Essay Writing Rubric
Depending on your exam, you may receive a rubric to help you prepare. A writing rubric lays out the criteria that are expected of your essays. Rubrics often provide a scale to show how an essay may be more or less successful. Rubrics are great tools for assessment, but they are also critical when writing as they tell you exactly what you need to do to achieve a high score on your essay. The following resource compiles common rubric criteria from writing exams. Review this rubric and consider how you can use it to strengthen your essay writing. If you don't have a rubric, use this one to assist you.
This rubric is an assessment tool that represents the best practices when writing a strong essay. Check to see if the specific exam you are taking provides a rubric to help you prepare. If not, use this one to guide your writing in this unit and in your overall preparation for the writing exam.
|
Criteria |
Effective |
Satisfactory |
Unsatisfactory |
|
Point of View
|
The essay fully answers the prompt and demonstrates a consistent point of view. The essay is focused around a clearly stated thesis statement |
The essay answers most points in the prompt and has a thesis statement, but may lose focus on the main idea or point of view throughout the essay |
The essay does not answer the prompt, may identify a topic but lacks a clear thesis statement, or does not focus on a main idea or point of view. |
|
Supporting Details |
The essay includes appropriate details and makes clear connections to the thesis statement. Each detail clearly supports the thesis statement. If using source material, the essay shows an understanding of the outside source and integrates it into the essay. |
The essay includes details for support, but the connection to the main idea may not always be obvious to the reader. Supporting details may not be fully explained. If using source material, the essay does not fully understand or integrate the material to support the main idea. |
The essay offers some support but does not connect it to the main idea. The essay may not include enough support to explain a main idea. If the essay prompt called for outside sources, these sources are not included. |
|
Organization |
The essay uses a logical order that connects ideas to each other using transitional phrases. The essay includes an obvious introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs. |
The essay uses some organization but may be hard to follow at times. There are some transitions and an obvious introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs. |
The essay does not have a logical order and is confusing to read. Introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs are not well defined. |
|
Language Use |
The essay uses varied sentence styles and word choices that help the reader understand the main idea. |
The essay includes adequate word choices and syntax despite some awkwardness and wordiness. |
The essay includes unclear word choices, incorrect sentence structures, and significant wordiness. |
|
Grammar and Spelling |
Grammar and spelling are correct with minimal typos. |
Grammar and spelling include a few errors, but the essay is still understandable. |
Grammar and spelling include errors that make the essay difficult to read. |
Source: Saylor Academy
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