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iRubric: Rhetorical Analysis (High School Essay Rubric)

iRubric: Rhetorical Analysis (High School Essay Rubric)

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Rhetorical Analysis (High School Essay Rubric) 
Rhetorical Analysis (High School Essay Rubric)
Rubric to be used to assess a five-six paragraph rhetorical analysis essay at the junior-senior level.
Rubric Code: WXBA564
By joshcontner
Ready to use
Public Rubric
Subject: Engineering  
Type: Writing  
Grade Levels: 9-12

Powered by iRubric Advanced High School Essay Rubric
  Inadequate

(F, 0-59. AP, 1-2.)

(N/A)

Ineffective

(D, 60-69. AP, 3-4.)

(N/A)

Inconsistent/Limited

(C, 70-79. AP, 5.)

(N/A)

Adequate

(B, 80-89. AP, 6-7.)

(N/A)

Effective

(A, 90-100. AP, 8-9.)

(N/A)

Introduction

Inadequate

Introduction is incomplete, lacking more than two of the following: hook, introduction of subject analysis, rhetorical situation, author's purpose, and thesis.
Ineffective

Introduction is incomplete, lacking two of the following: hook, introduction of subject analysis, rhetorical situation, author's purpose, and thesis.
Inconsistent/Limited

Introduction is incomplete, lacking one of the following: hook, introduction of subject analysis, rhetorical situation, author's purpose, and thesis.
Adequate

Introduction is complete, including all of the following: hook, introduction of subject analysis, rhetorical situation, author's purpose, and thesis. Introduction may be choppy, lacking transitions, or overly formulaic.
Effective

Introduction is complete, including all of the following: hook, introduction of subject analysis, rhetorical situation, author's purpose, and thesis. Introduction is graceful and smooth.
Support for Thesis

Inadequate

Missing one or more topic sentences all together, OR missing evidence in one or more body paragraphs, OR missing analysis in one or more body paragraphs. As a result, the thesis statement is not convincing.
Ineffective

Topic sentences are present but weak and unclear. Supporting evidence is only vaguely related to the topic. Analysis is very brief. As a result, the thesis statement lacks support.
Inconsistent/Limited

Topic sentences are present but may be weak or unclear. Supporting evidence somewhat supports the topic. Analysis is brief. Support for the thesis statement is weak.
Adequate

Topic sentences are adequate, supported by relevant, convincing evidence. Analysis is thoughtful and shows a true attempt to rationally evaluate the text.
Effective

Each body paragraph contains a topic sentence and relevant, telling, quality concrete details that give the reader important information that goes beyond the obvious or predictable. All supporting details serve to prove the thesis statement.
Rhetorical Analysis

Inadequate

Demonstrates little ability to identify or analyze rhetorical strategies. Sometimes these essays misread the prompt and replace it with easier tasks, such as paraphrasing the passage or merely listing strategies the author uses.
Ineffective

Demonstrates little discussion of rhetorical strategies or incorrect identification and/or analysis of those strategies.
Inconsistent/Limited

Demonstrates uneven or insufficient understanding of how rhetorical strategies create an author's point. Often, the writer merely lists what he or she observes in the passage instead of analyzing effect.
Adequate

Rhetorical analysis essays demonstrate sufficient examination of the author's point and the rhetorical strategies he uses to enhance the central idea.
Effective

Demonstrates significant understanding of the passage, its intent, and the rhetorical strategies the author employs.
Conclusion

Inadequate

Conclusion is incomplete, lacking more than two of the following: a summary of strengths and weaknesses leading into a reworded thesis, a zooming out and transition into closing thought, and concluding sentence.
Ineffective

Conclusion is incomplete, lacking two of the following: a summary of strengths and weaknesses leading into a reworded thesis, a zooming out and transition into closing thought, and concluding sentence.
Inconsistent/Limited

Conclusion is incomplete, lacking one of the following: a summary of strengths and weaknesses leading into a reworded thesis, a zooming out and transition into closing thought, and concluding sentence.
Adequate

Conclusion is complete, including all of the following: a summary of strengths and weaknesses leading into a reworded thesis, a zooming out and transition into closing thought, and concluding sentence. Conclusion may be choppy, lacking transitions, or overly formulaic.
Effective

Conclusion is complete, including all of the following: a summary of strengths and weaknesses leading into a reworded thesis, a zooming out and transition into closing thought, and concluding sentence. Conclusion is graceful and smooth.
Coherence/Cohesion

Inadequate

Coherence:
Details are generally not well-connected logically and lack order.
Writing is confusing and hard to follow.
Cohesion:
Not all points relate back to the thesis. Transitions and/or links between paragraphs are missing.
Ineffective

Coherence:
Many ideas are not well-connected logically. Writing is not very smooth, and may not always make sense.
Cohesion:
Relationships between claims and the thesis should be stronger. Transitions and links should be smoother.
Inconsistent/Limited

Coherence:
Writer did attempt to make writing smooth and to be logical, but falls short in some areas.
Cohesion:
Writer paid attention to the relationships between claims and the thesis but falls short in some areas. Some transitions and links should be smoother.
Adequate

Coherence:
Writer made a strong attempt to make writing smooth and to be logical, and mostly succeeds.
Cohesion:
Writer paid attention to the relationships between claims and the thesis and mostly succeeds. Transitions and links are present and effective.
Effective

Coherence:
Details are organized logically; writing is smooth and makes sense. Cohesion:
Writer masterfully establishes the relationships between claims and the thesis. Transitions and links are highly effective.
Style

Inadequate

The writer shows no awareness of diction, sentence structure, or transitions, creating a result that is repetitive and does not hold a reader's attention.
Ineffective

The writer shows little awareness of control of diction, sentence structure, and transitions, creating a result that is somewhat repetitive and difficult to remain focused on.
Inconsistent/Limited

The writer shows a partial awareness of control of diction, sentence structure, and transitions, creating a result that has moments of variety and interest mixed with unnecessary repetitiveness.
Adequate

The writer shows an awareness of control of diction, sentence structure, and transitions, creating a result that encourages the reading process for the reader and shows strong potential.
Effective

The writer shows a strong control of diction, sentence structure, and transitions, creating a smooth result that is both easy and enjoyable for the reader to read and shows skill.
Mechanics

Inadequate

The essay is so full of errors in grammar, spelling, capitalization, and/or punctuation that it is difficult to read making the argument less credible.
Ineffective

The essay is readable, but contains many errors in grammar, spelling, capitalization or punctuation which cause distraction to the reader, thereby undermining the writer's argument.
Inconsistent/Limited

The essay contains several errors in grammar, spelling, capitalization or punctuation, distracting the reader away from the argument.
Adequate

The essay contains 4-5 errors in grammar, spelling, capitalization or punctuation, allowing the reader to focus on the argument.
Effective

The essay contains only 1-3 errors in grammar, spelling, capitalization or punctuation, creating no distractions for the reader and helping to establish the writer's credibility.
Adherence to MLA

Inadequate

There is no Works Cited page, and/or there are no in-text citations. Major issues with margin, font and/or header.
Ineffective

The Works Cited page is present but is Incorrectly formatted and/or there are consistent issues with in-text citations. Some issues with margin, font and/or header.
Inconsistent/Limited

The Works Cited page and in-text citations are present. There may be small issues with one or both. Some issues with margin, font and/or header.
Adequate

The Works Cited page and in-text citations are present and are correctly formatted for the most part. No issues with margin, font and/or header.
Effective

The Works Cited page and in-text citations are present and are correctly formatted without error. No issues with margin, font and/or header.






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