iRubric: Compare/Contrast Essay Rubric

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Compare/Contrast Essay Rubric

Compare/Contrast essay scoring rubric.

Rubric Code: XB5X47

By story429

Ready to use

Public Rubric

Subject: English

Type: Writing

Grade Levels: 6-8, 9-12, Undergraduate

Criteria for Essay
	Unacceptable 2 pts	Poor 4 pts	Fair 6 pts	Good 8 pts	Excellent 10 pts
Introduction/Thesis Statement	Unacceptable No thesis	Poor Introduction and thesis statement do not introduce both subjects for comparison or contrast.	Fair Introduction and thesis statement introduce the subjects for comparison or contrast, but don't give accurate and complete information	Good Introduction and thesis statement create interest and are fairly well developed. They cover both subjects but not engaging. Thesis is somewhat vague or general.	Excellent Well developed introduction and thesis statement. They engage the reader and cover both subjects and the author's purpose.
Overall Organization	Unacceptable No discernible order. No transitions.	Poor Structure: No discernible organization. Details are either missing or not in any discernible order. Transitions: The transitions between ideas are unclear.	Fair Structure:The paper breaks the information into whole-to-whole, similarities -to-differences, or point-by-point structure, but some information is in the wrong section. Some details are not in a logical or expected order, and this distracts the reader. Transitions: Some transitions work well; but connections between other ideas are fuzzy.	Good Structure:The paper breaks the information into whole-to-whole, similarities -to-differences, or point-by-point structure but does not follow a consistent order when discussing the comparison. Transitions:The paper moves from one idea to the next, but there is little variety. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words to show relationships between ideas.	Excellent Structure:The paper breaks the information into whole-to-whole, similarities -to-differences, or point-by-point structure. It follows a consistent order when discussing the comparison. Transitions:The paper moves smoothly from one idea to the next. The paper uses comparison and contrast transition words to show relationships between ideas. The paper uses a variety of sentence structures and transitions.
Clear, specific topic sentences.	Unacceptable No topic sentences.	Poor Topic sentences are vague and general. No transitions are used.	Fair Topic sentences are vague or too general. Transitions are vague and do not show how paragraphs relate to each other.	Good Paragraphs have clear, specific topic sentences, but transitions are not always used.	Excellent Each paragraph has a clear, specific topic sentence that transitions from the previous paragraph.
Support/Selection of Detail	Unacceptable	Poor Support is inconsistent and obvious. Details are minimal. Explanations are missing or off topic.	Fair Support is evident but minimal. Details are insignificant. Explanations are minimal. Mostly telling with inconsequential showing.	Good The support is relevant but lacks meaningful explanation or elaboration. Disproportionate telling to showing.	Excellent Ideas are clearly and specifically stated. Details are critical and relevant. The writer "shows" the reader his ideas and clearly explains them. Relevant explanation and elaboration.
Complexity, Depth, Originality	Unacceptable Cheeky.	Poor Observations are ordinary and lack thorough explanation.	Fair The comparisons are obvious and too general. Explanations are ordinary and lack originality.	Good The paper shows some original insights but does not explain or support it well.	Excellent The essay shows original thinking and insight and supports it well.
Conclusion	Unacceptable No conclusion	Poor The conclusion is not related to the essay.	Fair The concluding paragraph makes a point about the subjects for comparison or contrast, but it does not unify or "wrap-up" the essay effectively.	Good The concluding paragraph unifies the essay around the subjects and the point used for comparison or contrast, but it is not very engaging or interesting.	Excellent The concluding paragraph unifies the essay around the subjects and the point used for comparison or contrast. The thesis is restated in a unique way. The "bigger picture" is articulated.
Grammar/Spelling/MLA formatting	Unacceptable Paper includes 8 or more misspellings and/or grammatical errors	Poor Paper contains 6 or more misspellings and/or grammatical errors. MLA formatting has 3 or more errors. Compound/complex sentences used by not properly punctuated or identified.	Fair Paper contains 3-5 misspellings and/or grammatical errors. MLA formatting has 1-2 errors. 2 Compound and complex sentences used by not identified.	Good Paper contains no more than 2 misspellings and/or grammatical errors. Correct MLA format.	Excellent Paper contains no misspellings and/or grammatical errors. Correct MLA format.

Keywords:

Compare/Contrast essay, rubric

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Writing

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