as an attention getter, attention grabber.
audience. but is incomplete in some sense, but is not clear.
or may not be appropriate to the
audience.
Theses / Main Introductory paragraph contains a clear Introductory paragraph contains a Introductory paragraph contains Introductory paragraph
Idea Structuring thesis of main idea with clear clear thesis. However, the a statement that may be contains no clear thesis
suggestions as to how the body of the following support sentences are construed as a thesis or main statement or main idea.
essay will support this thesis. not necessarily, or only vaguely idea. However, there is little
connected to the body structural support in the
paragraphs. following sentences.
Body / Evidence Body paragraphs provide clear evidence Body paragraphs provide clear Body paragraphs are vaguely on Body paragraphs are
and Examples and ample examples supporting thesis connections to thesis statement, topic, but lack clear connections, unrelated, or marginally
statement. but may be need more examples evidence and examples of thesis connected to essay topic.
or concrete evidence. or main idea. Examples and evidence is
weak or nonexistent.
Closing Closing paragraph provides a clear Closing paragraph concludes essay Conclusion is weak and at times Conclusion is nonexistent
Paragraph / conclusion successfully stating the in satisfactory manner. However, confusing in terms of author's with little or no reference
Conclusion author's position, as well as containing author's position and / or an position with little reference to to proceeding paragraphs
an effective restatement of the main effective restatement of main idea main idea or thesis. or author's position.
idea or thesis of the essay. or thesis may be lacking.
Sentence All sentences are well constructed with Most sentences are well Some sentences are well Very few sentences are
Structure very few minor mistakes. Complex constructed with a number of constructed, while others containwell constructed, or
sentence structures are used effectively. mistakes. Some attempts at serious errors. Use of complex sentence structures are all
complex sentence structure are sentence structure is limited. very simple.
successful.
Linking Linking language is used correctly and Linking language is used. Linking language is seldom used. Linking language is almost
Language often. However, mistakes in exact never or never used.
phrasing or usage of linking
language is evident.
Grammar and Writing includes no or only very few Writing includes a relatively small Writing includes a number of Writing includes numerous
Spelling minor errors in grammar, spelling. number of errors in grammar, errors in grammar, spelling and errors in grammar, spelling
spelling and punctuation. punctuation which, at times, and punctuation which
However, reader's understanding hinders reader's understanding. makes reader's
is not impeded by these errors. understanding difficult.