5 (95-100%)

4 (90-95%)

3 (80-89%)

2 (70-79%)

1 (60-69%)

0 (below 59%)

Exceeds Expectations

Advanced

Proficient

Basic

Below Basic

Thesis

Thesis exceeds expectations

Contains a strong, specific thesis that directly addresses the prompt, takes a stand, justifies discussion, and expresses one main idea.

Contains a specific thesis that mostly addresses the prompt, takes a stand, justifies discussion, and expresses one main idea.

Contains a thesis that somewhat address the prompt, takes a stand, justifies discussion, and expresses one main idea

Contains the idea of a thesis, but no single specific statement that addresses the prompt.

No thesis

Supporting Ideas

Supporting ideas exceed expectation

Contains abundant specific evidence and thoughtful explanatory commentary that clearly supports the thesis

Contains evidence and adequate explanatory commentary that clearly supports the thesis

Contains evidence and some explanatory commentary that supports the thesis

Contains minimal evidence and little or no commentary supporting the thesis

No support for the thesis

Organization

Organization exceeds expectations

Contains an clear, strong focused introduction with a specific thesis that sets up the paper, a clear body with abundant evidence and commentary that support the thesis, and a clear, strong, focused conclusion which restates the specific thesis and gives final remarks

Contains an clear introduction with a thesis and comments that sets up the paper, a clear body with adequate evidence and commentary to support the thesis, and a clear conclusion which restates the thesis and gives final remarks

Contains a limited introduction with a thesis and some comments that set up the paper, a body with some evidence and commentary relating to  the thesis, and a limited conclusion which restates the thesis and gives some final remarks

Contains a limited, unfocused introduction with the idea of a  thesis, a body with little or no evidence and commentary relating to  the thesis, and a limited, unfocused conclusion which restates the idea of the thesis

Unfocused, lacks a basic structure of introduction, body, conclusion

Style

Style exceeds expectations

Contains a creative hook, uses clear and vivid language, varied sentences and purposeful transitions throughout

Contains a hook, uses clear and descriptive language, varied sentences and transitions throughout

Contains a boring hook, uses basic language, little sentence variety and few or no transitions

Contains no hook, uses basic language, no sentence variety, no transitions

Contains no hook, incomprehensible language, no sentence variety

Correctness

Contains no errors in grammar, punctuation, and/ or spelling

Contains minimal errors in grammar, punctuation, and/ or spelling

Contains few errors in grammar, punctuation, and/ or spelling

Contains some errors in grammar, punctuation, and/ or spelling

Contains many errors in grammar, punctuation, and/ or spelling

Filled with mechanical errors