A rubric is a tool used to assess something by breaking points down into categories or criteria. Many teachers use rubrics to grade writing so that students can get specific feedback on different aspects of their writing. Here is the rubric that will be used to score your essay:

Essay Evaluation Rubric

Content & Ideas (40 points)

Excellent

(40-36 points)

The topic of the essay is clear. All of the ideas presented in the essay are connected to each other and logically support the thesis. The ideas are creative and well-expressed.

Acceptable

(35-28 points)

The topic of the essay is easy to understand. All of the ideas relate to each other and support the thesis.

Work in Progress

(27-0 points)

The topic of the essay isn’t very clear or there are a lot of ideas that either do not relate to the topic or do not make sense together.

Score

Organization (25 points)

Excellent

(25-22 points)

The introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs contain all the right parts: hook, thesis, topic sentence, big idea, etc. The paragraphs have smooth transitions and sentences flow well.

Acceptable

(21-17 points)

There are introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. The sentences in the paragraphs connect to each other well.

Work in Progress

(17-0 points)

Paragraphs may be missing. The sentences in the paragraphs do not connect or make sense together.

Score

Support (25 points)

Excellent

(25-22 points)

The paragraphs have plenty of relevant examples, evidence, descriptions, and details to support the thesis and topic sentences.

Acceptable

(21-17 points)

The paragraphs all have relevant supporting details.

Work in Progress

(17-0 points)

Some of the paragraphs may be missing supporting details or they may have too many details that don’t relate to the topic.

Score

Grammar & Punctuation (10 points)

Excellent

(10-9 points)

There are very few grammar and punctuation mistakes, none related to the grammar that was reviewed.

Acceptable

(8-7 points)

There are a few mistakes related to the grammar that was reviewed.

Work in Progress

(7-0 points)

There are many mistakes related to the grammar that was reviewed.

Score

After writing the first draft of an essay, it is a good idea to review the rubric or other assessment tool that will be used to grade the essay. Make sure that the essay meets all of the criteria. If anything mentioned in the rubric is missing, make sure to add it. If there are parts of the essay that don't meet the rubric criteria, you might want to remove them.

You should also read the essay prompt again. Make sure that you've done everything that the question asks or the sentence requires.


Exercise

Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.

Exercise

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