iRubric: Freshman Comp Essay Rubric

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Freshman Comp Essay Rubric

rubric to grade freshman comp 1 & 2 essays

Rubric Code: YXB88B8

By ecluff

Ready to use

Public Rubric

Subject: English

Type: Writing

Grade Levels: Undergraduate

Freshman Composition Rubric Enter rubric description
	Excellent 10 pts	Good 8.5 pts	Fair 7 pts	Poor 5 pts
Introduction & Thesis 3 pts How well do you open your paper and inform your reader of what you'll be doing?	Excellent Very well-developed introduction with a clear thesis statement that introduces the topic and is engaging to readers.	Good Introduction contains a thesis statement. The thesis creates interest and is fairly well developed. But it is not very engaging.	Fair Introduction contains a statement but it either does not give accurate and complete information about the topic or it lacks detail and creativity.	Poor Attempt to engage the audience awkward or vague. Prompt is somewhat misunderstood but partially addressed. The central claim is inappropriate, weak, or unclear. No background information.
Organization 4 pts Is your essay well put-together? Is your planning evident in the essay?	Excellent Reasons are effectively supported by details and examples that are presented in a very effective order that enhances and strengthens the argument as presented in the thesis statement.	Good Student has the essay organized into easily recognizable elements: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, using transitions to separate each element	Fair The student attempts to organize the essay. the organization attempt may be missing introduction, body paragraph(s) or conclusion	Poor The student did not attempt to organize the writing for this essay
Paragraph Development 4 pts Do your paragraphs flow from sentence to sentence? Does each paragraph address one topic that supports your thesis?	Excellent Each paragraph contains a clearly focused topic sentence that relates to the thesis statement. Reasons for the argument are clearly stated, and there are enough details to support the argument effectively and thoroughly. Concrete and specific examples are presented that effectively support and strengthen the argument.	Good Each paragraph contains a topic sentence related to the thesis statement. Reasons for the argument are stated and there are enough details and examples to support the argument adequately and logically.	Fair Each paragraph contains a topic sentence but the relationship to the thesis is not clearly evident in each one. Reasons for the argument are stated, but there are few concrete and specific details or examples to support the argument adequately or logically.	Poor Each paragraph does not contain a topic sentence. Reasons for the argument are not stated, or there are obvious fallacies that contradict the details and examples. Perhaps the argument is an unsupported rant.
Sentence Flow and Tone 4 pts Are your sentences solidly and correctly constructed? Do you use a variety of sentence structures? Does your writing confuse readers or keep them engaged?	Excellent Writing is smooth, skillful, and coherent. Sentences are strong and expressive with varied structure. Consistent and appropriate tone and word choice is used throughout the paragraph. Transitions are appropriate and add to the effectiveness of the paragraph.	Good Writing is clear and sentences have varied structure. There is consistent tone and word choice is appropriate with fairly good use of transitions to guide the reader.	Fair Writing is clear, but sentences may lack variety. The tone is inconsistent and word choice, while adequate, could be better. While transitions are present they do not add to the overall effectiveness of the paragraph.	Poor Writing is confusing and hard to follow. Contains fragments and/or run-on sentences. The tone and purpose is inconsistent and difficult to determine. Transitions are either missing or inappropriate.
Conclusion 3 pts Does the conclusion wrap up the essay while reminding readers of its main points? does it make a call for action or leave the reader thinking with an implication?	Excellent The concluding paragraph clearly and effectively restates the argument and gives valid reasons in support of the argument. It may also call for action from the reader or at least invoke thought about the argument.	Good The concluding paragraph restates the argument based on the thesis statement. It also gives valid and logical reasons that support the argument.	Fair The concluding paragraph summarizes the argument based on the thesis, but it offers little to no additional support or validity for the argument.	Poor There is no apparent conclusion or restating of the argument.
Mechanics 2 pts Have you avoided simple mistakes? Is your essay clean so that your readers can get easily from the introduction to the conclusion? Does your writing present you as a knowledgeable, trustworthy source?	Excellent No or very few errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar, or capitalization.	Good A few minor errors in punctuation, spelling, grammar, or capitalization, but they do not detract from the overall meaning and effectiveness of the paragraph.	Fair A few errors in punctuation, grammar, spelling, and capitalization that, while distracting, the meaning and intent of the paragraph can still be discerned.	Poor Distracting and major errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
MLA citation/Works Cited 1 pts Do you use appropriate sources to support your claims? Are they cited according to MLA format? Are quotes seamlessly integrated into your writing?	Excellent Writing is smooth, skillful, and coherent. All direct quotes and paraphrasing are cited and integrated correctly. The Works Cited page is without errors.	Good Direct quotes and/or paraphrasing is somewhat integrated smoothly. The Works Cited page has an error.	Fair Direct quotes, paraphrasing, or integrating quotes is not done correctly. The Works Cited page also may have a few errors.	Poor Quotes and citations integrated incorrectly. Works Cited page is full of errors.
Required Elements 1 pts Have you followed and included all steps of our writing process?	Excellent Includes typed final, peer review sheet, rough draft, thesis feedback, and thesis/plan.	Good Includes typed final, peer review sheet, rough draft, and thesis feedback, and thesis/plan. But one is incomplete	Fair Includes typed final, peer review sheet, rough draft, and thesis feedback, and thesis/plan. But two are incomplete	Poor More than two elements are incomplete, or one or more are missing.

Keywords:

essay, grading, composition

Subjects:

English

Types:

Writing

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