iRubric: Reader Response Essay Rubric

Easily identifiable, plausible, novel, sophisticated, insightful, crystal clear. Connects well with the paper title.

Promising, but may be slightly unclear, or lacking in insight or originality. Title does not connect as well with thesis or is not as interesting

May be unclear (contain vague terms), appear unoriginal, or offer relatively little that's new; provides little around which to structure the paper. Title and thesis do not connect well or title is unimaginative.

Difficult to identify at all, may be bland restatement of obvious point.

Thesis is non existent or does not coincide with the rest of the paper

Primary source information used to buttress every point with at least one example. Examples support topic sentences Excellent integration of quoted material into sentences. Demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the ideas in the sources and critically evaluates/responds to those ideas in an analytical, persuasive manner.

Examples used to support most points. Some evidence does not support or may appear where inappropriate. Quotes well integrated into sentences. Demonstrates a solid understanding of the sources and critically responds in an analytical, persuasive manner.

Examples used to support some points. Points often lack supporting evidence, or evidence used where inappropriate (no clear point?) Demonstrates a general understanding of the ideas in the sources and only occasionally critically evaluates/responds to those ideas in an analytical, persuasive manner.

Very few or very weak examples. General failure to support statements, or evidence seems to support no statement. Quotes are not integrated into sentences; "plopped in" in improper manner. Demonstrates a little understanding of (or occasionally misreads) the ideas in the sources and does not critically evaluate or respond to those ideas in an analytical, persuasive manner.

but problems are more serious or more frequent than 2