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iRubric: Defining the American Dream rubric

iRubric: Defining the American Dream rubric

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Defining the American Dream 
Extended Definition Essay
Define the American Dream and explore what the concept means via specific examples from songs that illustrate your understanding.
Rubric Code: QX78586
By DTomasino
Ready to use
Public Rubric
Subject: English  
Type: Writing  
Grade Levels: 9-12

Powered by iRubric Defining the American Dream
  Excellent

5 pts

Good

4 pts

Fair

3 pts

Poor

2 pts

Introduction & Title

Excellent

The introduction is inviting, clearly establishes author's understanding of the American Dream, provides direction to the reader.
Title is unique and well-suited to the paper.
Good

The introduction is adequate, clearly states the author's understanding of the American Dream, and
provides direction.
Title shows some thought.
Fair

The introduction is routine, states the author's understanding of the American Dream, may not adequately provide direction.
Title is routine.
Poor

There is no clear
introduction of the main topic, provides the reader with little to no direction.
Title is generic or missing.
Organization

Excellent

Details are placed in
a logical order; the way they are presented is interesting and memorable. A variety of thoughtful transitions are used. They clearly show how ideas are connected.
Good

Details are placed in a logical order, but the way in which they are presented sometimes make the writing less interesting. Transitions clearly show how ideas are connected, but there is little variety.
Fair

Some details are not in a logical or expected order, and this distracts the reader. Some transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are fuzzy.
Poor

Many details are not in a logical or expected order. There is little sense that the writing is
organized. The transitions between ideas are unclear or nonexistent.
Focus on Topic

Excellent

There is one clear, well-focused topic. Thesis is well
supported by detailed information from the songs, as well as the author's observations.
Good

Thesis is clear but the supporting
information is limited or not used well.
Fair

Thesis is
somewhat clear, but
there is a need for
more supporting
information.
Poor

Thesis is not clear.
There is a seemingly
random collection of
information.
Support for Topic

Excellent

Relevant, telling, quality details give the reader important information that goes beyond the obvious or predictable.
Good

Supporting details
and information are
relevant, but some
ideas are unsupported.
Fair

Supporting details and information are skimpy, leaving several ideas unsupported.
Poor

Supporting details and information are typically unclear or not related to the topic.
Conclusion

Enter description
Excellent

The conclusion is strong and leaves the reader with something to think about, without being "preachy."
Good

The conclusion is clear and ties up almost all the loose ends, but it may sound "preachy" or is not thought-provoking.
Fair

The conclusion is recognizable, but leaves the reader unsatisfied.
Poor

There is no clear conclusion, the paper just ends.
Definition of the American Dream

Excellent

Provides a clear and well defined extended definition of the dream; does an exemplary job of
supporting thesis
Good

Provides an extended definition of the dream; does a good job of supporting thesis
Fair

Attempts to define the dream, with some attempts to support a thesis.
Poor

Attempts to define the dream, with little support for thesis.
Voice

Excellent

The writer seems to
be writing from knowledge or
experience. The author has taken the
ideas and made them his/her "own."
Good

The writer seems to
be drawing on knowledge or experience, but
there is some lack of
ownership of the
topic.
Fair

The writer relates
some of his/her own
knowledge or
experience, but it adds little to the reader's understanding of the
topic.
Poor

The writer has not
tried to transform the
information in a
personal way. The
ideas and the way
they are expressed
seem to belong to
someone else.
Sentence Fluency and Conventions

Excellent

Every paragraph offers sentence variety, and
all sentences are
correctly punctuated. Writer makes no or few errors that distract the reader from the content.
Good

All paragraphs have
sentences that vary, but there
are minor problems
in punctuation with a
few sentences. Writer makes a few errors that distract the reader from the content.
Fair

Little sentence variety, or there are several
sentences with
punctuation errors.Writer makes several errors that distract the reader from the content.
Poor

Sentences rarely
vary in length or
there are frequent
errors in punctuation. Writer makes many errors, making the essay difficult to read.
Word Choice

Excellent

Writer uses vivid
words and phrases
that linger or draw
pictures in the
reader's mind;
words seems
accurate, natural
and not forced.
Good

Writer uses vivid
words and phrases
that linger or draw
pictures in the
reader's mind;
occasionally the
words are used
inaccurately or seem
overdone.
Fair

Writer uses words
that communicate
clearly, but the
writing lacks variety,
punch or flair.
Poor

Writer uses a limited
vocabulary that does
not communicate
strongly or capture
the reader's interest.
Song Observations

Excellent

All of the observations are insightful and show depth of thought, went above and beyond the minimum standards.
Good

Most of the observations are insightful and show depth of thought, completed only the minimum requirements.
Fair

Some of the observations are insightful, while others merely summarize.
Poor

Observations are written as summaries, showing little to no insight.



Keywords:
  • American Dream

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