iRubric: "Major Taylor" Argumentative Essay Rubric

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"Major Taylor" Argumentative Essay Rubric

Essay Prompt: Major Taylor was faced with discrimination in many ways. He was denied entry into races, stripped of winning titles he had rightfully earned, and verbally and physically assaulted. Yet for his 16-year career, he was never accused of unsportsmanlike conduct. On and off the track, Taylor lived his life according to his own values of integrity and persistence. Do you think there are athletes today who would conduct themselves in this manner? Do you think they should?

Rubric Code: C89354

By megraves23

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Public Rubric

Subject: English

Type: Writing

Grade Levels: 6-8

"Major Taylor" Essay
	Exemplary 4 pts	Proficient 3 pts	Emerging 2 pts	Not Yet Demonstrated 1 pts
Intro / Thesis	Exemplary Well-developed introduction engages the reader and creates interest. Contains detailed background information and a clear explanation of the problem. Thesis clearly states a significant and compelling position.	Proficient Introduction creates interest and contains background information. Thesis clearly states a problem and the writer's position is evident.	Emerging Introduction adquately explains the background of the problem, but may lack clarity. thesis staes a problem, but writer's position may not be evident.	Not Yet Demonstrated Background details are a random collection of information, are unclear, and may be loosely related to the topic. Thesis / position is vague or not stated.
Argumentative Points	Exemplary Well-developed argumentative points directly support the writer's thesis / position. Supporting examples are concrete and detailed. Commentary is logical and well-thought-out. Conclusion revisits the thesis in a new way and applies the writer's position universally.	Proficient Most argumentative points are related to the thesis, but one may lack sufficient support or deviates from thesis. Conclusion summarizes thesis and key points with some "fresh" commentary present.	Emerging More than one argumentative point lacks sufficient details and support. Writer attempts to address one or more opposing arguments, but the writer may not refute the opposition clearly or adequately. Conclusion mirrors introduction too closely, with little or no new commentary on the writer's thesis / position.	Not Yet Demonstrated Most argumentative points are poorly developed. Commentary is not present. Conclusion does not re-visit the thesis or summarize key argumentative point(s).
Organization Structure Transitions	Exemplary Logical progression of ideas with a clear structure that enhances the thesis. Transition are smooth and provide coherence between and among ideas.	Proficient Logical progression of ideas. Transitions are present throughout essay and provide adequate coherence between ideas.	Emerging Organization is clear. Transitions are present, but may not lend to coherence between ideas.	Not Yet Demonstrated No organization. Transitions are not present.
Style & Conventions Spelling Punctuation Capitalization	Exemplary Writing is smooth, skillful, and coherent. Sentences are strong and expressive with varied structure. Diction is consistent and words are well-chosen. The tone is highly consistent with writer's position / thesis and appropriate throughout essay. Punctuation, spelling, & capitalization are accurate with few or no errors.	Proficient Writing is clear and sentences have some varied structure. Diction is appropriate. Tone is generally consistent with writer's position / thesis and is appropriate throughout essay. Punctuation, spelling, & capitalization are generally accurate, with some errors.	Emerging Writing is clear, but sentences may lack variety. Diction is sometimes inconsistent and/or inappropriate at various points in essay. Tone may be inconsistent with writer's position / thesis. Several errors in punctuation, spelling, & capitalization.	Not Yet Demonstrated Writing is confusing and hard to follow. Contains fragments and/or run-on sentences. Diction is inappropriate and inconsistent throughout essay. Tone of piece is highly inconsistent with writer's position / thesis. Many errors in punctuation, spelling, & capitalization distract reader.
Internet Research Use of internet resources	Exemplary Evidence from internet research is smoothly and logically integrated into essay and serves to add credibility to the thesis. All sources are highly relevant and reliable.	Proficient Evidence from internet research is integrated into the text. Most sources are generally relevant and reliable.	Emerging Some internet research material is used and may or may not lend credibility to thesis. Relevance and reliability may be questionable.	Not Yet Demonstrated Little or no internet research material is used. Relevance and/or reliability are strongly in question.
Prepositions Minimum of 5 prepositional phrases	Exemplary Utilized at least 5 prepositional phrases correctly with no grammatical errors	Proficient Utilized 5 prepositional phrases with some grammatical errors	Emerging Utilized 3-4 prepositional phrases; grammatical errors	Not Yet Demonstrated Utilized less than 3 prepositional phrases within essay

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