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iRubric: Definition Essay rubric

iRubric: Definition Essay rubric

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Definition Essay 
Definition Essay
A definition essay is a writing that redefines a word according to a person's own experience or according to the experiences of someone else. Some terms have definite, concrete meanings, such as "tree," "table," or "chair." Terms such as "honesty," or "love" are abstract and depend more on a person's point- of-view. Definition essays are intended to be used to define the abstract. This essay requires students to define what it means to be "human," or what "humanity" means according to William Golding.
Rubric Code: S829BB
By mhiller
Ready to use
Public Rubric
Subject: English  
Type: Writing  
Grade Levels: (none)

Powered by iRubric Definition Essay
  Effective

Reader understands and easily follows the writer’s expression of ideas.

(N/A)

Adequate

Reader understands
writer’s ideas.

(N/A)

Marginal

Reader occasionally has
difficulty understanding
or following the writer’s ideas.

(N/A)

Below Marginal

Reader has difficulty identifying or following the writer’s ideas.

(N/A)

Inadequate

(N/A)

Response to Prompt

20 pts.
Effective

Presents a clearly focused main idea that addresses prompt. Thesis statement is strong and in the form of a definition.
Adequate

Uses the writing prompt to establish a main idea and has a decent thesis.
Marginal

Addresses the prompt, though the focus may shift. Thesis statement is somewhat weak.
Below Marginal

Attempts to address prompt but with little or no success in
establishing a focus. Thesis statement is not in the form of a definition.
Inadequate

Does not attempt to address prompt and does not provide a thesis statement.
Organization

20 pts.
Effective

Establishes a clear and logical organization.
Adequate

Uses an identifiable
organizational plan.
Marginal

Shows some evidence of an organizational plan.
Below Marginal

Fails to organize ideas.
Inadequate

Contains no organization or ideas.
Development & Details

20 pts.
Effective

Achieves coherent
development with specific and relevant details and examples. Direct quotes from the text are referenced.
Adequate

Has focused but occasionally uneven development; incorporates some specific detail.
Marginal

Has some development but lacks specific details; may be limited to listing, repetitions,
or generalizations. Direct quotes are too few and/or non-specific and general.
Below Marginal

Demonstrates little development; usually lacks details or examples or presents irrelevant information.
Inadequate

Demonstrates no development; usually lacks details or examples or presents irrelevant information. No direct quotes are referenced.
Style, Phrasing, and Conventions

10 pts.
Effective

Consistently controls
structure and the conventions English grammar, as well as controls individual style and voice.
Adequate

Generally controls sentence structure, conventions, and individual style and voice.
Marginal

May demonstrate inconsistent control of sentence structure, conventions, and individual style and voice.
Below Marginal

May exhibit minimal control of sentence structure, conventions, and individual style and voice.
Inadequate

May exhibit no control of sentence structure, conventions, and individual style and voice.
Word Choice

5 pts.
Effective

Exhibits varied and precise word choice.
Adequate

Exhibits appropriate word choice.
Marginal

Exhibits a narrow range of word choice, often including
inappropriate selections.
Below Marginal

Exhibits little variety of word usage, words are redundant.
Inadequate

Exhibits weak and/or
inappropriate words.
Spelling and Punctuation

5 pts.
Effective

No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
Adequate

One to two grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.
Marginal

Three to four grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.
Below Marginal

Four to six grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.
Inadequate

More than six grammatical, spelling, or punctuational errors.
Format

10 pts.
Effective

Paper follows all format quidelines. 1 inch margins, 12 point Times New Roman (or comparable) font. 5 paragraphs are indented, paper is double-spaced and stapled.
Adequate

x
Marginal

X Some format guidelines are followed and others are not.
Below Marginal

X
Inadequate

Paper does not follow all format guidelines.
Works Cited Page

10 pts.
Effective

Contains a Work Cited page in proper MLA format
Adequate

X
Marginal

Contains a Works Cited page with few mistakes.
Below Marginal

X
Inadequate

Does not contain a Works Cited page.



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  • Definition Essay on LOTF

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