iRubric: Heart of Darkness Synthesis Essay rubric

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Heart of Darkness Synthesis Essay

Students will write an essay that takes a stance on Joseph Conrad's focus and purpose in writing Heart of Darkness, using two additional critical essays for support.

Rubric Code: E985W5

By Rhapsodyms

Draft

Public Rubric

Subject: English

Type: Assessment

Grade Levels: 9-12

HoD Critical Synthesis Essay
	Exemplary (N/A)	Accomplished (N/A)	Developing (N/A)	Limited/Resubmit (N/A)
MLA Format	Exemplary Essay and Works Cited page are written in flawless MLA style and format, and meets all of the following criteria: TNR 12-point, double-spaced 600-900 words, with consideration of content and conciseness 1-inch margins, indented paragraphs, Books titles italicized, periodicals in quotation marks	Accomplished Essay and WC page are nearly flawless in style and format, with fewer than 3 mistakes in formatting.	Developing Essay or WC page need revision with more than 4-8 mistakes in style or formatting.	Limited/Resubmit Essay or WC page show little evidence of attention to formatting, with more than 8 mistakes in MLA style or formatting. WC page is not included.
Thesis	Exemplary Thesis is clear and is easily identified in first paragraph. Thesis presents a clear topic for the rest of the paper, and creates a structure by which to analyze the novella. Showed nuance. Thesis may be implicit for very sophisticated essays.	Accomplished Thesis is present and in the proper place. Fully expresses the main argument. Showed nuance.	Developing Thesis may be too general or state fact instead of an argument. Did not show nuance or an understanding of the other side of the argument.	Limited/Resubmit Thesis is merely a summary of another argument; does not show agreement or disagreement. No thesis or main idea is stated.
Organization	Exemplary Sophisticated use of transitions throughout the paper. Transitions in exemplary papers would be incorporated into sentences that linked up logically. Paper was cohesive and flowed from idea to the next logically. (A logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques of coherence such as repetition, transitions, and emphasis)	Accomplished Transitions were logical and showed movement from idea to another.	Developing Student used transitions, but they were mostly sophomoric transitions such as "first, second, last" or did not logically show movement.	Limited/Resubmit Student did not attempt to use transitions or make the essay cohesive.
Analysis	Exemplary Approaches the text analytically and with sophistication. Analysis shows a deep understanding of the novella. Presents fresh and well developed ideas.	Accomplished Approaches the text analytically. Shows a good understanding of the novella. Presents fresh ideas.	Developing Essay summarizes the ideas of others, but does have some insightful analysis.	Limited/Resubmit Essay shows only glimpses of analysis. Essay may take the form of a report rather than an analysis with fresh ideas.
Evidence	Exemplary Evidence is implicit and explicit. Evidence supports the analysis fully. Uses the additional essays merely as support for the students argument, which is central to the essay. Student cited the outside essays 6 times, but did not rely on the essays. (A balance of generalization with specific illustrative detail.)	Accomplished Evidence is implicit and explicit, but relies mostly on explicit (summarized, paraphrased or quoted) evidence. Evidence supports the analysis. Student cited the outside essays 6 times, and perhaps relied too much on the essays.	Developing Evidence is only explicit, and relies heavily on "quoted" material and very little on integrating ideas with the writer's own analysis. Evidence mostly supports the analysis. Student either relied too heavily on the outside essays, or did not use the outside essays as synthesis materials (citing them less than six times).	Limited/Resubmit Evidence may be only full quotations. Quotations are likely "explained" rather than used "to explain." Evidence does not support the argument being made. Evidence does not relate to the argument. Evidence is insufficient. Evidence demonstrates a misreading of the text.
Style	Exemplary Sophisticated use of rhetoric, making the essay interesting stylistically. Includes a logical counter argument that shows nuance. Controlled tone and style. (A variety of sentence structures, including appropriate use of subordinate and coordinate constructions. Wide-ranging vocabulary used with denotative accuracy and connotative resourcefulness.)	Accomplished Good use of rhetoric, demonstrating an understanding of how to . Includes a counterargument. Mostly controlled tone and style with lapses in sophistication.	Developing Writing is clear, but did not show an attempt at including rhetorical strategies such as counterargument, controlled tone and sophisticated style. Essays may include very small lapses in academic tone.	Limited/Resubmit Writing is unclear at times. Writer did not include a counterargument. Writer did not maintain a specific tone or academic style of writing.
Mechanics	Exemplary Flawless in spelling, punctuation, grammar and style.	Accomplished Essay is nearly flawless in spelling, punctuation, grammar and style. (1-2 mistakes)	Developing Essay may have some mistakes in spelling, grammar and punctuation, but not enough to become distracting. (3-5 mistakes)	Limited/Resubmit Mechanical mistakes are distracting (more than 5). Mechanical mistakes demonstrate no attempt at revision.

Subjects:

English

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