The following rubric will be used by graders to determine how successful your paper is. They will not use letter grades but will use numbers (4-1) to grade the essays. A 3-4 paper is passing; a 1-2 paper is failing. Graders judge your paper based on a holistic approach. In other words, a few grammatical errors won’t fail the paper if it has good organization and support and coherence. They judge the entire essay.

Essays that receive a 3 or a 4 pass the final in-class essay test. 

4 Exceeds        An essay that exceeds the writing proficiency for English 101 has a clear thesis and fully develops and supports that thesis; is consistently organized, clear and unified; exhibits a mature, individual sense of style and indicates an ability to use vocabulary effectively; consistently indicates an excellent understanding of grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure; and addresses the prompt.

Essays that receive a 1 or a 2 fail the final in-class essay test.

2 Approaches  An essay that approaches the writing proficiency for English 101 has one or more of the following weaknesses. It has a thesis but does not adequately develop or support it; is poorly organized, unclear or lacks unity; is awkward or immature, indicating an inadequate command of vocabulary; has frequent problems with grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure; or addresses a related topic, but does not directly address the prompt.

1 Fails             An essay that fails to meet the writing proficiency for English 101 has one or more of the following weakness. It suggests a central idea but does not clearly or adequately support it; is poorly organized, unclear, and lacks unity; is awkward or immature, indicating a poor command of vocabulary; has significant problems with grammar, usage, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure; or does not address the prompt.