10 pts Excellent

8 pts Good 6 pts Satisfactory 4 pts Fair 2 pts Poor

Focus  10 8 6 4 2
1.has a stated and arguable
thesis. All elements are strongly and 1. one element may be 1. two elements may be 1. three elements may be 1.four elements may be missing or
2. topic sentences clearly evident in the missing or unclear; Or all 2. missing or unclear; OR missing or unclear; OR unclear; OR
3. all paragraphs clearly relate composition.  elements are present but two 2. all elements are present but 2. most elements are present 2. at least three elements are present
to the argument are weak and/or unclear.  3 may be weak and/or but 4 or more may be weak.  but all may be weak and/or unclear. 
4. all paragraphs support the unclear. 
thesis
5. the conclusion ties all
elements together and is
provoking

Content  10 8 6 4 2
1. strong and well supported;
2. Each paragraph is strongly 1. The essay is interesting and 1. The essay is interesting and At least 70% of the At least 60% of the Less than 60% of the paragraphs are
supported with details and well-thought out; well-thought out. paragraphs are strongly paragraphs are strongly strongly supported with details and
examples from the short story. 2. Each paragraph is strongly 2. At least 80% of the supported with details and supported with details and examples from the short story. 
supported with details and paragraphs are strongly examples from the short examples from the short
examples from the novel.  supported with details and story.  story. 
examples from the story. 

Organization  10 8 6 4 2
1. The essay is logically
organized 1. logically organized: intro., The essay is logically The essay is logically The essay is somewhat The essay shows very little
2. The essay flows smoothly body, and conclusion. organized and at least 80% of organized and at least 70% of logically organized and/or at organization and few if any transtions
due to the use of transitions 2. The essay flows smoothly it flows smoothly due to the it flows smoothly due to the least 60% of it flows smoothly are used. 
3. The essay has an due to the writer's use of writer's use of transitions.  writer's use of transitions.  due to the writer's use of
introduction, a body, and a transitions.  transitions. 
conclusion.

Grammar  10 8 6 4 2
1. Excellent Word Choice
2. Formal English (no Essay has no significant Has no more than 2 significant Has no more than 3 significant Has no more than 4 significant Has 5 or more significant grammar or
contractions, no use of "I." grammatical or word choice grammar or word choice grammar or word choice grammar or word choice word choice errors.
3. Subject/Verb Agreement errors that impede errors. errors. errors.
understanding. 

Mechanics/MLA  10 8 6 4 2
1. no fragments
2. no run-ons Essay has no significant Essay has no more than 1 type Essay has no more than 2 Essay has no more than 3 Essay has 4 or more types of
3. no comma splices mechanical errors that could of mechanical error that could types of mechanical error that types of mechanical error that mechanical error that could impede
4. quotation marks used when impede understanding and/or impede understanding and/or could impede understanding could impede understanding understanding and/or 4 or more errors
appropriate no errors in MLA citations or 1 error in MLA citations or on and/or 2 errors in MLA and/or 3 errors in MLA in MLA citations or on Works Cited
5. titles italicized or underlined on Works Cited page.  Works Cited page..  citations or on Works Cited citations or on Works Cited page..
6. No plagiarism page..  page. 
7. MLA citations are correct
8. Works Cited page