ENGL 1020 Rubric

This rubric corresponds with the Communications / Humanities Division’s ENGL 1010 grading standards, and it indicates the essay’s strengths and weaknesses. It is a holistic evaluation, not an average of the categories; different categories are weighted differently.

Student:

Essay Grade:

Requirements

Criterion A B C D F
Fulfills all requirements of the assignment Yes N/A N/A N/a No

Notes:

 

 

Topic, Thesis, Controlling Idea (Focus)

Criterion A B C D F
Thesis Significant for context Clear topic and overall point Clear topic and apparent purpose Weak or overly general topic / purpose Confusing / contradictory; doesn’t fit assignment; missing
Intro Establishes topic and seeks to engage audience Topic established; thesis lead in Clear, but general Vague / too general; doesn’t set up thesis Confusing / contradictory
Conclusion Gives reader something significant to ponder Solid summary and final statement Clear, but general Vague / repetitious Confusing / contradictory

Notes:

 

 

Organization, Coherence, Transitions (Flow)

Criterion A B C D F
Essay Unity Clear, logical units reinforce thesis All units clear and logical All units clear At least one paragraph unified Ideas scattered / doesn’t fit assignment
Organization Meaningful to purpose Intentional and logical order Clear, but mechanical Some pattern apparent; not assigned structure Jumbled / not clear; doesn’t fit assignment
Transitions Effectively relate ideas and reinforce order Most are logical Some effective; not enough or general Only a few used; weak relation of ideas Not enough used to link ideas; choppy
Source Integration Signal phrases establish speaker or source Very few dropped quotes Numerous dropped quotes / some context Little attempt at integration No lead-ins / all source material dropped in

Notes:

 

 

Development (Support)

Criterion A B C D F
Textual Support / Analysis Completes ideas and supports thesis Generally effective details / explanation Clear support / some reasonable explanation Minimal support or explanation Inadequate detail and/or explanation
Accurate Use of Literary Terms Accurate and applied precisely Accurate and generally fits writer’s points Most correct, but confused / misapplied Frequently confused, misapplied, or omitted Largely inaccurate or omitted terms
Accurate Use of Appropriate Sources Accurate and precise Fits adequately with most of writer’s points Few / slight misinterpretations Frequent inaccuracies Largely inaccurate source use

Notes:

 

 

Sentence Structure, Grammar, Mechanics, Diction (Correctness and Style)

Criterion Content A B C D F
Sentence Structure
  • Fragments
  • Comma Splices
  • Run-on / Fused Sentences
  • Mixed Construction
Varied; mature Generally correct Occasional mistakes Frequent errors Regular patterns of errors
Word Choice
  • Style
  • Wrong Word
  • Wordiness
Going beyond common Correct Minor errors or repetitious Frequent errors Confusing
Grammar / Mechanics
  • Subject-Verb agreement
  • Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
  • Verb Forms / Tense
  • Spelling
  • Commas
  • Punctuation
  • Capitalization
Few errors, none serious Only occasional errors Limited error types Various regular errors Numerous errors

Notes:

 

 

MLA Style of Documentation

Criterion A B C D F
Documentation Thorough A few paraphrased ideas / facts not cited Quotes cited, but paraphrases generally not Some sources credited No attempt to credit
Format All accurate Occasional minor errors; no major errors Few major errors / frequent minor errors Major errors No recognizable MLA format or no citation

Notes:

 

Separate Process Grade

Criterion A B C D F
Process Thorough engagement in all stages Good, thoughtful engagement All stages complete, some rushed or thin Stages skipped or too general Many stages skipped or too general

Notes: