Effective
4 pts Reader understands and easily follows the writer’s expression of ideas.

Adequate
3 pts Reader understands
writer’s ideas.

Marginal
2 pts Reader occasionally has
difficulty understanding
or following the writer’s ideas.

Inadequate
1 pts Reader has difficulty identifying or following the writer’s ideas.

Points

Content

Effective

Presents a clearly focused essay that addresses the topic/issue and is based on research.

Adequate

Presents an essay that addresses to some degree the topic/issue and shows some research was conducted.

Marginal

Essay is unfocused and does not demonstrate sufficient research and knowledge of topic.

Inadequate

Unclear, with little or no research evident.

Organization

Effective

Five well-constructed paragraphs that include introduction, 3 body paragraphs and conclusion.

Adequate

Good effort at constructing five paragraph essay per instructions.

Marginal

Essay is somewhat organized but doesn’t follow the five-paragraph instructions given.

Inadequate

Disorganized and poorly constructed.

Development & Details

Effective

Achieves coherent
development with specific and relevant details and examples.

Adequate

Has focused but occasionally uneven development; incorporates some specific detail.

Marginal

Has some development but lacks specific details.

Inadequate

Demonstrates little or no development; usually lacks details or examples or presents irrelevant information.

Thesis Statement

Effective

A well-constructed thesis statement that summarizes the body paragraphs and is restated in conclusion.

Adequate

A thesis statement exists, but doesn’t match completely with body paragraphs.

Marginal

Thesis statement doesn’t match body, and/or is not restated in conclusion.

Inadequate

No thesis statement can be identified.

References

Effective

A bibliography constructed using citation machine w/ 2 or more reputable sources.

Adequate

Bibliography indicates two or more quality sources, but poorly constructed.

Marginal

Some evidence of references used, but incompletely refererenced.

Inadequate

No bibliography.

Spelling and Punctuation

Effective

No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.

Adequate

One to two grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors.

Marginal

Three to four grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors.

Inadequate

More than four grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.