Universidad del Norte Instituto de Idiomas

Exigencia Ingls VI Writing Rubric: Persuasive Essay

Criteria and
Standards
Content

x2

Organization:
Introduction, Body,
and Conclusion
1. thesis statement
with parallel
structure
2. topic sentences
3. concluding
sentences in the
body paragraphs
4. concl. restates
the thesis
Vocabulary

Grammar

past, present,
future tenses
modals, if-clauses,
noun clauses,
passive, unreal
conditionals,
gerunds and
infinitives,

Name:
_____________________________________________
4

First Draft Total = ( ____ 7) =

_____
2

The reasoning is clear,

convincing and
informative and
corresponds to the
essay topic. The
persuasive essay is
well-developed and fully
supported.

The reasoning is clear

and corresponds to the
essay topic. The
persuasive essay is
well-developed and
supported.

The reasoning is clear

and corresponds to the
essay topic. The
persuasive essay is
adequately developed
and supported.

The reasoning is unclear

and/or does not
correspond to the essay
topic.
The persuasive essay
may be poorly
supported.

There is no clear opinion

and/ or the essay lacks
relevant support.

Uses a clear 4paragraph

organizational strategy
that contributes to a
smooth flow of ideas
from beginning to end.
All the elements listed
are included and are
strong.

Uses a clear 4paragraph

organizational strategy.
All the elements listed
are included.

Uses a clear 4paragraph

organizational strategy.
At least three of the
elements listed are
included and are
adequate.

Includes an
organizational strategy
with major problems.
One or more of the
elements listed may be
missing.

Lacks an organizational
strategy. The writing is
confusing. One or more
of the elements listed is
not included.

Accurate use and

excellent range of
vocabulary. Essay
includes at least 3
vocabulary words from
Ch. 3 or 4.

Mostly accurate use and

good range of
vocabulary. Essay
includes at least 2
vocabulary words from
Ch. 3 or 4.

Occasionally inaccurate
use and adequate range
of vocabulary.

Frequently inaccurate
use of vocabulary
and/or limited range
and/or inappropriate
vocabulary.

Many vocabulary errors

and/or very limited
range and/or
inappropriate
vocabulary.

Only one or two types of

grammatical errors
occurring in very few
instances. These errors
do not interfere with
communication.
Grammar is appropriate
for the level.

Three or four types of

grammatical errors
occurring in few
instances. These errors
do not interfere with
communication.
Grammar is appropriate
for the level.

Various types of
grammatical errors
occurring occasionally.
These errors do not
interfere with
communication.
Grammar is appropriate
for the level.

More than four types of

grammatical errors
occurring frequently.
These errors interfere
slightly with
communication.
Grammar is
inappropriate for the

More than four types of

grammatical errors that
occur frequently and
severely interfere with
communication.
Grammar is
inappropriate for the
level.

adjective clauses,
s-v agreement
**Sentence Variety

simple, compound,
complex,
compound-complex
sentences,
adjective clauses

*Mechanics

level.

Excellent use of all

sentence types covered
in class with no
structural or
punctuation errors.
Excellent sentence
variety.

Good use of all

sentence types covered
in class with minimal
structural or
punctuation errors.
Good sentence variety.

Adequate use of most of

the sentence types
covered in class with
few structural or
punctuation errors.
Adequate sentence
variety.

Limited use of sentence

types covered in class
with some structural or
punctuation errors.
Limited sentence
variety.

Very limited use of

sentence types covered
in class and/or there are
many structural or
punctuation errors. Very
limited sentence variety.

Error-free spelling and

capitalization errors.
Minor general
punctuation errors.

Few spelling and

capitalization errors.
Minor general
punctuation errors.

Some spelling,
capitalization, and/or
general punctuation
errors.

Frequent spelling,
capitalization, and/or
general punctuation
errors.

Many spelling,
capitalization, and/or
general punctuation
errors.

Revision Deduction (-0.5): After receiving feedback on Content and Organization on the first draft of their essay, the student does not attempt to make
necessary changes.
*General punctuation is assessed in Mechanics not in Sentence Variety. In this level, examples of general punctuation include apostrophes (in
contractions or possessives) and commas in lists.