WCU - Spring 2005 Rubric for Evaluation of Writing

	IN PROGRESS (65)	PASS (75 / 85)	HIGH PASS (95)
Focus Score_____	Writing does not present an idea, state a thesis, or make a claim. There's no focal point to anchor the paragraphs. The thesis sentence is not grammatical, not explicit, or far too broad. There is no connection between the essay's development and its thesis.	Writing clearly presents an idea, states a thesis, or makes a claim. The thesis is general but explicit, anchoring the paragraphs efficiently. The main idea may be stated imprecisely, or somewhat too broadly, or not explicitly enough, or it may be ill positioned. At times the essay seems unrelated to the thesis.	The thesis is clear, precise, and explicit. The idea presented in the thesis is provocative and original. The connection between the paper's substantive development and the provocative idea stated in the thesis is always apparent.
Development Score_____	Paragraphs do not provide enough detail or evidence to sufficiently support general assertions. Writers seems unaware of the variety of strategies available to fully explain topic sentences and/or overall thesis.	Paragraphs provide details and/or evidence to support general assertions. Writer seems aware of the variety of strategies to support topic sentences and overall thesis. Paragraphs provide only minimal or vague detail to support general assertions. Some awareness of the variety of strategies to support topic sentences and overall thesis.	Paragraphs consistently provide vivid, imaginative, substantive detail to support general assertions. A variety of strategies are used to give the essay subtlety, depth, and complexity. The ideas expressed are original, provocative, memorable.
Style Score_____	Vocabulary, point of view, tone, and/or syntax are consistently weak, incorrect, or inappropriate for the audience and genre.	Vocabulary, point of view, tone, and/or syntax are appropriate for the most part, although there may be occasional lapses.	Frequent lapses in vocabulary, point of view, tone, and/or syntax may result in a style that's often incorrect, monotonous, or bland. Vocabulary, point of view, tone, and/or syntax are carefully tailored to the audience and genre. Readers are likely to be impressed not only by what is said, but how well it is said.
Organization Score_____	Writing demonstrates a consistent inability to order the discussion effectively. Paragraphs may not be unified or coherent, and there is little or no evidence of intentionality in the text's overall structure.	Writing demonstrates an ability to order the discussion effectively. Paragraphs are unified and coherent. Transitions guide readers through the text. Overall structure is sensible and correct. Although writing mostly demonstrates an ability to order the discussion effectively, lapses may occur; some paragraphs may not be unified or coherent, or the overall structure might suffer from a weak introduction or weak conclusion.	Writing demonstrates an ability to use paragraphs to order the discussion effectively, using transitions to guide readers through the text--but there is a creative element to the paper's structure that is highly successful. The introduction may be especially effective at creating a hook to entice readers, or the conclusion may do something more memorable than simply repeat what has been stated before.
Correctness Score_____	Writing demonstrates persistent errors in more than one category that interfere with a reader's ability to understand the text.	Writing is generally correct in terms of grammar, punctuation and spelling, though some errors are present. One or more persistent errors or a frequent variety of errors in grammar, syntax, punctuation, or spelling mar the paper. It may be obvious that the writer knows what's correct, but because of a failure to proofread has let frequent typos mar the work.	Writing is virtually free of grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling errors. Where there are errors, they do not interfere with a reader's ability to understand the text, and may actually enhance it.
Final Average: _______

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