Rubric for a REQUIRED College Essay
Must include your specific college and its specific topic on the same page as your essay so I can check to see that your essay is on topic.
| Score | Development/Organization | Use of Language/Style | Grammar and Word Usage | |||
| A | Must meet all categories | 90-100 % | Topic effectively addressed in thesis, topic sentences and body paragraphs also address the topic; evidence and explanations are appropriate, thorough and convincing | Has voice and is original; personality is evident and makes reader connect with the writer. Mature expression; original language used to create special effects on the reader. | Effective vocabulary; may have up to three or fewer mistakes in grammar and punctuation. High level of technical accuracy. | |
| B | Must meet all categories | 80-89 % | Meets C criteria and goes beyond adequate by providing a more complete explanation in body paragraphs to prove the topic; thesis clearly addresses the topic, topic sentences and body paragraphs also clearly support the thesis and the topic | More mature prose style than the C essay; effects of language are attempted and achieved. Original and not redundant. | Not as effective as A vocabulary and has up to three or fewer mistakes in grammar and punctuation. Occasional technical errors will not impede expression. | |
| C | Must meet all categories | 70-79 % | Topic is adequately developed and supporting details have little to no explanation; demonstrates individuality; essay is not simply a general essay that any student can relate | No voice but it is original; not predictable ;no clichés; must interest reader | Prose conveys student’s ideas but has up to four to five errors in punctuation and grammar. | |
| D | 60-69 % | May inadequately develop the topic; could possibly be on topic and earn a D due to grammatical errors: Possible evidence of attempted focus on some ideas for content; lacks specificity; may seem a bit too general or universal | May meet C criteria but grammatical errors earn essay a D. May have clichés; is not original; may not interest reader | Prose possibly contains up to 6-7 errors in punctuation or grammar. | ||
| F | Below 60 % | Possibly the same as or below D criteria but may earn an F due to grammatical errors; Possibly evidence of attempted focus on some ideas for content; not a true attempt | May meet C criteria but grammatical errors earn essay an F | Prose possibly contains 8 or more errors in punctuation or grammar |
Stapled in the following order:
- Rubric with name and period *
- Final draft
- Typed Draft #2- Must show edited changes before final draft * or -10 points
- Typed Draft #1 -Must show edited changes before draft #2 * or -10 points
*Minus 10 points for each “*” part not included –
*Specific college and its essay topic stated at the beginning of the essay
*Word Count, Double-spaced, 12 point, Times News Roman font
Total: _____/100 points