iRubric: Rubric for the Concept Essay

(draft) edit print share Copy to my rubrics Bookmark test run assess... delete Do more...

Rubric for the Concept Essay

A tool to evaluate a 2-3 page concept essay based on 4 Basic Features from Axelrod & Cooper's CONCISE GUIDE TO WRITING Ch. 4 and other basic college level criteria.

Rubric Code: Q9942B

By vhlong

Draft

Public Rubric

Subject: English

Type: Writing

Grade Levels: Undergraduate

Content, Development & Organization 60 %
	Poor 10 pts	Fair 20 pts	Good 25 pts	Excellent 30 pts
Content & Development 30 pts Do you think the writer clearly explains/describes the concept and employs a variety of development methods? Does the writer give at least 3 solid reasons/examples/points to explain the concept? Is vocab. appropriate? Basic Features: A Focused Explanation & Appropriate Explanatory Strategies SCORE:	Poor Not enough examples or details to explain or describe concept. Lacks variety or clarity in method of development. Does not include 3 supporting paragraphs. Inappropriate academic vocabulary.	Fair Partially explains or describes concept. Lacks variety or clarity in method of development. May not provide 3 supporting paragraphs. Some inappropriate academic vocabulary.	Good Clearly describes/explains concept. More than one method of development employed. At least 3 solid supporting paragraphs. Still needs more information, reasons or details to clearly explain concept. Appropriate vocabulary.	Excellent Concept is clearly explained/defined. A variety of methods of development are employed. At least 3 solid supporting paragraphs explain the concept. Appropriate vocabulary.
Organization 30 pts Is there a clear thesis statement & a supportive topic sentence for each body paragraph? Is the essay well-organized? Is it obvious where conclusion begins? Does conclusion include a brief summary of the main points and a concluding statement? Basic Feature: A Readable Plan SCORE:	Poor No thesis statement in the introduction. Weak or missing topic sentences. Essay not divided into introduction, body, and conclusion. Conclusion missing or in need of further development.	Fair Weak thesis statement and a few topic sentences. Essay poorly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion. Conclusion may need further development.	Good Effective thesis statement and some effective topic sentences. Essay divided into introduction, body, and conclusion. Conclusion may need further development.	Excellent Effective thesis statement and supporting topic sentences. Essay is well-organized. Conclusion includes signal, summary, concluding statement.
Sources & Quotes 15 %
	Poor 2 pts	Fair 5 pts	Good 10 pts	Excellent 15 pts
Sources & Quotes 15 pts Does the writer include information from 2 other sources (websites, articles, etc.) to help visualize or explain the concept and support the thesis? Does the author appropriately introduce citations with words such as "According to..." and cite the authors using in-text citations and Works Cited in the MLA style? Basic Feature: Smooth Integration of Sources SCORE:	Poor Does not use sources and/or quotes to describe or explain the concept. Does not use correct MLA style.	Fair Sources and quotes may be used merely as fillers. Does not introduce citations with words such as "According to..." May have some incorrect use of in-text citations and Works Cited in MLA style.	Good Uses 2 sources and quotes to help visualize the concept. May or may not introduce citations with words such as "According to..." May have some incorrect use of in-text citations and Works Cited in MLA style.	Excellent Excellent use of sources and quotes to visualize and explain the concept. Introduces citations with words such as "According to..." Correct use of in-text citations and Works Cited in MLA style.
Style and Perspective 10 %
	Poor 2 pts	Fair 5 pts	Good 8 pts	Excellent 10 pts
Style and Perspective 10 pts Does the writer clearly state his/her perspective on the topic? Is there significance (a point to reading this)? Are the ideas easy to understand? Are there smooth transitions between sentences/ideas? Are the sentences varied and interesting? Does the concluding statement frame the essay by relating back to the thesis? SCORE:	Poor Author's perspective is not clear. Missing or ineffective transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Writing is confusing and hard to follow. Sentences lack variety and are not interesting. Lacks effective concluding statement.	Fair Sometimes the writer's perspective is not clear. Missing or ineffective transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Writing is sometimes difficult to understand. Sentences sometimes lack variety and interest. Concluding statement may not relate to thesis or be missing.	Good Writing and author's perspective are clear, but may lack significance. May lack or need further development of some transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Sentences are varied and mostly interesting. Concluding statement may not relate back to thesis.	Excellent Point of view/Significance is consistent and clear. Writing is skillful, and coherent, with smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs that link ideas. Sentences are strong, expressive and varied. Concluding statement frames the essay by relating back to the thesis.
Grammar 10 %
	Poor 2 pts	Fair 5 pts	Good 8 pts	Excellent 10 pts
Grammar 10 pts Are there spelling, punctuation, and capitalization errors? Are there grammar errors, such as fragments, run-ons, comma splices, or subject-verb agreement? Do these errors make the writing difficult to understand? See error key at end of this rubric. SCORE:	Poor Contains many errors which make the writing difficult to understand.	Fair A few errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling, and capitalization. Grammar problems make some sentences difficult to understand.	Good Punctuation, spelling, grammar, and capitalization are generally correct with few errors. Ideas are easy to understand.	Excellent No significant errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar, or capitalization. Ideas are clear and easy to understand.
Formatting 5 %
	Poor 1 pts	Fair 2 pts	Good 4 pts	Excellent 5 pts
Formatting & Writing Process 5 pts Does the writer follow the guidelines? double spaced, Times New Roman 12 font, 1 inch margins, indented paragraphs, thesis statement underlined, Complete writing process attached. SCORE:	Poor Formatting guidelines and assignment specifications are not followed. Writing process missing or incorrect.	Fair Several formatting errors. Some writing process missing or incorrect.	Good Some formatting element missing. Some writing process missing or incorrect.	Excellent Formatting follows assignment specifications. Complete writing process attached: prewrite, outline, 1st draft w/Revisions, peer eval., final draft on top.

Keywords:

concept essay, Freshman Composition

Subjects:

English

Types:

Discuss this rubric