iRubric: Argumentative Essay Rubric

• effectively synthesizes sources to defend, challenge, or qualify the central claim of the prompt
• provides a strong thesis that anticipates audience needs
• uses convincing, thorough, and relevant evidence
• acknowledges and refutes counterclaims fairly and thoroughly

• adequately synthesizes sources to defend, challenge, or qualify the central claim of the prompt W.11–12.1, W.11–12.1a, W.11–12.4, W.11–12.8
• provides a straight forward thesis that briefly contextualizes the issue W.11–12.1a
• uses support that clearly connects the various source materials to the writer’s position W.11–12.1b, W.11–12.8, W.11–12.9
• acknowledges and argues counterclaims

• attempts to synthesize sources but inadequately defends, challenges, or qualifies the central claim of the prompt
• provides a thesis that attempts to contextualize the issue • uses support that connects the source material but with lapses in accuracy or completeness
• acknowledges counterclaims

• tries to synthesize sources but does not defend, challenge, or qualify the claim of the prompt
• includes a weak thesis or one that is lost in a summary of sources
• includes support that paraphrases source material with no commentary or analysis
• No acknowledgement of counterclaims

• demonstrates a mature style that advances the writer’s ideas
• employs precise diction and skillful use of syntax, with keen attention to varied sentence openings, which helps to create a convincing voice
• follows standard writing conventions (including accurate citation of sources)

• demonstrates a style that adequately supports the writer’s ideas W.11–12.1d
• uses logical diction and syntax, with some attention to varied sentence openings, creating a suitable voice W.11–12.1c, W.11–12.1d
• largely follows standard writing conventions (including accurate citation of sources); errors do not seriously impede readability W.11–12.5, L.11–12.1

• demonstrates an inconsistent style that minimally supports the writer’s idea
• unevenly uses diction and syntax to convey a suitable voice, with few varied sentence openings
• contains errors in standard writing conventions that may impede readability; some sources are inaccurately cited

• demonstrates a limited style that ineffectively supports the writer’s ideas
• contains lapses in diction or syntax that may not allow a suitable voice to sustain throughout the essay; sentence openings may be repetitive
• contains errors that impede readability; sources may be inaccurately cited

Works cited page correctly formatted on separate page with each citation listed in proper formatting with 0 errors

Works cited page formatted correctly, but on same page with each citation listed correctly

Works cited page formatted incorrectly and each citation has errors

No page present